Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles and drones on Saturday, killing eight and wounding dozens of others, officials said, as Kyiv awaits supplies of air defense munitions after a shortage has left it exposed to Russian attacks.
Eleven people were wounded in the capital, Kyiv, by an attack that used ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones.
"Civilian infrastructure was hit even before the air raid alert was issued," President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding that rescuers were working on the site.
"Our defenders managed to shoot down most of the targets, but not the ballistic ones," he added, calling on Ukraine's allies to quickly deliver the support packages of air defenses agreed at the NATO summit this week.
Russia launched six ballistic missiles, another six cruise missiles and 121 drones, Ukraine's air force said, adding that it downed at least two cruise missiles and 111 drones.
Ukraine pleads for supplies from allies
Two glide bombs hit a crowded area in the northern city of Sumy, a frequent Russian target, killing five people and injuring 30, authorities said. Glide bombs also injured 10 in the southeastern city of Zaporzhzhia, the regional governor said.
Later in the morning, a missile strike in the port city of Odesa killed two people and wounded another, while a drone hit a civilian enterprise in the eastern city of Kharkiv, wounding seven.
Ukraine, which is critically low on munitions for its Patriot air defense systems, has been largely unable to down ballistic missiles, which travel at several times the speed of sound, over the past month.
"I am preparing changes in Ukraine's diplomatic efforts. We need a new level of cooperation with our partners to ensure that agreements on arms supplies are fulfilled," Zelensky said. "Agreements reached by national leaders must be implemented much more quickly and completely."
Ukraine has pleaded with allies for greater supplies of those munitions, and has also pushed Europe to work with Kyiv on its own anti-ballistic air defense system.
US President Donald Trump said this week that Ukraine will be granted a license to produce its own Patriot interceptor missiles.
Zelensky calls for defense projects to move 'as swiftly as possible'
After Saturday's attack, Zelensky called for those projects to move "as swiftly as possible."
Russia has stepped up attacks on the capital in recent weeks. So far this month, strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region have killed more than 60 people.
Kyiv, in turn, has been pressuring Russia's military logistics in occupied southern Ukraine, seeking to deprive Russian forces of fuel and munitions by conducting strikes on trucks and vessels deep behind the front lines.
Ukraine's drone forces chief Robert Brovdi said his units had struck 21 fuel tanker vessels in the Sea of Azov overnight, as well as seven other cargo and support ships, bringing the total up to 76 vessels struck this week.