Cuk Bombardir Rusia Against Kyiv And Other Big Cities, Pope Francis: My Heart Always With The Ukrainians

Ukrainian officials evacuated civilians who were victims of a Russian missile attack on Kyiv Monday. (Wikimedia Commons/National Police of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned Russia's relentless bombing of Ukrainian cities, saying the attack had released a storm of violence on the population.

Speaking to thousands of people at his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square, the Pope also appealed to "those who determine the fate of war in their hands" to stop.

It is known that at least 26 people have died across Ukraine during Russia's biggest airstrike since the start of the February invasion.

"My heart is always with the Ukrainians, especially the residents of the places hit by the bombings non-stop," Pope Francis said.

"May the spirit (God) change their hearts that determine the fate of war in their hands, so that the storm of violence stops and coexists peacefully in justice," the Pope hoped.

In Amsterdam, prosecutors for the International Mobile Justice team are investigating possible war crimes from Russia's ongoing missile attacks in Kyiv and other cities.

Asked on the sidelines of an event in Rome whether the attack could be considered a war crime, Vatican's number two person, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, said he was ineligible to make such technical and juridical assessments.

"But of course it is an unacceptable act, calling for retaliation before God and before mankind, for bombing unarmed civilians is beyond any logic. It must be completely condemned," Parolin stressed.

Monday's attack killed 19 people, injured more than 100 and disabled electricity across the country, Ukrainian officials said.

Meanwhile, during Tuesday's attack, at least seven people were killed in the southeastern city of Zaporizhia, causing the western part of Lviv City to be powerless.

Separately, Russia denies targeting civilians in its military operations in Ukraine, accusing the West of increasing and extending the conflict by supporting Kyiv.

Earlier, Pope Francis directly called on Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time 10 days ago, to stop "spiral violence and death", saying the crisis was risking uncontrolled global consequences.