Ukraine war: Von der Leyen in Kyiv, attack on Zelenskyy's home city and German decision urged
A reservoir dam in Kryvyi Rih -- the largest city in central Ukraine and the birthplace of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -- has been hit by eight cruise missiles, officials said.
The water system had "no military value" and hundreds of thousands of civilians depend on it daily, Zelenskyy said in a video address released early on Thursday.
He alleged Russia was a “terrorist state” following the attack. Moscow has not reported or commented on the shellings.
“You are weaklings who fight civilians,” he called Russians in his nightly speech on Wednesday. “Scoundrels who, having escaped from the battlefield, are trying to do harm from somewhere far away.”
No casualties have been reported following the destruction of the dam, despite the damage caused.
On Thursday, efforts were being stepped up to repair the city's damaged water system.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen praised Ukraine's efforts in readying itself to join the bloc as she made her third trip to Kyiv since the start of the war.
Ukraine was given candidate status after applying to join the bloc in the early days of Russia's invasion.
"The accession process is well on track. It's impressive to speed, the determination, the preciseness with which you are progressing," von der Leyen said at a press conference.
Nevertheless, French president Emmanuel Macron has said it could be decades before Ukraine becomes a member.
Von der Leyen told journalists that discussions with Zelenskyy had focused on several "big topics," one of which was how Europe could help prepare internally displaced Ukrainians for the winter.
"We have earmarked already 150 million euros to make sure that the internally displaced people here in Ukraine have shelter," she said.
In a sign of further EU commitment,
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