Zelensky Informs UN Secretary-General Guterres About Russian Strikes

President Volodymyr Zelensky, following Russia’s massive strike on a shopping center in his hometown of Kryvy Rih, announced a phone call with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.Zelensky said that he had spoken with Guterres by phone on Friday, Aug. 21, unveiling that the two agreed United Nations (UN) would take part in efforts to find a path toward ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, amid increasing civilian casualties.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“I informed him about Russia’s continued strikes,” Zelensky said, adding that “the UN secretary-general condemned Russia’s large-scale attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities and communities.”Push for negotiationsZelensky said Russia had rejected proposals to return to the negotiating table, arguing that international efforts to stop the war should continue.“We agreed that the search for ways forward would continue,” Zelensky said, adding that “the UN would join the joint effort.”Earlier on Friday, Russia struck a shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, killing at least 14 and injuring over 121. Twenty-nine victims are in serious condition, including five children.Zelensky condemned the strike in his Telegram statement.“The Russians carried out an utterly cynical and vile strike on an ordinary shopping center,” Zelensky said, adding that “such strikes are acts of terrorism,” and calling for partners to respond accordingly – “with real pressure on the aggressor.” Other Topics of Interest Russia’s Shopping Mall Strike on Zelensky’s Hometown Kills 14, Injures 121 as Rescue Continues At least 14 have been confirmed dead with over 121 injured after the city’s largest shopping mall was struck twice. Shortly after, Zelensky issued a second statement, confirming that authorities are still establishing the whereabouts of those who may have been inside the shopping center when the attack happened.“This is absolute Russian brutality,” he said. “They are simply animals. We will respond.”Global food security threatAccording to Zelensky’s statement following their phone call, the two had also discussed the impact of Russian strikes on food security, particularly attacks on Ukraine’s port infrastructure and vessels.“The effects are already being felt in many countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where prices have begun to rise,” Zelensky said.Ukraine and Russia have continued to exchange strikes in and around the Black Sea, attacking targets linked to each other’s operations.However, the conflict is already spilling into other countries’ territories, with Turkey growing particularly concerned about the risk to civilian shipping and coastal security.After a drone struck a Turkish-owned vessel near Russia’s Novorossiysk port on Aug. 4, injuring three crew members, Turkey urged both sides to safeguard navigation and proposed a temporary halt to attacks on critical Black Sea infrastructure.Russia rejected the idea, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying Moscow had not received a formal proposal from Turkey. She also warned against “half-measures” that would give Ukraine relief without resolving the wider conflict.Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to strike Russia’s naval base in Novorossiysk using various types of weapons, including Palianytsia drone missiles, Neptune missiles, and maritime unmanned systems.The Novorossiysk operation is part of Ukraine’s broader campaign to degrade Russian military infrastructure far behind the front line. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.