KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western nations to provide air defense systems to Kyiv following a Russian missile attack that injured 17 people in the capital and its surrounding area overnight.
Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 31 Russian missiles aimed at Kyiv, marking an escalation in response to Moscow’s threats following Ukrainian strikes on Russian border regions.
Zelensky condemned the ongoing terror, emphasizing the need for global unity to combat it. “Such terror continues every day and night,” Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.
He said that Russian missiles lack the capability to bypass advanced defense systems like the Patriot, stressing the immediate need for such protection in Ukraine.
Zelensky called for support from partners to safeguard not only Kyiv but also other cities like Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, Odesa, and the Donetsk region. However, a $60-billion US military aid package for Ukraine is facing delays in Congress due to domestic political disputes.
Local authorities reported that debris from the missile strikes caused injuries to 17 individuals, with 13 in Kyiv and four in the surrounding region.
