President Volodimir Zelenski of Ukraine issued a dramatic appeal following another heavy night of Russian attacks, warning that the lack of interceptor missiles for the US-made Patriot air defense systems has left his country vulnerable. According to Ukrainian authorities, at least nine people were killed and more than 30 injured in the assault targeting Kyiv. Emergency services continue to extinguish fires that broke out in the capital and surrounding areas. Zelenski shared these updates on social media, emphasizing the human toll and damage caused by the strikes. The attack saw Russia launch 35 rockets, including 27 ballistic missiles, along with 185 drones of different types. Kyiv was the primary target, though other regions, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Poltava, were also hit. Zelenski stated that only one ballistic missile was intercepted because Ukraine had run out of interceptor rounds for its Patriot systems. These systems are considered among the most effective against such threats, yet their performance is limited without a steady supply of ammunition. The president stressed that the shortage of interceptors directly encourages Russia to carry out such attacks, which endanger civilian lives. Zelenski reiterated the urgent need for international partners to provide additional missile interceptors, calling them essential for protecting Ukrainian citizens and stopping the war. He emphasized that these capabilities are not just for hypothetical scenarios but are needed immediately to defend against ongoing attacks. His message underscored the critical role of military aid in ensuring national security during active hostilities. “Every package of interceptor missiles saves lives,” he wrote, expressing gratitude to those working to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses. In separate developments, Moscow claimed to have captured two villages in the Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions. Russian forces reportedly took control of Lyubitske in Zaporizhzhia and Olhivka in Kharkiv. In the Zaporizhzhia area, a civilian was killed in an airstrike launched by Ukrainian forces against a residential building in Energodar, a town under Russian control. The attack targeted a residential complex, highlighting the continued escalation of violence in the region. The incident occurred near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently operated by Russian forces. Meanwhile, Russian officials confirmed that a Russian cargo ship, Yanina, was sunk by Ukrainian drones in the Black Sea. The vessel, owned by Fesco, a subsidiary of Rosatom, the state-run nuclear energy corporation, was carrying civilian goods such as frozen food and construction materials. All 17 crew members safely evacuated after the attack, which took place approximately 240 kilometers off the coast of Novorossiysk. Rosatom’s director, Alexei Likhachev, praised the efforts of the Ukrainian drone operators and the captain of the rescue vessel Delphinus, who was Egyptian, for successfully rescuing the crew. Russian authorities also reported casualties in Sevastopol, a city in Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014. A woman died and two others were injured in an overnight attack by Ukrainian forces. Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev announced the deaths, underscoring the ongoing conflict even in territories under Russian control. These incidents reflect the broader pattern of escalating violence and territorial disputes that continue to define the war.
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