Russian strikes kill 16 in Ukraine; Zelenskiy warns of air defence gap
Russian missile and drone attacks kill 16 in Ukraine, wounding over 40. Zelenskiy urges allies to supply Patriot interceptors.
Russian strikes killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 40 in Kyiv and the surrounding region on Thursday, in one of the heaviest overnight attacks in recent weeks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the loss of life was directly linked to a shortfall in air defence missiles from allies.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched dozens of ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles alongside 168 drones. While Ukrainian defences intercepted nearly 90 percent of the drones and most cruise missiles, all of the faster ballistic missiles evaded interception, causing significant damage.
In Kyiv's Solomianskyi district, the upper floors of a nine-storey residential building were destroyed, accounting for most of the 15 deaths in the capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared a day of mourning for Friday. Two other districts also reported damage, with a school and a children's hospital among the civilian structures hit.
Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi said food warehouses and Red Cross facilities around Kyiv were damaged in the attack, which lasted nearly nine hours. The strikes have compounded pressure on food supplies in the capital, where shelves have occasionally run empty in recent weeks.
Zelenskiy reiterated his appeal for Patriot interceptor missiles, the only system in Ukraine's arsenal capable of downing ballistic missiles. "The interceptors for Patriot systems have not yet been replaced, and they are needed every day," he said on Telegram. "Each additional missile saves the lives of our people." He added that Moscow would not negotiate seriously while Ukrainian cities remained defenceless.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was working with member states to provide anti-ballistic capabilities as "the most urgent of priorities."
The Russian defence ministry said it had struck facilities producing drone components, a military depot and a logistics hub. Ukraine has also intensified its own drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, including a strike on the TANECO refinery in Tatarstan.
A drone crashed into Romanian territory during the attack, and another came down in Moldova, according to officials in both countries. Russia's foreign ministry said it had not received specific new US proposals for peace talks, though it would be ready to arrange a meeting at short notice.