At least 13 people have been killed and 40 others injured in the latest Russian missile and drone strikes targeting Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, Ukrainian Prime Minister said. The overnight attacks damaged residential buildings, warehouses, a children’s hospital and a school as Ukraine continues to face shortages of air defence missiles.
The attacks began around midnight as air raid sirens sounded across Kyiv. Ukrainian officials said around 20 Russian missiles struck targets across the capital, while the strikes also caused power outages in thousands of properties.
Kyiv Urges Allies to Provide More Air Defence Missiles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed the heavy casualties partly on the shortage of air defence interceptors, particularly systems capable of countering ballistic missiles.
Speaking at a damaged apartment building, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko called on Ukraine’s international partners to provide additional ammunition and anti-missile systems.
Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko also warned that the country remains highly vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks without sufficient interceptors.
Zelensky said Ukraine urgently needs additional Patriot interceptor missiles, arguing that each additional interceptor could help save lives. Ukrainian Air Force updates indicated that none of the Russian ballistic missiles launched during the overnight assault were intercepted.
Ukraine has relied heavily on Western air defence systems, including US-supplied Patriot missiles, to protect major cities and infrastructure from Russian missile attacks.
Russia Launches Large-Scale Drone and Missile Attack
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 168 drones and 44 missiles during the latest attack, with Kyiv among the main targets. Ukrainian air defences reportedly destroyed 146 drones and 39 cruise missiles.
The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces used air-, land- and sea-based weapons to strike military facilities and warehouses in Ukraine.
The latest assault caused extensive damage across Kyiv, with emergency crews searching through destroyed buildings and clearing debris. A day of mourning was declared for those killed in the capital.
The human cost was also evident in damaged residential areas, where residents were forced to leave their homes. Some families had already been displaced by earlier attacks elsewhere in Ukraine.
Wider Attacks Raise Regional Security Concerns
Further casualties were reported in the wider Kyiv region. An attack in the Brovary and Boryspil districts killed one person and injured seven, while another person was killed and 11 wounded in Donetsk Oblast, according to local officials.
Russia also reported a major Ukrainian drone attack, with its Defence Ministry claiming that 726 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted over several Russian regions.
The escalation also affected neighbouring countries. Romania’s Defence Ministry said a drone crossed into its territory near the northern border with Ukraine before crashing in an uninhabited area. Poland’s military said it launched defensive air operations to protect its airspace.
The latest exchange highlights the continuing intensity of the Russia-Ukraine war, with both sides conducting increasingly large-scale aerial attacks.
For Kyiv, however, the latest strikes have renewed urgent calls for stronger Western support. Ukrainian officials argue that increasing stocks of Patriot interceptors and other advanced air defence systems are essential to protecting civilians and critical infrastructure as Russian attacks continue.
