Russian missile and drone strikes killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens more across Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight, Ukrainian emergency officials said Wednesday, as air raid alerts stretched for more than an hour.
Ukrainian forces were unable to intercept any of the ballistic missiles fired during the assault, which damaged warehouses and other infrastructure. The bombardment left at least 27 people injured, according to initial counts, with later tallies from officials citing as many as 44 wounded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces launched 29 missiles and 115 drones during the attack, renewing his call for stronger air defences.
“Every intercepted missile means lives saved,” Zelenskyy stated, pressing allies for additional US-made Patriot interceptor systems capable of countering the hard-to-stop ballistic salvoes.
Russia has significantly intensified its attacks on the Ukrainian capital in recent months, typically firing short blitzes of missiles that are difficult to intercept. The strikes have deepened Kyiv’s shortage of interceptor munitions and prompted repeated appeals to Washington for resupply.
The bombardment comes as both sides escalate long-range attacks on critical infrastructure and logistics hubs. Ukrainian forces have struck warehouses operated by the Russian online retailer Wildberries, targeting supply chains behind the front lines.
European leaders condemned the strikes. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “Russia must pay,” describing the attacks as “horrible atrocities.” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys called Russia “a terrorist state” and urged allies to increase pressure on Moscow.
The overnight assault ranks among the deadliest on the capital in recent weeks, underscoring the widening gap between the scale of Russian firepower and Ukraine’s dwindling defensive stockpile.
Kyiv has argued that a steady flow of Western air defence systems is essential to protecting civilian areas, while Moscow maintains its strikes target military and logistical objectives. Independent verification of casualty figures on both sides remains difficult.
The intensified exchanges signal little near-term easing of the conflict, with each side betting that pressure on infrastructure and supply networks can shift the balance ahead of any renewed diplomatic push.