Russian attacks kill 4 in Ukraine as Zelenskyy pleads for air defence

Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine overnight into Saturday killed at least four people and injured 20, officials said, and prompted fresh pleas from Ukraine's president for Western air defence systems.

In the capital, Kyiv, two were killed and 13 were wounded in a ballistic missile attack in the early hours of Saturday, Kyiv's police said. A fire broke out in a non-residential building in one location, while debris from intercepted missiles fell in an open area at another site, damaging windows in nearby buildings, Ukraine's state emergency service said in a message on Telegram.




In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two people were killed and seven injured in attacks.

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched nine missiles and 62 drones, of which four missiles and 50 drones were intercepted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday such attacks intensify Ukraine's need for Patriot defence systems. "America, Europe and the G7 countries can help ensure that such attacks no longer threaten lives," he said.

In Russia, the defence ministry said air defences shot down 121 Ukrainian drones over Russia overnight.