Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Kill 4 in Ukraine as Zelensky Urgently Appeals for Western Air Defense Systems

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched nine missiles and 62 drones in their latest attack.

Overnight Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine killed at least four people and wounded 20 others, according to Ukrainian officials. The assault prompted renewed appeals from President Zelensky for Western air defense systems.

In Kyiv, a ballistic missile attack in the early hours of Saturday claimed two lives and injured 13 people, according to the capital's police. The State Emergency Service reported that a fire erupted in a non-residential building at one location, while debris from intercepted missiles fell in an open area at another site, damaging windows in nearby buildings.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram during the attack: "Explosions in the capital. The city is under ballistic attack."

The Dnipropetrovsk region also suffered casualties with two people killed and seven wounded, according to acting regional Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko, who noted damage to apartment buildings and private homes.

Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched nine missiles and 62 drones, with Ukrainian forces successfully intercepting four missiles and 50 drones. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses shot down 121 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight.

Following the attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized Ukraine's urgent need for Patriot defense systems. "It is precisely because of such attacks that we pay special attention to Patriot systems - to be able to protect our cities from this horror. It is critical that partners who possess relevant capability implement what we have discussed in recent days," he wrote in English on X.

"America, Europe and the G7 countries can help ensure that such attacks no longer threaten lives," he added.

Zelensky hopes to acquire 25 Patriots from the United States to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses, particularly in urban areas. During his visit to London on Friday, he urged the United States to expand sanctions on Russian oil from specific companies to the entire sector and appealed for long-range missiles to counter Russian aggression.

The London meeting, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, brought together two dozen European leaders who pledged military assistance to shield Ukraine from future Russian aggression if a ceasefire halts the ongoing war. The talks aimed to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, building on recent sanctions from the United States and European countries targeting Russia's vital oil and gas export earnings.

Discussions also focused on protecting Ukraine's power grid from Russia's nearly daily drone and missile attacks as winter approaches, enhancing Ukrainian air defenses, and supplying Kyiv with longer-range missiles capable of striking deep inside Russia. Zelensky has specifically requested Tomahawk missiles from the US, an option that President Donald Trump has reportedly considered.

Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's envoy for investment and economic cooperation, stated on Friday that he believes Russia, the US, and Ukraine were "quite close to a diplomatic solution" to end the three-year conflict. Speaking to CNN after arriving in Washington for talks with US officials, Dmitriev indicated that a planned summit in Budapest between Trump and Putin had not been cancelled but would likely occur at a later date.

Trump said on Tuesday that his plan for a swift meeting with Putin was on hold because he didn't want it to be a "waste of time." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made it clear in public remarks Tuesday that Russia opposes an immediate ceasefire.

A White House official confirmed that Dmitriev will meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff, though the official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to publicly discuss the private meeting.