Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, claimed that interceptors “could have saved lives” after Russia attacked his country with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least 17 people.
At least 45 people were hurt in one of the worst strikes on Kyiv and the capital region this year, which began after midnight on Wednesday and targeted warehouses, residential buildings, and a train station.
Ukraine has not claimed to have intercepted any of the missiles in the overnight attack, despite repeatedly pleading with friends for more Patriot missile interceptors manufactured in the United States to protect against Russian ballistics.
Zelensky stated that “horrific casualties and destruction” result from partners’ delayed delivery of anti-ballistic equipment.
“These centers were involved in the storage, delivery of various weapons and military supplies, as well as in the production and distribution of unmanned aerial vehicles,” according to the Russian defense ministry, which claimed to have attacked logistics hubs and supply centers in Kyiv and the surrounding area.
Additionally, it claimed to have struck three cargo ships “which were transporting weapons and military equipment” close to the port of Odesa on the Black Sea.
There were concerns that individuals would be buried behind the debris, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
According to Ukraine’s emergency services, Kyiv suffered one fatality and at least sixteen injuries, while the surrounding area had another sixteen fatalities and twenty-nine injuries.
It further stated that on Wednesday, fires were still being put out in five different sites throughout the region, totaling about 230,000 square meters.
Russia unleashed 24 ballistic missiles and four anti-ship missiles during the assault on the capital, according to a Telegram post from the nation’s air force. The air force further stated that 98 of the 115 drones that Russia launched during the strike were intercepted by air defense systems.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has expanded its strikes against Russian civilian infrastructure, particularly power plants, while Russia has stepped up its attacks on Kyiv.
The governor of the Tula area of Russia, Dmitry Milyaev, announced on Wednesday that a drone had crashed into a Wildberries warehouse overnight, setting it on fire.
According to the store, firefighting teams were at the scene and the facility had been evacuated in advance. He stated on Telegram that one person had been hurt and no fatalities had been reported.
Warehouses, particularly those run by Wildberries, have been targeted by Ukraine on several occasions. The latest attacks on warehouses in the Moscow region on Tuesday morning resulted in five fatalities and ten injuries.
The previous day, a drone struck a busy beach in the southern Krasnodar area, killing seven people and injuring fifty-eight more, according to Russian officials.
A video of a man being pursued by a drone near Kherson, however, infuriated Ukraine, which described it as a planned “hunt” and “safari” that targeted civilians.
The intentional targeting of civilians has been denied by both parties.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, announced on Wednesday that the EU had received €1.4 billion (£1.2 billion) from Russian assets that had been immobilized. This money will be used to help Ukraine fight Russia.
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