Russia says it launched a 'massive' overnight strike on 9 Ukrainian cities

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for increased ballistic missile defense following Russia's overnight attack on Ukraine. In a Facebook post, Zelensky stressed that European allies had recently decided to enhance Ukraine's air defense. He stressed that Russia's continued investment in missile capabilities necessitates additional countermeasures.

Zelensky specifically mentioned the need for more ballistic missile defense packages, particularly through the PURL initiative. He emphasized that protecting Ukraine's skies effectively saves lives. Since the attack, Ukrainian authorities have been working to address the aftermath, which involved strikes using both drones and ballistic missiles across several regions.

Critical infrastructure was targeted in Poltava, Sumy, Kherson, and Kharkiv, while residential buildings were hit in Kharkiv and Kramatorsk. Notable incidents included a guided aerial bomb striking an apartment building in Kramatorsk, resulting in four rescues and three injuries. Zelensky also reported on fires at enterprises in Odesa following a drone attack, with emergency services deployed to combat the flames.

Additionally, at the recent Summit of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv, agreements were reached to supply Ukraine with missiles for Patriot air defense systems, as well as Crotale air defense systems and their respective missiles.