Zelensky warns air defenses are being overwhelmed as Russia pounds Ukraine, killing 9

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urgently called for Western air defenses in response to a lethal Russian assault that killed nine people and wounded 30, including four children. This is the second major Russian aerial attack in two days, aimed at exposing Kyiv's deficiencies in critical defense systems as Russia struggles to gain ground on the extensive front line.

Kiev and its surroundings bore the brunt of the attack, with mayor Vitali Klitschko reporting that at least nine individuals were killed and 30 injured, including the children. The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly urged Western nations to supply necessary air defense systems, such as US-made Patriot defense interceptor missiles, to safeguard the city and vital infrastructure from aerial threats.

Last week, a ballistic missile struck a house in the Dnipro Region, killing six family members, four of them children. Zelensky lamented the shortage of these missiles, stating that their lack only fuels Russia's deadly attacks. On Saturday, explosions were heard throughout the capital, trapping people in a five-story building and igniting a fire in a residential courtyard.

The Kremlin's formidable ballistic missiles, which move at high speeds, are challenging for Ukraine to intercept, often requiring US-made Patriot systems for successful defense. Zelensky emphasized that these systems should not remain idle in warehouses but deployed "here and now" to save lives. Overall, at least 14 civilians were killed and 87 injured across Ukraine in the past 24 hours, according to local authorities.

Meanwhile, Russia successfully intercepted and destroyed 274 Ukrainian drones targeting its territory, including those over Moscow. US President Donald Trump expressed reservations about supplying Ukraine with Patriot missile interceptors, citing concerns over potential future misuse of the technology against the US. However, his stance has shifted, as he previously encouraged Ukraine to build these systems during a NATO summit in Turkey.