The Ukrainian president insisted that the attack in the central city of Kremenchuk was deliberate rather than a mistake. Mr Zelensky blew up the perpetrators, arguing that they “should have no place on earth”.
The former comedian had earlier stated that 1,000 people were in the mall at the time of the attack.
Mr Zelensky wrote on his Telegram messaging program saying “luckily” many people were able to escape.
He said: “The shopping center is on fire, firefighters are trying to put out the fire, the number of victims is impossible to imagine.
“Fortunately, as far as we now know, many people managed to get out [before the strike]were they assisted [after the air raid siren].
“But there were still people inside when it hit: employees and some visitors.
“Russia continues to take out its powerlessness on ordinary civilians.
“It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on his part.”
Dmytro Lunin, the governor of the Poltava region, argued that there was no military target nearby that Russia could have aimed for.
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According to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, a rescue effort was underway and nine of the wounded were in a serious condition.
In a statement, the G7 leaders’ meeting in Munich described the attack as “appalling”.
They said: “Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime.
“Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held accountable.
“We will not rest until Russia ends its brutal and senseless war against Ukraine.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticized Vladimir Putin’s “cruelty and barbarism” after the attack.