Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear.

Ukrainian President Zelensky is accusing Russia of, quote, pure evil.

After two early morning air strikes took the lives of at least 23 people in the cities

of Uba and in Iprobe.

From Uba NPR's Ulyan Haida reports, despite the high death tolls, Zelensky wants the damage

could have been worse.

During his evening address, President Zelensky lauded Ukraine's air defense for taking

down 21 out of 23 incoming missile strikes before dawn.

If it hadn't been for air defense, the Russians would have surely taken more victim

Zelensky.

He repeated his appeal for the West to send more defensive weapons.

Meanwhile, Zelensky told reporters that he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to put pressure

on Russia to stop firing.

Ukraine just received advanced American-patriot missiles this past week, but during an afternoon

press conference, Ukraine's defense minister wouldn't say if they had been involved in

the interceptions.

Udyan Haida and Pyrenees, Oman, Ukraine.

North Carolina's state supreme court today issued major decisions on cases involving redistricting

and voting rights.

Remember station W.N.C. Rosti Jacobs says more.

Last year, North Carolina's high court had a 4-3 majority of Democrats that found the

state's Republican-led legislature engaged in unconstitutional gerrymandering for extreme

...