President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to Russia’s massive overnight strikes on Ukraine, saying the attacks underline the urgent need for stronger European air defenses, including an independent anti-ballistic missile system.
On Tuesday, more than 500 State Emergency Service (DSNS) personnel were involved in responding to the aftermath of the attack across the country.
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“The main blow was on Kyiv, where dozens of residential buildings and other purely civilian infrastructure were again damaged. My condolences to all the relatives and friends of the deceased. Currently, 38 people are in hospitals in the capital, everyone is being provided with the necessary assistance,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
He added that a search and rescue operation continues in Dnipro after a four-story residential building was partially destroyed.
“Part of the building was actually simply demolished. Nine people were killed in this attack, including a child. Thirty-five people were injured in the city. The fate of six more people is unknown. Their search will continue as long as necessary,” he said.
At the time of writing, local authorities reported that the death toll in Dnipro had risen to 11 people, including two children.
Zelensky also said Russian forces targeted energy infrastructure in the Kharkiv region and struck civilian facilities across multiple regions, including Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Khmelnytskyi.
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In total, Russia launched 656 strike drones and 73 missiles of various types overnight, including ballistic, cruise, and anti-ship missiles, he said.
“A large-scale attack and a completely transparent statement from Russia: if Ukraine is not protected from ballistic and other missile strikes, these strikes will continue. Europe needs its own anti-ballistic missiles so that this war can finally end,” Zelensky said.
He added that US assistance in supplying Patriot missiles remains crucial.
“We count on the support of our partners and effective responses to today’s strike,” Zelensky said.
According to an Air Force report, a total of 729 aerial attack assets were recorded – 73 missiles and 656 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types.
These included:
- 8 3M22 Zircon anti-ship missiles
- 33 Iskander-M ballistic missiles
- 27 Kh-101 cruise missiles
- 5 Kalibr cruise missiles
- 656 Shahed, Geran, Italmas-type strike UAVs, Banderol loitering munitions, and Parody-type decoy drones
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, as well as mobile fire groups of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
According to preliminary data as of 8:30 a.m., air defense systems shot down or suppressed 642 targets – 40 missiles and 602 drones of various types.
Among the intercepted missiles:
- 11 Iskander-M ballistic missiles
- 26 Kh-101 cruise missiles
- 3 Kalibr cruise missiles
“According to preliminary information, as of 8:30 a.m., 30 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles and 33 strike UAVs were recorded at 38 locations, as well as the fall of downed UAV fragments at 15 locations,” the report adds.
As of now, 17 people are confirmed dead in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s overnight attack, with more than one hundred injured.
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