Russian strike on village kills 51, Ukrainian officials say, as Zelenskyy seeks more Western support

By HANNA ARHIROVA
Associated Press

HROZA, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say at least 51 civilians were killed in a Russian rocket strike on a village store and cafe in the eastern part of the country in one of the deadliest attacks in recent months. Thursday’s attack in the village of Hroza came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was attending a summit of around 50 European leaders in Spain to drum up support from the country’s allies. Zelenskyy denounced the attack in Hroza as a “demonstrably brutal Russian crime” and “a completely deliberate act of terrorism.” He urged Western allies to help strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, saying that “Russian terror must be stopped.”