Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Kill Four in Ukraine, Prompting Zelenskyy’s Call for More Air Defences
Russian missile and drone attacks that began overnight and continued into Saturday killed at least four people and injured around 20 others across several regions of Ukraine, officials reported on Saturday.
The strikes targeted both civilian infrastructure and areas near the front line, including residential districts in the capital Kyiv and towns in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Emergency services responded quickly, transporting the wounded to hospitals where they received treatment for blast injuries and burns.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the nation shortly after the attacks, urging the government and international partners to accelerate the delivery of modern air‑defence systems. "We need every possible means to protect our citizens from these indiscriminate attacks," the president said in a televised statement, emphasizing that existing defences were being stretched by the frequency and intensity of the Russian offensive.
Analysts note that the recent wave of attacks follows a pattern of intensified Russian operations aimed at disrupting Ukraine’s energy grid and eroding civilian morale ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle. Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, more than 10,000 missile and drone strikes have been recorded, prompting a continuous influx of defensive aid from NATO members, including Patriot and NASAMS systems.
Ukrainian authorities have pledged to investigate the incidents and to reinforce protective measures in vulnerable urban areas. International bodies, including the United Nations and the European Union, have condemned the attacks as violations of international humanitarian law and called for accountability.
Looking ahead, officials expect that the pace of Russian strikes may remain high as the conflict enters its second year, while Ukraine continues to seek additional air‑defence capabilities to mitigate civilian casualties and safeguard critical infrastructure.
