Russia attacked Ukraine with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least 21 people, as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said interceptors “could have saved lives”.
Kyiv and the surrounding region experienced the deadliest strikes it had seen this year overnight, with 17 people reported dead. Attacks in Kharkiv and Donetsk also killed one and three people respectively.
Ukraine, who has consistently urged allies for more US-made Patriot missile interceptors to defend against Russian ballistics, has not reported intercepting any of the missiles in the overnight attack.
Zelensky added delays in receiving anti-ballistic systems from partners leads to “horrific casualties and destruction”.
The president later said the supply of interceptors from allies had been “significantly reduced” this year.
Russia’s defence ministry said it had struck logistics hubs and supply centres in Kyiv and the surrounding region.
“These centres were involved in the storage, delivery of various weapons and military supplies, as well as in the production and distribution of unmanned aerial vehicles,” it said.
It also said it had hit three cargo vessels “which were transporting weapons and military equipment” near the Black Sea port of Odesa.
