Russian airstrikes kill 12 in Kyiv and surrounding areas

As Russian airstrikes continued for a sixth consecutive day, Ukrainian authorities reported that at least 12 people were killed and many more injured in Kyiv and surrounding regions. This marked the ongoing pattern of attacks on the Ukrainian capital. Reuters noted that Kyiv and nearby areas had experienced a series of drone attacks over the past five days, resulting in civilian casualties and damage to property.

Many of the drones were newer models with jet engines, making them hard to intercept. The relentless strikes disrupted daily life, with air raid sirens sounding for extended periods.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha detailed that Russian drones and ballistic missiles specifically targeted residential areas and railway infrastructure during the intense overnight strikes. He urged Ukraine's allies to impose greater economic pressure on Russia and to discuss utilizing frozen Russian assets abroad to support Ukraine's war effort.

In an X post, he emphasized that the Kremlin must abandon simulated diplomacy and appealed for more air defense systems, as Ukraine's supply of Patriot interceptor missiles, crucial for countering Russian ballistic missiles, was critically low. The Ukrainian air force claimed success in shooting down five ballistic missiles.

Additionally, Russian strikes targeted a border crossing with Romania, a NATO member, located in the Black Sea region of Odesa. These persistent attacks on ports and ships in the area have severely hampered Ukraine's vital agricultural exports, further exacerbating global food price pressures.