At Least 12 Killed in Kyiv as Ukraine Grapples with Air Defence Shortages
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At least 12 people were killed and 34 injured in the latest Russian strikes targeting Kyiv, as Ukraine faces a shortage of air defence missiles. Apartment blocks and warehouses were struck across the city overnight, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS). The Russian defence ministry claimed it targeted military facilities using air, land, and sea-based weapons, adding that 726 Ukrainian drones had been shot down.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed the deaths on a lack of air defence missiles, which Kyiv relies on western allies to supply. He stated, "As long as Ukraine does not have enough anti-ballistics, Russia will not seriously think about peace."
The strikes began around midnight local time, with around 20 Russian missiles launched, cutting power to thousands of properties and leaving parts of the Kyiv region in darkness. A day of mourning was declared for the victims.
In the broader Kyiv region, an attack in Brovary and Boryspil districts resulted in one death and seven injuries, while another occurred in Donetsk Oblast, killing one person. Romania’s defence ministry reported a drone crossing into its territory from Ukraine, triggering an air alert siren before crashing. The Polish military also launched "defensive air operations" to protect its airspace.
Recent weeks have seen intense aerial warfare, with both sides conducting massive strikes resulting in numerous casualties. Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russia, targeting Moscow with a wave of 600 drones over the weekend.
Since July, Ukraine has repeatedly targeted facilities belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s equivalent of Amazon. The Ukrainian defence ministry stated that this latest attack had disabled seven out of ten of the company’s logistics centres. Diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire have made little progress, with both sides accusing each other of targeting civilians.
