KYIV: Ukraine reported a fresh barrage of Russian missiles and civilian deaths on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) as Britain became the first Western country to offer it the heavy tanks it has long been seeking.
The British move drew a swift reaction from Moscow, which warned it would only "intensify" the conflict.
Moldova, meanwhile, said debris from the latest Russian missiles had landed on its territory and condemned the attacks.
Ukraine also insisted Saturday that the fighting in Soledar was continuing, a day after Russia's claim that it had captured the ravaged eastern town following a long battle.
Victory there would be a rare achievement for Moscow after a series of military setbacks.
Ukrainian officials denounced the latest wave of deadly Russian missile strikes across the country as the country celebrated the Old New Year, a popular holiday in Ukraine.
At least 12 people, including a 15-year-old girl, were killed and 64 wounded when an apartment building was hit in the eastern city of Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk governor Valentyn Reznichenko said on messaging app Telegram.
Seven children were among the wounded, the youngest 3 years old, he added, saying "the fate of 26 people is still unknown."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said later: "It's not yet known how many people are under the rubble. Unfortunately, the death toll is growing every hour."
Ukraine presidential aide Myhailo Podolyak called for Russia to be expelled from the UN Security Council.
UK sending first heavy tanks
Earlier Saturday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to provide Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, the first Western country to supply the heavy tanks Kyiv has been crying out for.
Russia's embassy in the United Kingdom swiftly issued a warning that "bringing tanks to the conflict zone, far from drawing the hostilities to a close, will only serve to intensify combat operations, generating more casualties, including among the civilian population."
But in his evening address on Saturday, Zelenskyy argued that Russian "terror" could only be stopped on the battlefield.
"This can and must be done on our land, in our sky, in our sea," he said.
Moldova, Ukraine's southwestern neighbor, said Saturday it had found missile debris on its territory after the latest Russian strikes.
"Russia's brutal war against Ukraine directly impacts Moldova again," President Maia Sandu tweeted, posting photos of the wreckage.
"We strongly condemn today's intensified attacks."
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