Ukraine has reported at least 16 dead and 100 wounded in a “massive” Russian drone and missile attack on the country on 15th April and into Thursday morning.

The Russians struck with nearly 700 drones and 19 ballistic missiles, as well as cruise missiles, Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said. Ukraine had intercepted some 636 drones and “some” of the missiles, he said, “Unfortunately, not all.”

A minimum of 16 people were killed in Ukraine. Zelenskyy said that at least 100 people “have been wounded as of now”.

“There are also, sadly, deaths in Odesa, Kyiv and Dnipro,” he posted. “A boy has been killed – he was 12 years old. My condolences to the families and loved ones.”

The majority of the missiles hit the capital, Kyiv, the president said, but there were also reports of damage and casualties elsewhere. Some of the missiles or drones that managed to penetrate Ukraine’s air defences damaged residential buildings, Zelenskyy said.

“This new night of war has shown that Russia doesn’t deserve any softening of the international approach towards sanctions,” Zelenskyy said. “Russia is gambling on war, and we need to respond accordingly: we need to defend lives with all our might, and we need to put pressure for peace with all our might.”

The Russian leader has decided to “deliberately terrorise civilians” with his strikes on residential areas, European Council president Antonio Costa said on Thursday. The EU will continue to “increase pressure” on Russia, he said. 

“Russia’s war of terror must end,” Costa said. “It is essential to bring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace to Ukraine in accordance with the principles of the U.N. Charter and international law.”

The Russian authorities on Thursday reported Ukraine had launched dozens of drones at various targets across Russia. Russia’s armed forces brought down over 200 drones, it said. 

The governor of the region said one of Ukraine’s drones hit a port on Russia’s Black Sea coast, and other cities along the coast.