UPDATE - Death toll from Russian missile strike in eastern Ukraine hits 35

UPDATES DEATH TOLL; ADDS NEW STATEMENT BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE, SPOT

By Davit Kachkachishvili

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) – The death toll from a Russian missile strike on an apartment building in eastern Ukraine's city of Dnipro early Saturday rose to 35, local authorities said on Monday.

"Search and rescue operations in Dnipro have been going on for almost 40 hours. At night, rescuers recovered several more dead bodies from under the rubble of a high-rise building destroyed by a Russian missile. The enemy attack claimed the lives of 35 residents of the building. Among them are two children," Dnipropetrovsk Governor Valentyn Reznichenko said on Telegram.

Reznichenko further said 39 people were saved and 75 were injured by the missile strike, with 14 children among the injured.

Early on Saturday, a Russian missile hit an apartment building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

​​​​​​​“Today I have been receiving reports from Dnipro all day,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday.

“The debris is being cleared there. All necessary services are involved.”

“Thanks to everyone who is carrying out the rescue operation! I thank the State Emergency Service, the police and the National Guard. I want to thank the utility services, our doctors, all volunteers, ordinary citizens of Dnipro who are helping!” he added.

Noting that dozens of people were rescued from the rubble, including six children, he said: “The rescue operation will last as long as there is even the slightest chance to save lives.”

On Sunday, Zelenskyy said on Telegram that at least 72 apartments were destroyed and more than 230 were damaged.

* Burc Eruygur contributed to this story.