Russian strikes kill 16 in Kyiv, surrounding region

Rescuers sifted through the rubble of destroyed buildings in Kyiv after Russian bombardments killed at least 16 people overnight. Among the damaged structures was a children's hospital, as grieving families watched bodies being pulled from an apartment block.

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There used to be a building here, and now it's gone.

"There used to be a building here, and now it's gone," said resident Maria Abramova, 45. She described the terrifying moments when explosions rang out after the air raid alert sounded, shattering her windows and nearly killing her husband.

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We need missiles for the 'Patriots' - something that only our partners can provide.

Kyiv has struggled to intercept the barrage of ballistic missiles, which can only be effectively shot down by US-designed Patriot air defense systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the urgent need for more Patriot missiles and called for "relevant political decisions" from partners, particularly the United States.

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It is vital that decisions are taken - the relevant political decisions by our partners, and first and foremost in the United States.

Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported 15 deaths in the capital and one in the Kyiv region. The attack, which lasted nine hours, also damaged warehouses outside Kyiv. Zelenskyy described it as a "massive attack" involving various types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Ukraine's air force reported shooting down 39 of at least 44 missiles launched.

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It was a massive attack - the Russians prepared for a long time and combined various types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.