KYIV — Russia launched an overnight barrage of drones and missiles against Kyiv early on Saturday, wounding at least 11 people, including a child, and damaging buildings across several districts of the Ukrainian capital, while Ukrainian officials said the attack underscored continuing gaps in the country's air defenses.
Ukraine's State Emergency Service said explosions and fires were reported in the Solomianskyi, Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts, where strikes damaged office buildings, warehouses and other infrastructure. Emergency crews responded to multiple fires and assessed damage after the overnight assault.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia launched 12 missiles of various types, including six ballistic missiles, along with 121 drones. He said Ukrainian forces intercepted most of the drones and some cruise missiles but were unable to shoot down any of the ballistic missiles, renewing calls for Western partners to accelerate deliveries of air defense systems and interceptor munitions.
Ukraine's Air Force said air defenses destroyed or electronically suppressed 111 drones and intercepted two missiles. It reported direct strikes at multiple locations, while debris from intercepted weapons fell at several additional sites.
Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had targeted Ukrainian drone production facilities in Kyiv and port infrastructure in the Odesa region. The ministry also said Russian air defenses shot down 178 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions, Russian-occupied Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas. Those claims could not be independently verified.
Separately, Ukraine's military said it had struck Russian maritime assets in the Sea of Azov overnight, damaging 21 oil and petroleum tankers as well as several support vessels that it said were being used for military logistics. Russian authorities acknowledged an attack but said only four vessels sustained minor damage and reported that one sailor aboard a technical support vessel was killed. The competing accounts have not been independently confirmed.
The latest attack came as both sides intensified long-range strikes far from the front lines. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that shortages of advanced air defense interceptors leave the country vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile attacks, while Moscow says it is targeting military-related infrastructure.
Rescue and damage assessment operations were continuing in Kyiv on Saturday, with authorities continuing to inspect affected sites and update casualty and damage figures.
