A BARBARIC Russian missile strike on Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown has killed at least 18 people, including children.

More than 50 people have been left injured in one of the deadliest attacks in recent weeks and as Russia claims it wants a ceasefire.

The missile slammed into homes in Kryvyi Rih on Friday evening, destroying buildings, sparking fires, and unleashing chaos on the streets.

Bloodied survivors staggered into the open or were pulled from the rubble on stretchers as flames roared from shattered buildings.

Children and parents were killed where they had been playing at a park nearby the homes.

And dead teenagers were left lying in the street after the brutal blitz.

A three-month-old baby was left needing hospital care, as well as 30 others from the blast zone.

The city’s mayor said that 18 people were killed, nine of them children, and a further 56 injured.

“Regarding the suicide [drone] attack, we are dealing with the consequences. Detailed information will be provided later,” he added.

The attack could be a sick message to Zelensky directly – showing Ukraine’s leader how much Vladimir Putin respects him.

In a post on Telegram, Zelensky said: “A Russian missile in an ordinary city. Just on the street. In an area with residential buildings.”

“As of now, 14 people have died, including 6 children. My condolences to the family and friends.”

At least five homes were damaged, and a rescue operation is still ongoing, the brave Ukrainian leader said.

Zelensky continued: “Russian strikes every day. People die every day. There is only one reason why this continues:

“Russia does not want a ceasefire, and we see it. The whole world sees it. Every missile, every strike drone proves that Russia only wants war.”

Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed it killed 85 soldiers in the strike, “including Western instructors”.

It wrote in a Telegram post: “At 18:49, a high-precision strike was carried out with a high-explosive missile on the site of a meeting with unit commanders and Western instructors in one of the restaurants in the city of Krivoy Rog .

“As a result of the strike, the enemy lost up to 85 servicemen and officers of foreign countries, as well as up to 20 vehicles.”

The attack followed a drone strike on Kharkiv Thursday night that killed five civilians.

Grim scenes unfolded as emergency teams carried black body bags from a burning apartment block while shocked residents embraced and sobbed under the night sky.

In Kryvyi Rih, the strike shattered a residential district. “Not a single military facility – just civilian infrastructure,” said Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

Regional governor Serhii Lysak described the strike as a “fight against civilians”, confirming children were among the dead.

Video shared in local Telegram chats showed grey smoke billowing, and bodies lying motionless on the pavement.

Zelensky also said on Friday Russia had launched a drone attack at a thermal power plant in Ukraine’s city of Kherson, accusing Moscow of violating the US-brokered energy ceasefire.

He said: “All Russian promises end with missiles and drones, bombs or artillery. Diplomacy is an empty word for them.”

The Ukraine president also on Friday said European military planners could be ready within a month with a blueprint for a foreign troop presence in Ukraine – a move Kyiv sees as critical to ending the war with Russia.

Speaking in Kyiv after talks with British and French military chiefs, Zelensky said the plan would see foreign troops patrolling Ukrainian land, sea, and airspace to guarantee security in the event of a peace deal with Moscow.

“I think the teams need about a month, no longer, and we will be fully ready with an understanding of this infrastructure,” he said.

While Zelensky didn’t name which other countries might join the effort, he confirmed “many other nations” are expected to contribute.

Ukraine’s army leadership, including Kyiv’s top general and the chief of general staff, also met with the visiting European officials.

Zelensky said Ukraine’s allies have “a lot of understanding” of the country’s defence needs.

It comes as Donald Trump may defy warnings from his inner circle and call Vladimir Putin today.

Trump’s allies had urged the US President not to directly speak to the Kremlin tyrant until he fully commits to a ceasefire.

Despite no official talks being scheduled as of Thursday afternoon, European capitals expect the pair could speak again by phone as soon as today.

Trump has previously said he was “p***ed off” with Putin for his lack of willingness to agree to a ceasefire.

The US President took a rare aim at Putin on Sunday after the Russian tyrant called for president Zelensky’s removal in an effort to stall peace talks.

He said: “I was very angry, p***ed off, when Putin started getting into Zelensky’s credibility.”

He has threatened to impose a 50 per cent tariff on countries buying Russian oil.