President Zelensky Accuses Russia of Preparing a New Large-Scale Attack on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Russia was preparing another large-scale attack after last night's missile and drone attacks killed 14 people in Kyiv and the surrounding area.

In a post on President Zelensky's Telegram, he said Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 attack drones overnight, with Kyiv as the main target.

The attack, he said, damaged more than 10 locations throughout the capital, where search and rescue operations are still underway.

"So far, 11 people have been confirmed dead and about 60 people have been injured," President Zelensky said, launching Anadolu (6/7).

In the area around Kyiv, he said three people were killed and 16 were injured.

Fires are still raging at the site of the missile strike in the city of Vyshneve, where authorities are evacuating residents from nearby homes.

More than 400 emergency responders and police were involved in the rescue effort, he added.

President Zelensky also explained that the Ukrainian air defense intercepted many drones and cruise missiles but was unable to stop Russian ballistic missiles due to a lack of supply of interceptor missiles.

He urged Ukraine's allies to make "decisive decisions" at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, particularly on the provision of additional air defense support.

"It is very important that the world, especially America and our European partners, come out of the NATO summit in Ankara with a firm decision to support the protection of our skies," he said.

In a separate statement, President Zelensky said intelligence reports showed Russia was preparing another major attack, which was described as a signal ahead of the NATO summit.

He urged Ukrainians to pay attention to air raid warnings and asked international partners to speed up the delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles.

On the other hand, Moscow accused Kyiv of preparing provocations ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.

"We have to wait for provocations and be on the alert at all times," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Russian media.

The Russian Defense Ministry earlier confirmed it had carried out the overnight attack, saying it targeted defense industrial facilities, fuel and energy infrastructure in Kyiv and the surrounding area, as well as military airfield infrastructure in other parts of Ukraine.

Moscow said the attack was in response to "Ukrainian terrorist attacks" on civilian infrastructure inside Russia.

The claims made by both sides could not be independently verified.