Russian strikes against Ukraine on Friday killed at least eight people, including two children, as Kyiv said it shot down a Russian strategic bomber for the first time.
Moscow said a military plane had crashed in Russian territory while returning to base from a combat mission after suffering a technical malfunction.
The downing of a Russian bomber used to fire cruise missiles would be a highly symbolic win for Ukraine, which has been pounded by hundreds of Russian aerial strikes since Moscow invaded more than two years ago.
The latest overnight Russian strikes on the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region killed left more death and destruction, officials said.
鈥楢 horrific Russian air strike on the Dnipropetrovsk region this morning. Two children are among those killed. A 14-year-old girl and a 8-year-old boy,鈥� Ukraine鈥檚 foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The head of the region Sergiy Lysak said medics had been able to save a six-year-old boy previously reported killed, revising down an earlier toll of nine dead. Twelve people were reported injured.
The strikes 鈥� which hit the region鈥檚 Synelnykivsky area and the regional capital of Dnipro 鈥� triggered fresh outrage in Kyiv.
鈥楥hildren must not be killed in air strikes in modern Europe. We must protect them with a reliable air shield,鈥� Kuleba said.
Ukraine鈥檚 railway operator said train facilities were hit in the attack and that seven employees were among those wounded. A female member of staff was killed, they added.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, in response to the strike, repeated calls for Ukraine鈥檚 Western allies to more supply air defence systems.
鈥楨very country that provides air defence systems to Ukraine, every leader who helps persuade our partners that air defence systems should not be stored in warehouses but deployed in real cities and communities facing terror, and everyone who supports our defence is a life saver,鈥� Zelensky said.
Zelensky visited troops and inspected fortifications in the eastern Donetsk region, he announced. Russian forces have taken advantage of Ukraine鈥檚 manpower and ammunition shortages and steadily gained ground in the region.
In Washington, the US House of Representatives is gearing up for a crucial weekend vote on a long-stalled $61 billion package of military aid that could deliver much-needed weapons to Ukrainian soldiers struggling on the front lines.
Ukraine said it had downed a Russian long-range strategic bomber during a combat mission for the first time.
