On the night of April 16, a series of Russian airstrikes primarily aimed at civilian areas resulted in significant casualties across Ukraine, according to Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The attacks led to the deaths of at least four individuals in Kyiv, eight in Odesa, three in Dnipro, and one in Zaporizhzhia.
Sybiha condemned the strikes as war crimes that must be addressed, stating, “Such attacks cannot be normalized. They must be stopped, and those responsible must be held accountable.” He urged the international community to respond promptly and to support measures that would increase pressure on Russia.
He emphasized that delaying sanctions against Russia and aid packages for Ukraine is both immoral and counterproductive. “Every day of inaction sends the wrong signals and encourages the aggressor to prolong and expand the war,” he added.
Additionally, Sybiha reiterated his call for countries around the world to join in establishing a special tribunal to address the crime of aggression against Ukraine. He described the inevitable justice for Russian leadership as a necessary response to their actions.
On April 14, the Foreign Minister announced that Poland and Iceland had joined an agreement to initiate the special tribunal, achieving the required support of 17 Council of Europe member states to bring the agreement to a vote in May.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, as of the morning of April 16, the Russian military launched 703 aerial targets against Ukraine in the previous day. Ukrainian defenses managed to intercept 19 Kh-101 cruise missiles, eight ballistic missiles, four Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 636 various types of drones.
Recent Russian airstrikes have resulted in multiple civilian casualties across Ukraine, prompting calls for international accountability and increased support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian government is advocating for the establishment of a special tribunal to address aggression against the country.