KYIV, Ukraine — A barrage of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine overnight into Saturday resulted in at least four fatalities and 16 injuries, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks have intensified calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Western nations to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. In Kyiv, a ballistic missile strike early Saturday claimed two lives and left nine wounded, as reported by Timur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration. The assault caused a fire in a non-residential building and scattered debris in open areas, damaging nearby structures, the State Emergency Service stated on Telegram. Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the capital as being under ‘ballistic attack’ during the onslaught. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two individuals were killed and seven injured, with apartment buildings and private homes sustaining damage, said acting regional Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched nine missiles and 62 drones, with four missiles and 50 drones intercepted. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 121 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory. Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need for Patriot defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities, urging Western allies to act swiftly. ‘America, Europe, and the G7 countries can help ensure that such attacks no longer threaten lives,’ he wrote on X. Zelenskyy is seeking to acquire 25 Patriot systems from the U.S. to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses. Additionally, he called for expanded sanctions on Russia’s oil sector and the provision of long-range missiles, such as Tomahawks, to counter Russian aggression. These appeals were made during talks in London with European leaders, who pledged continued military support to Ukraine. The discussions, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, focused on safeguarding Ukraine’s power grid, enhancing air defenses, and supplying longer-range missiles to strike deep within Russia.
Russian missile and drone attacks kill 4 in Ukraine as Zelenskyy pleads for air defense
