KYIV — A Russian missile and drone attack killed at least nine people and injured 22 civilians in Ukraine's capital overnight into Saturday, authorities said. The barrage struck residential areas and infrastructure across Kyiv.
Zelenskyy directly blamed a shortage of air defense interceptors for the fatalities, saying Ukraine had exhausted its supply of interceptor missiles for its U.S. systems.
Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to Western allies for more air defense capabilities, including additional Patriot missile systems and interceptors.
The Saturday assault combined ballistic missiles and drones, a tactic designed to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. Rescue operations continued for hours as crews searched rubble for survivors.
The strike followed a Russian missile attack on Kyiv early Wednesday that killed one person and injured five, according to the city's military administration.
The attacks are part of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year. Moscow has repeatedly targeted civilian infrastructure and residential buildings across the country.
The Patriot missile defense system, supplied by the United States and other allies, has proven effective against Russian missiles. Ukraine says it needs more systems and a steady supply of interceptors to cover its territory.
Military analysts say Russia uses combinations of drones and ballistic missiles to deplete Ukraine's air defense stockpiles, creating vulnerabilities for larger strikes.
Reduced Western military assistance has left Ukraine's forces short on ammunition for both artillery and air defense. Kyiv has warned the shortages directly limit its ability to counter Russian attacks.
Several European governments are debating future funding packages for Ukraine. Without increased support, Ukrainian officials say the civilian death toll from such attacks will rise.
