Ukraine Bombarded by Russia, President Zelenskyy Asks Coalition to Supply Anti-Missile Missiles

The impact of the Russian attack on Ukraine/PHOTO via X @ZelenskyyUa

JAKARTA - Russia's massive attack using drones and missiles against Kyiv killed 18 people and injured dozens more in the Ukrainian capital and surrounding areas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again urged foreign partners to increase supplies of crucial anti-missile ammunition.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 68 missiles - including 23 ballistic missiles - and 351 drones into Ukrainian territory overnight.

The Air Force said 37 missiles and 326 drones were shot down or disabled, while the impact of attacks from 29 missiles and 18 drones was recorded in 34 locations.

The capital is the region most affected by Russia's latest attack, officials said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 12 people were killed and 46 were injured, 26 of whom had to be hospitalized.

Six other people were killed and 26 wounded in the wider Kyiv region, according to the local regional governor, Mykola Kalashnyk.

Klitschko reported damage in the Obolonskyi, Holosiivskyi, Podilskyi, and Darnytskyi districts of the capital. The mayor said rescue teams were searching for additional victims under the rubble of destroyed residential buildings in the Podilskyi and Darnytskyi districts.

Through a post on social media, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces attempting to repel "massive Russian attacks" managed to intercept many drones and cruise missiles, but failed to intercept more sophisticated ballistic weapons.

"The main reason is the lack of supply of interceptor missiles. It is very important for the world - especially America and our European partners - to make a firm decision at the NATO summit in Ankara to support the defense of our airspace, and thus protect the lives of civilians," Zelenskyy wrote.

"As long as the missiles for the Patriot system are still held in the warehouses of allies, this actually encourages Russia to continue to destroy residential buildings," the Ukrainian president added, referring to the American-made Patriot ground-to-air missile system that Kyiv often uses to intercept Russian missiles.

"The US and Europe have enough power to stop this terror," he added.