Zaporizhzhia, a city in southeast Ukraine that had 710,000 residents before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and is frequently attacked by Moscow, was struck on Friday.

An air raid alert was issued in the evening before the strike hit a car repair shop and converted into a giant fireball, the regional governor said. Twenty-four people were injured and 10 dead, authorities shared.

“Russia’s words mean nothing, but its bombs and missiles speak volumes. On the evening of St. Nicholas Day, aerial bombs in Zaporizhzhia hit a service station directly, cars with people inside,” Zelensky said on Telegram.

“Putin does not seek real peace — he seeks the ability to treat any country this way, with bombs, missiles, and all other forms of violence. Only through strength can we resist this. And only through strength can real peace be established,” he added.

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Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvi Rih, too, experienced a missile strike on an administrative building that killed two people. This follows a recent attack that injured at least 26 people.

Kryvyi Rih is the second largest city in the region with a population of around 660,000 people. It also bears the brunt of frequent missile attacks by Moscow.

European nations continue to show support for Ukraine.

Following Germany’s recent strategic visit, Zelensky also thanked Denmark on Saturday for a second batch of F-16s that are helping intercept Russian missiles and save Ukrainian lives.

“Now, our air shield has been further strengthened. If all partners were as determined, Russian terror could already have been made impossible,” Zelensky said on X.