President Volodymyr Zelensky known as Russia a terrorist state following an assault on the central sq. in Ukraine's second-largest metropolis of Kharkiv wherein a number of have been killed and extra injured.

"The assault on Kharkiv is a battle crime. That is state terrorism of the Russian Federation. After that, Russia is a terrorist state," Zelensky mentioned in a video assertion Tuesday throughout the sixth day his nation has been underneath assault from Russia.

Footage shared by a member of the Ukrainian authorities Tuesday confirmed a cruise missile putting the town's regional state administration constructing in Freedom Sq., creating a big fireball and plumes of smoke that engulfed automobiles driving by. Shortly after rescue groups arrived following the preliminary blast, a second rocket hit the constructing.

"That is terror in opposition to the town. There was no army goal on the sq.. Simply as these in residential areas of Kharkiv, hit by rocket artillery," Zelensky mentioned, including that the assault aimed on the central sq. was "an outright terror. Nobody will forgive. Nobody will neglect."

Images of the aftermath confirmed home windows and partitions of buildings blown out. There are piles of particles and dirt overlaying the streets and charred automobiles. Contained in the corridors of one of many buildings have been mounds of leftover scraps and blown-out doorways.

Russia Shelling Civilian Areas
President Volodymyr Zelensky calls Russia a terrorist state following shelling in Ukraine's second-largest metropolis. Above, a member of the Ukrainian Emergency Service seems on the Metropolis Corridor constructing within the central sq. following shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022.Pavel Dorogoy/AP Photograph

About 10 individuals have been killed within the blast and greater than 20 injured, in accordance with the State Service of Ukraine for Emergencies publish on Twitter.

This was the primary time Russia had fired on the heart of Kharkiv, a metropolis of about 1.5 million individuals, however its residential neighborhoods had been underneath assault for a number of days. At the least 24 fires attributable to shelling had been put out within the area, and at the least 69 explosive gadgets had been disabled, the Ukrainian emergency service mentioned.

The United Nations human rights workplace mentioned Tuesday that it has recorded the deaths of 136 civilians, 13 of which have been youngsters, in Ukraine. Nonetheless, it fears the actual demise toll is more likely to be a lot greater.

In the meantime, a 40-mile convoy with tons of of Russian tanks and different automobiles is inching towards the capital metropolis of Kyiv. Zelensky mentioned Kharkiv and Kyiv are at the moment a very powerful targets for Russia, and the protection of the capital is a precedence.

"All cities of Ukraine should do the whole lot to cease the enemy," Zelensky mentioned Tuesday. "If we shield Kyiv, we are going to shield the state. That is the guts of our nation. And it should preserve beating."

Replace 3/1/22, 11:45 a.m. ET: This text was up to date with further info.