Overnight barrage hits the capital
Russia fired 28 missiles at Kyiv overnight, and 17 people were killed, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian officials reported that none of the missiles were intercepted. The strikes hit residential districts across the capital. Rescue teams searched through damaged buildings into the morning. Dozens of people were taken to hospitals with injuries.
Kyiv has faced repeated waves of missile attacks throughout the war. This barrage was one of the heaviest in months. Local authorities ordered shelters open and urged residents to stay indoors. Emergency crews worked through the night to put out fires started by falling debris. The attack came less than a week after a similar barrage on the port city of Odesa, where officials said 11 people died.
Questions over air defense
The failure to stop any of the 28 missiles has raised questions about Ukraine's air defense readiness. Officials did not explain why the systems did not respond. Military analysts say Ukraine's stock of interceptor missiles has run low at times. Western allies have promised more Patriot systems, but deliveries have been slow. The gap leaves cities exposed to large-scale attacks.
Zelenskyy repeated his call for more air defense support from the United States and Europe. He said every intercepted missile saves lives. He also said the attack showed why Ukraine needs long-range weapons to strike Russian launch sites before they fire.
War shows no sign of easing
The strikes came as both sides traded drone attacks across the front line. Ukrainian drones hit the Moscow region earlier in the week, killing five people, according to local officials. Russia has also stepped up attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and rolling blackouts have returned to several regions.
The United Nations said it was monitoring the civilian toll. International leaders condemned the attack on residential areas. Diplomats said the strikes could complicate talks over a possible ceasefire. Ukraine's foreign minister said the country would not accept peace on terms that leave its cities open to attack.