Two people were killed and at least 19 others injured after Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack across Ukraine early Saturday. Kyiv suffered the heaviest assault as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones targeted the capital amid Ukraine’s ongoing shortage of air defence munitions. The attacks further intensified pressure on Ukraine’s defences as fighting continues.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia fired 10 missiles, including six ballistic and four cruise missiles, along with 121 drones during the overnight assault. Ukrainian forces intercepted at least two cruise missiles and destroyed 111 drones, but officials said ballistic missiles remained difficult to stop because of their high speed. President Volodymyr Zelensky said civilian infrastructure was struck before air raid alerts were issued and urged allies to accelerate promised air defence support.
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In Kyiv, 11 people were injured as explosions damaged civilian areas across the city. Separate Russian strikes killed two people and injured another in the southern port city of Odesa, while a drone attack on a civilian enterprise in Kharkiv wounded seven more people. Ukrainian authorities said emergency crews continued rescue and recovery operations in the affected regions.
Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to its Western partners for additional Patriot air defence missiles to counter Russia’s increasing use of ballistic weapons. President Zelensky also called for the rapid implementation of agreements reached at the recent NATO summit, including plans to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence capabilities. US President Donald Trump recently said Ukraine would receive a licence to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles domestically.
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Meanwhile, Ukraine said it struck dozens of Russian fuel tankers and support vessels in the Sea of Azov as part of efforts to disrupt Russian military logistics. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces targeted Ukrainian drone production facilities and ports in Odesa region, while claiming its air defences destroyed 178 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian territory and occupied Crimea.