Kyiv Hit by Intense Russian Missile Attacks; Ukraine Claims Naval Successes

Russia launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, overnight, resulting in at least nine deaths and 28 injuries, including two teenagers. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported damage to residential and commercial buildings across several districts, with cars catching fire. A five-story apartment building was hit by falling missile debris, trapping residents inside, according to Klitschko, who urged people to stay in shelters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his country managed to intercept only one out of 27 ballistic missiles fired by Russia during the large-scale attack. He emphasized Ukraine's need for interceptor missiles for its US-provided Patriot systems. Russia reportedly launched a total of 35 missiles and 185 combat drones, with Kyiv identified as the primary target.

In parallel actions, Ukraine reported sinking a Russian container ship in the Black Sea following a drone attack, though the 17 crew members were unharmed, according to Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev. The ship was carrying frozen goods and construction materials. Zelenskyy also claimed Ukrainian forces struck the infrastructure of three Russian oil refineries in the Bashkortostan region, nearly 1,600 kilometers from the border. Additionally, Ukrainian troops reportedly sank the sanctioned Russian container ship 'Yanina' and hit other targets in the Black and Azov Seas.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry announced the capture of two more Ukrainian villages: Olhivka in the northern Kharkiv region and Lyubytke in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, according to the Interfax news agency.