Ukraine says 23 dead after Russian missile strike, among the deadliest attacks in months: Updates

The death toll rose to 23 people Saturday in a missile strike on an apartment building in Ukraine, authorities said. Two people remain missing after the shelling.

Crews concluded search and rescue operations Saturday after the missile strike in the central Ukrainian city of Uman left 23 people dead, including six children, according to Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. The children included three boys and three girls, he said. All 23 bodies have been identified.

Two women remain missing, and nine others were injured in the strike, Klymenko said.

Seventeen people were rescued after the missile strike, he added. The building kept collapsing during the rescue effort, said Yulia Norovkova, a spokesperson for the region's emergency services. About 150 officers were involved in recovery efforts, which also included heavy equipment and volunteers.

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The strike was among the deadliest attacks on Ukrainian civilians in months.

"I am grateful to the rescuers, police, utility workers, and dozens of Uman residents who joined in the dismantling of the collapsed building," Klymenko said in a Facebook statement. "The work went very quickly because everyone was in a hurry. We were hoping to find someone alive under the rubble until the last minute."

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy offered condolences to families of the victims and said the attacks emphasize the need for modern aircraft in order to counter Russian attacks. He said Ukraine's air force was able to shoot down most Russian missiles.

"If not for this, the terrorist state would have managed to claim many more casualties, more lives," he said, adding that "air defense, modern aircraft" and additional weapons were the way to "save people."

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Latest developments:

►Nova Kakhovka, a Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town, is under "severe artillery fire" from Ukrainian forces, the Russian-backed administration said. The shelling has left the town without power, local officials said.

►Pope Francis thanked Hungarians for welcoming Ukrainian refugees during a Saturday visit with refugees and poor people at St. Elizabeth's church in Hungary. He urged Hungarians to continue helping Ukrainian refugees and others in need, even as the country's prime minister touts anti-immigration policies.

►A Russian court convicted Marina Novikova, a 65-year-old lawyer, with “spreading false information” after she was accused of decrying the Russian invasion of Ukraine and criticizing the Russian government on Telegram. She was fined 1 million rubles, which is over $12,400, according to a Russian human rights and legal aid group.

Fire in Crimea oil depot 'completely extinguished,' Russian authorities say

A massive fire Saturday at a fuel storage facility in Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea and a major port on the Black Sea, has been "completely extinguished," Mikhail Razvozhaev, the city's Russian-backed governor said.

The fire erupted after the oil depot was hit by two Ukrainian drones, Russian-appointed officials said Saturday.

Razvozhayev said the oil depot was attacked by “two enemy drones," and four oil tanks burned down. No one was injured, he said.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 in a move that most of the world considered illegal. Zelenskyy has vowed to take back Crimea as Ukraine prepares for a counteroffensive.

Zelenskyy says 'there will be a counteroffensive' from Ukraine

In an interview posted to his Telegram page Saturday, Zelenskyy said a Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia "will happen."

"There will be a counteroffensive," he said, adding that he believes the mission will allow the country "to de-occupy our territories."

Zelenskyy revealed few details about the counteroffensive, saying he is "not ready to say in detail when it will happen and how." But he said Ukraine needs additional weapons and ammunition to make the counteroffensive a success.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Contact Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine, Russia war updates: 23 dead in missile strike on Uman