In his X handle, the President wrote: "This is how Russia began this Good Friday – with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Shaheds – maiming our people and cities."

"A missile strike on Kharkiv, right on the city. Dozens of residential buildings were damaged, as well as an enterprise and vehicles. Around 70 people were injured, including five children. The youngest, Valeriia, is just two years old. All the wounded received the necessary medical assistance. Tragically, one person was killed," he said.

He said Russia also hit other Ukrainian cities.

"There were also Russian strikes on Dnipro, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Donetsk regions," he said.

According to local media reports,  at least 20 apartment buildings, 30 houses, and an educational institution were damaged in the strikes.

Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine's northeast is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks, reported The Kyiv International.

The fresh attack occurred at a time when the US has warned it could end efforts to broker a ceasefire if it did not see progress soon.

Sumy Strike

The United Nations has condemned the Russian attack on the city of Sumy, Ukraine, on Sunday, which reportedly killed at least 34 people, including two children, and injured more than 100 others.

The two missiles struck a busy street in the city centre, damaging residential buildings, an educational facility and civilian vehicles, as people were out celebrating Palm Sunday, a major religious holiday in Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres was deeply alarmed and shocked to learn of the attack,k his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement.

Devastating Pattern Of Assaults

“The attack, on Palm Sunday and at the start of Holy Week, continues a devastating pattern of similar assaults on Ukrainian cities and towns in recent weeks, resulting in civilian casualties and large-scale destruction,” he said.

The Secretary-General underlined that attacks against civilians and civilian objects are prohibited under international humanitarian law and must end immediately.

Guterres renewed his call for a durable ceasefire in Ukraine.

He also reiterated the UN’s support to meaningful efforts towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace that fully upholds the country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in line with the UN Charter, international law, and relevant UN resolutions.