Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Wednesday that the death toll from the intense Russian airstrikes targeting the capital, Kyiv, and its surrounding areas had risen to 17, with 44 wounded. He described the attack as “extremely violent” and targeting civilian infrastructure. In a statement published on the X platform, the Ukrainian president explained that Russian forces targeted Kyiv with a massive arsenal. Notably, this arsenal included the use of 24 ballistic missiles and four advanced Zircon and Onyx missiles. In addition, 115 drones were launched. A significant number of these drones were jet-powered.
Zelenskyy confirmed that the heavy shelling primarily targeted warehouses belonging to civilian companies, vital infrastructure facilities, and a train station. The affected sites included a beverage factory, building materials warehouses, and logistics and service centers. These centers were in no way connected to military operations.
In his remarks on the human and material losses, the Ukrainian president sharply criticized the ongoing delays in supplying his country with the necessary defense systems. Furthermore, he emphasized that providing ballistic missile interceptor systems would have prevented these massacres and losses. He addressed a direct message to allies, stating that “delaying or refusing to provide anti-ballistic missile systems directly leads to these casualties and horrific destruction.”
Zelensky concluded his appeal by urging international partners unable to provide immediate air defenses to tighten economic sanctions against Moscow. He revealed that a significant portion of Russia’s ballistic missile industry remains outside the scope of current sanctions. Furthermore, Zelensky also called on the G7 countries and the European Union to take decisive, comprehensive steps to curb Russia’s missile capabilities. He emphasized the need to deprive Russia of its sources of funding and manufacturing capacity.
