DistantNews
Support us
Russian barrage on Kyiv kills 17 as Ukraine calls for more interceptors
🇸🇬 Singapore /Conflict & Security

Russian barrage on Kyiv kills 17 as Ukraine calls for more interceptors

From CNA · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Russian missile and drone attacks killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens more in Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight.
  • Ukraine's air defense could not intercept any of the missiles, prompting President Zelenskyy to call for more US-made Patriot interceptors.
  • Zelenskyy highlighted that air defense missile supplies from allies have dropped significantly, emphasizing the urgent need for political decisions to save lives.

Russian missile and drone strikes killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens more in Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight, authorities said Wednesday. Kyiv was unable to shoot down any of the missiles launched by Russia, whose intensifying attacks have prompted pleas for more US-made Patriot interceptors.

Ballistic interceptors are what could have saved the lives of those killed today.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyCommenting on the death toll from the missile strikes.

Russia has significantly increased its attacks on the Ukrainian capital in recent months, typically firing salvos of hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles in short blitzes that rock buildings and send booms echoing across the city. "Ballistic interceptors are what could have saved the lives of those killed today," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, announcing the 17-person death toll.

It is important to cut through all red tape and make the necessary political decisions.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyySpeaking about the need for allies to provide interceptor missiles.

Later Wednesday, Zelenskyy said he had been in talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte about obtaining interceptor missiles. "It is important to cut through all red tape and make the necessary political decisions," he said on Facebook. "Literally every day, people's lives here in Ukraine depend on the resolve of our partners in Europe and the United States."

Literally every day, people's lives here in Ukraine depend on the resolve of our partners in Europe and the United States.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyEmphasizing the reliance on international support for air defense.

A cloud of smoke hovered over the capital at sunrise after the attacks sparked fires in several locations in the region. Over 40 people were wounded in the capital and its surrounding areas. Ukraine did shoot down 98 of the 115 drones fired by Russia overnight, but it was unable to shoot down any of the missiles. Zelenskyy said the number of air-defense missiles supplied by allies had dropped threefold compared with the previous year. He has repeatedly warned about critical air-defense shortages as Moscow has intensified its missile attacks on Ukraine.

The night was so terrifying, so hard.

— Natalia ReutskaA Kyiv resident describing the experience of the overnight attacks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog