The attacks began at midnight when air raid sirens sounded across the city. According to Ukraine‘s prime minister, residential buildings and warehouses were hit, and a children’s hospital and a school were also damaged. President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed the lack of air defense missiles for the deaths.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko told the BBC at the scene of a destroyed apartment block in the Solomianskyi district: “We need ammunition, missile defense systems – we need support from our partners.” The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched 168 drones and 44 missiles, mainly targeting Kyiv. It said 146 drones and 39 cruise missiles were shot down, but none of the ballistic missiles.
The strikes knocked out power for thousands of households and plunged parts of the region into darkness. Friday was declared a day of mourning. More deaths and injuries were reported across Kyiv, including in the Brovary and Boryspil districts.
Ukraine relies on American Patriot interceptor missiles to counter Russian ballistic missiles. However, the United States has deployed much of its stockpile in the Middle East and is supplying less to Ukraine. Zelensky wrote on Telegram: “As long as Ukraine does not have enough missile defense, Russia will not seriously think about peace.”
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
