Zelenskyy Demands Air Protection After Deadly Overnight Attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday called for "reliable protection of Ukraine's skies" following a series of Russian strikes across the country that killed at least 30 people and injured around 100. In a post on X, he shared visuals of the aftermath in Kyiv, where emergency and rescue operations continued.
"As of now, it is known that 30 people were killed in yesterday's attack on Kyiv. My condolences to all their families and loved ones. Nearly one hundred people were wounded, including children," Zelenskyy wrote. He added that 10 people remain missing, with search operations ongoing at three sites.
Strikes Hit Civilian Infrastructure Across Multiple Regions
Zelenskyy detailed attacks on Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Kherson. In Kryvyi Rih, a garage cooperative was struck, wounding seven people and damaging residential buildings and two schools. In Kharkiv, a private home attack injured six, including three children. A drone strike on an apartment building in Sumy killed four, including a mother and her daughter.
"Yesterday afternoon, the Russians launched missile strikes on the regional hospital in Kherson. Overnight in the Sumy region, a drone strike on an apartment building killed four people," Zelenskyy said. He noted that a doctor was killed and a nurse wounded in the hospital attack.
Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of War Crimes, Urges Partners to Act
Condemning the strikes, Zelenskyy accused Russia of targeting civilian infrastructure without military purpose. "Every day and every night, the Russians strike ordinary civilian infrastructure, and terror is the only argument they have left for not stopping the war," he stated. He reiterated the need for air defense and anti-ballistic capabilities from international partners.
"Reliable protection of Ukraine's skies is needed as a prerequisite for diplomacy. We count on the support of our partners, above all with anti-ballistic capabilities. I am grateful to everyone who is already helping," he wrote.
G7 Reaffirms Support with Air Defense and Sanctions
Last month, the Group of 7 (G7) reaffirmed solidarity with Ukraine, agreeing to increase air defense systems, interceptors, and long-range ammunition. They also pledged to grant licenses to boost Ukraine's military production and strengthen sanctions against Russian oil and gas sectors. The leaders assured additional support ahead of the upcoming winter.
