Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of rejecting ceasefire efforts, following deadly Russian strikes that killed at least 16 people, including six children, in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih.

The attack, which involved six Iranian-made "Shahed" drones, also injured 34 people, according to Zelenskyy. In a separate incident in Kharkiv, five people were killed in a targeted drone strike, with rescue operations ongoing throughout the day.

“Rescue operations are underway in Kryvyi Rih following a Russian missile strike,” Zelenskyy wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “As of now, 16 people are confirmed dead, including six children. In Kharkiv, a deliberate attack by six Shahed drones killed five people. Thirty-four others were injured.”

Zelenskyy also reported that a Russian first-person view (FPV) drone targeted and struck the Kherson thermal power plant in southern Ukraine, describing it as another example of Russia's systematic targeting of critical civilian infrastructure.

“These strikes cannot be accidental—the Russians know exactly what they are hitting. They know these are energy facilities, which under international agreements should be protected from attack,” Zelenskyy said. “Every Russian promise ends with missiles, drones, bombs, or artillery. Diplomacy means nothing to them.”

The Ukrainian president further claimed that a ceasefire could have been reached earlier this month, but that Moscow has consistently refused to engage.

“A ceasefire could have already been reached—it is Putin who rejects it,” he said. “It is Moscow that has refused a ceasefire since March 11. Russia wants this war, and it’s clear they won’t be forced into peace through dialogue alone. What’s needed is real pressure—consequences for every lie, every strike, every life taken.”

Meanwhile, from March 23 to 25, the United States hosted expert-level discussions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, involving delegations from both Russia and Ukraine. These talks followed high-level conversations between U.S. President Donald Trump and both Zelenskyy and Putin.

The meetings focused on maritime security in the Black Sea, the protection of energy infrastructure, and broader diplomatic pathways to achieve lasting peace, according to U.S. officials.