Russian attacks leave eight dead as Ukraine pushes for faster military support

Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine killed at least eight people and injured dozens on Saturday, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Ukraine’s allies to speed up the delivery of promised military assistance. The latest wave of strikes came as Ukraine continues to face shortages of air defence ammunition, leaving many cities vulnerable to repeated attacks.

The deadliest strike took place in the northern city of Sumy, where two Russian glide bombs hit a busy civilian area. Ukrainian officials said five people were killed and around 30 others were injured. One of the bombs struck near a bus stop, severely damaging a passenger bus and nearby residential buildings. Images released after the attack showed shattered windows, damaged apartment blocks, and emergency crews rushing to help victims.

In another incident in the Sumy region, a man lost his life after stepping on an explosive device in a border district where Russian forces have been attempting to expand what they describe as a security buffer zone along the frontier.

Further south, glide bomb attacks hit the city of Zaporizhzhia, injuring 10 people, according to regional authorities. In the Black Sea port city of Odesa, a missile strike killed two people and left another person wounded, adding to the growing civilian toll from the latest attacks.

During his nightly address, President Zelenskiy stressed the need for stronger coordination with Ukraine’s international partners to ensure military aid reaches the country without unnecessary delays. He said agreements made by allied leaders should be implemented more quickly, particularly as Ukraine continues to defend itself against large scale missile and drone assaults.

Zelenskiy also referred to a recent agreement with US President Donald Trump that would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles under licence. He described the arrangement as an important step but said faster implementation was essential to strengthen the country’s air defence capabilities.

Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, also came under heavy attack overnight. Authorities said 12 people were injured after Russia launched a combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Zelenskiy said civilian infrastructure was hit before air raid sirens could fully warn residents. While Ukrainian air defence systems intercepted many incoming targets, ballistic missiles remained difficult to stop.

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia fired six ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles, and 121 drones during the overnight assault. Military officials said they destroyed at least two cruise missiles and intercepted 111 drones before they reached their targets.

Russian attacks on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks. Ukrainian officials say more than 60 people have been killed in strikes on the capital and surrounding areas since the beginning of this month, increasing pressure on the country’s already stretched air defence network.

At the same time, Ukraine has continued its own long range drone campaign against Russian military supply routes in occupied southern Ukraine. Ukrainian drone forces commander Robert Brovdi said his units targeted 21 fuel carrying vessels in the Sea of Azov overnight, along with seven additional cargo and support ships. He said the total number of vessels struck during the week had reached 76.

Zelenskiy has repeatedly said these operations are intended to weaken Russia’s military logistics and increase pressure for meaningful negotiations. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no indication of changing Moscow’s position on the conflict.

Russian authorities also reported that one person was killed after Ukrainian drones struck four vessels, including a tanker transporting methanol, in Taganrog Bay on the Sea of Azov. Both sides continue to exchange long range strikes as the conflict shows little sign of easing.