Rescuers search efforts in building hit by Russian missile in Ukraine

Rescuers search through the rubble of a residential building hit by a Russian missile in the northern Ukrainian town of Pryluky as the death toll rose to 22, including five children.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says it's "important that world leaders do not remain silent" about Russia's continuous strikes on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the United Nations strongly condemns attacks on major Ukrainian cities, while expressing deep concern over intensified hostilities in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

A Russian strike destroyed an apartment block in Pryluky, in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region, killing at least 22 people people, including five children, and wounding about 50.

The town's deputy mayor Syrenko Daniil said, "This was the biggest ever attack on our town. It's a huge tragedy for our community; many people lost their lives, which is our biggest tragedy."

Deaths were also reported in three other Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, according to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukraine had anticipated the attack, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the previous day intelligence services had concluded Russia was building up for a "massive" strike.

Although Ukraine knew about the looming attack, which coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday, it couldn't fend it off completely.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said it's "important that world leaders do not remain silent" about Russia's continuous strikes on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure.

He said "Russia is waging war against all the rules of life, to do away with all rules, leaving only the will of the strong."

Meanwhile, the United Nations strongly condemned attacks on major Ukrainian cities, while expressing deep concern over intensified hostilities in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general was particularly alarmed by the reported record number of civilian casualties and extensive damage to critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Dujarric said UN agencies and their humanitarian partners were supporting emergency responders and local services by providing medical care, psychological assistance and emergency shelter.