Russian forces launched a wave of missile, drone, and guided bomb attacks across Ukraine on Saturday, killing at least six people and injuring dozens, Ukrainian officials said.
The attacks targeted several regions, including the capital Kyiv, where missiles damaged residential buildings, offices, and a theological school. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 12 people were wounded in the capital, including two children.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired more than 120 drones and 12 missiles overnight, including several ballistic missiles that challenged Ukraine’s air defense systems. He said emergency teams were working at damaged sites as rescue operations continued.
In the northern city of Sumy, a guided aerial bomb killed four people, including a child, according to local officials. A separate missile strike on the southern port city of Odesa killed two more people, authorities said.
Zelensky said Ukraine’s air defenses managed to intercept most of the incoming targets but struggled against ballistic missiles. He renewed calls for additional military support from allies, including further air defense capabilities.
The strikes came as Kyiv continues efforts to strengthen its defenses against Russia’s ongoing invasion, which began in 2022. Ukrainian officials said some missiles hit before air raid alerts were activated, raising concerns over the methods used in the attacks.
Russia said its forces targeted military-industrial facilities in Kyiv and port infrastructure in Odesa, while denying that it targets civilians.
The latest attacks followed Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, part of Kyiv’s campaign against Moscow’s energy infrastructure.
