Zelenskyy condemns ‘insane’ Russian strike on Ukrainian lyceum

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday slammed what he called an “absolutely insane” Russian missile strike that hit a lyceum in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, in the southern Odesa region, killing at least two staff members and possibly trapping others beneath the rubble.

According to initial reports, the strike was carried out with a ballistic missile. No children were present at the time due to summer break, but several lyceum employees were inside the building when it was hit, said Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper on Telegram.

“The lyceum is practically completely destroyed. A rescue operation is underway,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on X, adding that emergency services had been fully mobilized.

“None of these Russian strikes are accidental — the Russian army knows exactly where it is targeting. These are demonstration strikes,” he claimed.

Calling for stronger international action, Zelenskyy warned that failure to force Russia into peace could put the rest of Europe in danger.

“If Russia is not forced to make peace, we will have to think about protecting high schools, hospitals, and ordinary residential buildings in other European countries — everywhere that Russian killers can hit,” he said.

"We must stop the killings and attacks. We must put pressure on Russia."

Russian authorities have not commented on the incident.