Russian Cruise Missiles Destroy Ukrainian Command Post Killing Over 50 Generals, Officers: Moscow

Russia's warships destroyed a command center with Kalibr cruise missiles, killing more than 50 generals and officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Moscow's Defense Ministry said Sunday.

The strike took place near the village of Shirokaya Dacha in Dnepropetrovsk Region.

“More than 50 generals and officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed,” the statement said, according to Tasnim News Agency, adding several commanders of various Ukrainian units had gathered for a meeting at the compound.

The ministry added Kalibr missiles were also used to destroy 10 M777 howitzers and up to 20 armored vehicles that were recently delivered from the West, Telesurenglish reported.

Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the country would send Ukraine $1 billion in additional military aid, including anti-ship systems, artillery rockets and ammunition.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky had urged his allies in the West to provide them with more help in terms of weapons to fight Russian forces. There have been several reports of Ukraine running out of its Soviet-era arsenal, of which many were allegedly destroyed by Moscow's forces.

Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported Sunday the country's artillery destroyed several Russian multiple rocket launchers.

The fight between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing since Feb. 24 when Moscow invaded Kyiv. The Kremlin has since demanded Ukraine officially declare itself a neutral country that will never join the U.S.-led NATO military bloc.

The crisis in Ukraine has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of its citizens.

On Sunday, Zelensky warned Russia was likely to intensify its "hostile activity" this week. This could come as Ukraine awaits a historic decision from the European Union on its membership application.

Zelensky said there had been "few such fateful decisions for Ukraine" as the one it expects from the EU this week, adding in his evening address "only a positive decision is in the interests of the whole of Europe," BBC reported.

"Obviously, we expect Russia to intensify hostile activity this week... We are preparing. We are ready," he continued.