Russia's Overnight Assault on Kyiv Kills 17; Zelenskyy Urges Faster Air Defence Support

At least 17 people were killed and 44 injured after Russia unleashed a massive overnight barrage of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones on Kyiv and the surrounding region, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to renew his appeal for faster delivery of air defence systems and tougher sanctions against Moscow.

The strikes targeted multiple locations across the Ukrainian capital and nearby districts, hitting civilian infrastructure including warehouses, logistics facilities and a railway station, according to Ukrainian authorities.

"As of now, 44 people have been reported injured in the massive Russian strike on Kyiv and the Kyiv region. Another 17 people, tragically, were killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones," Zelenskyy said in a post on X.

Describing it as one of the heaviest attacks in recent weeks, the Ukrainian President said Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles, four Zircon/Oniks missiles and 115 drones, many of them jet-powered.

"The main targets of the attack were warehouse facilities belonging to civilian businesses. There were also strikes on infrastructure and a railway station. These facilities had nothing to do with the war—a brewing company, construction materials warehouses and civilian logistics facilities," he said.

Zelenskyy argued that additional air defence systems, particularly ballistic missile interceptors, could have prevented civilian deaths and urged Ukraine's allies to accelerate military assistance.

"Ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those killed today. It is very important that our partners understand that delays in supplying them, or an unwillingness to provide anti-ballistic systems, lead directly to such horrific casualties and destruction," he said.

The Ukrainian President also called on the G7, the European Union and other allies to tighten sanctions on Russia, saying parts of the country's ballistic missile production chain remain outside existing restrictions.

Rescue operations continued across the Brovary, Bucha and Fastiv districts, where emergency teams battled fires and searched damaged civilian facilities following the strikes, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.

The latest attack comes amid continued Russian aerial bombardments of Ukrainian cities, as Kyiv presses its Western partners for stronger air defence capabilities to shield civilian infrastructure from increasingly frequent missile and drone strikes.

(With inputs from ANI)