WASHINGTON 

UN chief Antonio Guterres "strongly" condemned an attack on a Ukrainian grocery store Thursday that killed dozens and injured many more. 

"Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law and they must stop immediately," Guterres spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. "The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a prompt recovery to those injured."

At least 51 people were killed in what Ukrainian officials said was a Russian missile strike near Kupiansk in eastern Ukraine. Officials have warned that the casualty toll is likely to climb.

"Russian missile struck an ordinary grocery store in the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region. This was a fully deliberate, demonstrative, and brutal terrorist attack," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X.

"Russian terror must be stopped. All those who help Russia circumvent sanctions are criminals. Those who continue to support Russia are all supporting evil. Russia needs this and similar terrorist attacks for one reason only: to make its genocidal aggression the new normal for the entire world," he added.

Zelesnkyy is in Spain to take part in a European security summit, and said that he is appealing in the meetings for additional air defenses to thwart additional Russian strikes.