A cruise missile attack on the central square in Kharkiv is an act of unvarnished terror, Russia is a terrorist state, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"Kharkiv. A cruise missile attack on the largest square in Europe, on Freedom Square. Dozens of victims. This is the price of freedom. This is such a morning for the people of Ukraine... After the cruise missile that was hit on Kharkiv from Belgorod, this is terror against the city, terror against Ukraine. There was no military target on the square, just like in those residential areas of Kharkiv, which are hit by missile artillery. A missile on the central square is unvarnished terror. No one will forgive. Nobody will forget. An attack on Kharkiv is a war crime. This is a state Russian terrorism," Zelensky said in a video statement on Tuesday.

"After this, Russia is a terrorist state. Accordingly, it should be official. We call on all states of the world to immediately and effectively respond to such criminal tactics of the aggressor and declare that Russia is carrying out state terrorism," Zelensky said.

The president also demanded full responsibility for the Russian terrorist activities in international courts.