Officials estimated that 1,700 people resided in the multi-story apartment structure before Saturday's strike; emergency personnel worked there all day and through the chilly night.

On January 15, 2023, in Dnipro, Ukraine, emergency workers are at the scene of an apartment building that was severely destroyed by a Russian missile strike. This is happening during Russia's invasion on Ukraine. Clodagh Kilcoyne for Reuters (REUTERS)

The national emergency service stated that 30 people had died as a result of a Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the southeast Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Sunday as rescuers raced to find survivors among the rubble.

Officials estimated that 1,700 people resided in the multi-story apartment structure before Saturday's strike; emergency personnel worked there all day and through the chilly night. According to The Associated Press-Frontline War Crimes Watch project, the claimed death toll made it the worst attack in one location since a strike in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region on September 30.

The same day, Russia launched an extensive barrage of airstrikes against Ukraine's urban centres and power infrastructure, including the capital Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv, breaking a two-week lull. Russia has been attacking Ukraine's urban centres and power infrastructure almost weekly since October.

On Sunday, Russia acknowledged the missile strikes but made no mention of the residential complex in Dnipro. Russia has insisted the conflict does not target people.

According to Gen. Valerii Zaluzhny, the head of the Ukrainian armed forces, Russia fired 33 cruise missiles on Saturday, 21 of which were shot down. According to the military's air force leadership, the missile that struck the apartment building was a Kh-22 launched from Russia's Kursk region, and Ukraine lacks a system capable of intercepting that kind of weapon.

Workers in Dnipro attempted to rescue those stuck on the apartment tower's top floors by using a crane. Some locals used the lights on their mobile phones to signal for assistance.

As of Sunday afternoon, 39 people had been rescued and at least 73 had been injured, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 43 persons were reported missing, according to the Dnipro municipal authorities.

"Search and rescue efforts and the removal of hazardous structural components go on. All the time. "We keep fighting for every life," Zelenskyy declared.

Ivan Garnuk said he felt fortunate to have survived when he was in his apartment when the building was struck. He expressed his surprise that the Russians would attack a residential structure devoid of any strategic significance.

"This area doesn't have any military facilities. Nothing is present," he declared. "Neither an air defence system nor any military installations exist here. Just innocent folks were struck.

Residents of Dnipro joined rescue personnel at the scene to assist in clearing the debris. For some who had lost their homes, others provided food and warm clothing.

As he removed the debris, Artem Myzychenko, a local, declared, "This is certainly terrorism and all of this is just not human."

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for the missile attacks across Ukraine and declared success on Sunday.

All predetermined objectives have been struck. The attack's objective has been met, according to a ministry statement shared on Telegram. Without mentioning the attack on the Dnipro residential building, it stated that missiles were fired "against the military command and control system of Ukraine and related energy infrastructure."

Yaroslav Yanushevych, the regional governor, reported the incident in a Telegram post on Sunday. Russian forces had targeted a residential area in Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine. Two persons were injured, according to early reports.

As violent fighting continued in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk province, where the Russian military has claimed control of the small salt mining town of Soledar but Ukraine claims its troops are still engaged in combat, Russia stepped up its airstrikes.

The Russian forces would be able to go a little bit closer to Bakhmut, a larger city, if they were to fully take Soledar. Months-long fighting for Bakhmut has resulted in significant losses for both sides.

As the gruelling conflict approached the 11-month mark, Britain declared it would send tanks to Ukraine, its first gift of such powerful weapons. The offer of 14 Challenger 2 tanks may have seemed little, but Ukrainian officials believe it will inspire other Western countries to contribute more tanks.

"The beginning of a shift in the United Kingdom's backing is sending Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, "The office of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a statement late on Saturday. "After informing President Zelenskyy that the U.K. would provide extra help for Ukraine's ground war, the prime minister announced that a squadron of 14 tanks will enter the nation in the upcoming weeks. It is anticipated that 30 AS90s, which are big, self-propelled guns controlled by five gunners, will follow.

According to officials, Sunak is hopeful that other Western allies will follow similar as part of a coordinated international push to increase support for Ukraine before of the invasion's one-year anniversary next month.

This week, the U.K. defence minister will visit Estonia and Germany to work with NATO partners, and the foreign secretary will visit the United States and Canada to talk about tighter cooperation.