New Russian ballistic missile strikes hit Kyiv and other cities; at least five dead in Zaporizhzhia
At least five people were killed and 20 wounded in strikes on Zaporizhzhia; Kyiv reported explosions and one injured.
Russia fired new ballistic missiles at Kyiv and several other major Ukrainian cities in early-morning strikes that killed at least five people and wounded 20 in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian officials said.
Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration, wrote on Telegram that industrial facilities and infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia were hit.
In Kyiv, initial reports said one person was injured. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said explosions were heard across the capital and urged residents to remain in shelters while emergency services work on the ground.
Ukrainian media also reported an additional ballistic missile strike, and the Ukrainian Air Force issued warnings that Russian missiles were heading toward the cities of Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv.
Air-defence strain after more than four years of war
After more than four years of conflict, Ukraine faces shortages of interceptor missiles for its air-defence systems, a gap that has enabled Russia to step up use of ballistic strikes against Kyiv and other cities.
U.S. Patriot systems are widely regarded as among the most effective defences against ballistic missiles, which are especially hard to intercept because of their high speeds. Ukraine operates several Patriot batteries but does not have enough interceptor missiles.
Ukrainian authorities warn that Russia could again use missile strikes during the coming winter to inflict serious damage on the country’s infrastructure and further degrade living conditions for millions of people.
Photo: press material from the event
