Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned Russia for a missile attack in eastern Ukraine that killed 18 people, including nine children.



Friday's attack took place in Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk region.



Ukrainian forces say Russia used a ballistic missile mounted with a cluster warhead, which is designed to hit a large area and kill many people.



Zelenskyy posted his reaction to the attack on social media on Saturday. He said in addition to the ballistic missile, the Russians launched attack drones against Kryvyi Rih during the rescue operation, which left further casualties.



He said there is simply no deeper level of cynicism, vileness, or hatred toward people than what Russia embodies today.



Russian forces, however, have argued that Russia delivered a precision strike on a restaurant where Ukrainian commanders and Western instructors were meeting.



Zelenskyy thanked European nations and the embassies of Japan and other countries for their expressions of solidarity with Ukraine that were extended after the attack.



But he said the response from the US Embassy was surprisingly disappointing. He added they are afraid to even say the word "Russian" when speaking about the missile that murdered children.



He called for more pressure on Russia, which he describes as a country that chooses child murders over a ceasefire.



He requested that Washington provide more air defense systems, as he agreed with US President Donald Trump, in addition to more sanctions on Moscow.