6 killed as Russia rains missiles, drones on Ukraine; Kyiv renews plea for air defences
At least six people were killed and dozens injured after Russia launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials. Kyiv renewed its call for urgent deliveries of air defence systems, saying growing shortages of interceptor missiles had left it increasingly vulnerable to Russian strikes.
The strikes hit multiple cities, including Sumy, Odesa, Kharkiv and Kyiv, while Ukraine claimed to have intercepted most of the incoming drones and cruise missiles but said it remained unable to stop ballistic missile attacks because of dwindling Patriot missile stocks.
The deadliest attack took place in the northern city of Sumy, where two Russian glide bombs struck a crowded area, killing four people and injuring 17 others, Ukrainian authorities said.
According to Reuters, one of the bombs hit a bus stop. Images released by officials showed a yellow bus torn apart by the blast.
Earlier in the day, a missile strike on the southern port city of Odesa killed two people and injured another, while a Russian drone attack on a civilian enterprise in Kharkiv wounded seven people.
In Kyiv, 11 people were injured after overnight attacks involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. Responding to the attacks, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said civilian areas had been struck before air raid warnings could be issued.
"Civilian infrastructure was hit even before the air raid alert was issued," Zelenskyy said, adding, "Our defenders managed to shoot down most of the targets, but not the ballistic ones."
He urged Ukraine's allies to quickly deliver the air defence packages agreed at this week's Nato summit.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched six ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and 121 drones overnight before the subsequent attacks on Odesa, Kharkiv and Sumy.
It said air defence units intercepted 111 drones and at least two cruise missiles.
The strikes hit multiple cities, including Sumy, Odesa, Kharkiv and Kyiv, while Ukraine claimed to have intercepted most of the incoming drones and cruise missiles but said it remained unable to stop ballistic missile attacks because of dwindling Patriot missile stocks.
The deadliest attack took place in the northern city of Sumy, where two Russian glide bombs struck a crowded area, killing four people and injuring 17 others, Ukrainian authorities said.
According to Reuters, one of the bombs hit a bus stop. Images released by officials showed a yellow bus torn apart by the blast.
Earlier in the day, a missile strike on the southern port city of Odesa killed two people and injured another, while a Russian drone attack on a civilian enterprise in Kharkiv wounded seven people.
In Kyiv, 11 people were injured after overnight attacks involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. Responding to the attacks, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said civilian areas had been struck before air raid warnings could be issued.
"Civilian infrastructure was hit even before the air raid alert was issued," Zelenskyy said, adding, "Our defenders managed to shoot down most of the targets, but not the ballistic ones."
He urged Ukraine's allies to quickly deliver the air defence packages agreed at this week's Nato summit.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched six ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and 121 drones overnight before the subsequent attacks on Odesa, Kharkiv and Sumy.
It said air defence units intercepted 111 drones and at least two cruise missiles.
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