At least 17 people have been killed after Russian strikes involving ballistic missiles and drones hit Kyiv and surrounding areas overnight, Ukrainian officials said.
The attack, which began shortly after midnight on Wednesday, injured at least 44 people and damaged residential buildings, a railway station and warehouses, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky said the use of additional interceptor systems “could have saved lives”, as Ukraine continues to call on allies to provide more US-made MIM-104 Patriot systems to counter ballistic missile attacks.
Ukraine reports large-scale missile and drone attack
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles and four anti-ship missiles during the assault on the capital.
It added that 115 drones were also launched, with air defence systems intercepting 98 of them.
Zelensky said delays in receiving anti-ballistic defence systems from international partners were contributing to severe casualties and destruction.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said authorities feared some people could remain trapped under rubble.
Russia says it targeted military facilities
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces struck logistics hubs and supply centres in Kyiv and the surrounding region.
The ministry said the locations were used for storing and distributing weapons, military equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles.
It also claimed to have hit three cargo vessels near the Black Sea port of Odesa, alleging they were transporting weapons and military equipment.
Attacks continue on both sides
Russia has intensified strikes on Kyiv in recent weeks, while Ukraine has increased attacks against Russian infrastructure, including energy facilities.
In Russia’s Tula region, Governor Dmitry Milyaev said a drone struck a warehouse belonging to e-commerce company Wildberries overnight, causing a fire. One person was injured, while the facility was evacuated.
Russian officials also said five people were killed and 10 injured in strikes on warehouses in the Moscow region on Tuesday, while seven people were reportedly killed and 58 injured after a drone hit a beach in the southern Krasnodar region.
Ukraine has also condemned a video showing a man being chased by a drone in Kherson, describing it as a deliberate attack on civilians.
Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians.
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