Russia fired nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles at Ukraine on Thursday, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 100 others in one of the worst aerial assaults of recent weeks, Ukrainian authorities said. Strikes hit the capital Kyiv, the southern port city of Odesa, and the central Dnipro region.
The attack came days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy completed an urgent 48-hour diplomatic trip to Germany, Norway, and Italy to press European allies for additional air defense systems, as Ukrainian officials acknowledged that stocks of advanced interceptor missiles are running low.
Ukrainian commanders said only U.S.-made Patriot systems can reliably intercept the ballistic missiles Russia deployed in large numbers Thursday — and supplies of Patriot interceptors are diminishing, raising questions about Ukraine’s capacity to defend its cities as the war enters its fifth year.
Air defense shortfall
Four people died in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old, with more than 50 others injured, authorities said. Strikes killed nine people in Odesa and four in the Dnipro region.
Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for the Ukrainian air force, said the Russian attack made extensive use of ballistic missiles, which only Patriot systems can reliably shoot down. “We desperately need more missiles for the Patriot systems,” Ihnat said on Ukraine’s private TV channel 1+1.
Ukraine has developed significant domestic arms production capacity, particularly in drones and missiles, but cannot yet replicate the capability of U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, officials said.
Kyiv resident Tetiana Sokol, 54, said two missiles struck near her home and she took cover with her dog in the hallway as the blasts shattered windows. “On the third attack everything broke, everything flew, we were shocked, we didn’t know where to run. I grabbed whatever came to hand and ran away with the dog,” she told the Associated Press.
Zelenskyy pushes back against sanctions relief
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the operation was launched against military-related targets “in retaliation” for Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia against oil refineries and weapons plants. European Council President António Costa described Thursday’s strikes as “yet another horrendous attack” while people slept in their homes.
Zelenskyy posted on X: “Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions.”
Ukraine fears the Iran war is depleting stockpiles of the advanced American-made air defense systems it needs, and strongly opposes a U.S. pause on Russian oil sanctions, officials said.
A city mourns an eight-year-old
The central city of Cherkasy declared a day of mourning Thursday for eight-year-old Bohdan Serhiiev, killed in a Russian drone strike earlier in the week. Mourners left flowers and stuffed toys beside the open casket. Classmates held white balloons and a sign reading “Eternal Memory.”
“He was such a happy kid. He was always running around and he loved me so much,” Bohdan’s 15-year-old brother Denys Zhuk said. “I love my younger brother so much. I just wish he was here with me.”
More than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in Russian strikes since Moscow launched its all-out invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago, the United Nations says. Russia’s forces have struck civilian areas almost daily since the invasion began.