4 people were killed by Russian missiles and drone strikes in Ukraine

Russian missile and drone attacks An airstrike in Ukraine overnight into Saturday killed at least four people and wounded 20 others, officials said, prompting Ukraine’s president to make new calls for Western air defense systems.

In the capital, Kiev, two people were killed and 13 others were injured in a ballistic missile attack in the early hours of Saturday morning, Kiev police said.

The Ukrainian State Emergency Service wrote on the messaging app Telegram that a fire broke out in a non-residential building at one site, while debris from the intercepted missiles fell into an open area at another site, damaging windows in nearby buildings.

City Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram during the attack: “Explosions in the capital. The city is under a ballistic attack.”

Two people were killed in the Dnipropetrovsk region

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two people were killed and seven injured, acting region governor Vladislav Haivanenko said, adding that residential buildings and private homes were damaged in the strikes.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia launched nine missiles and 62 drones, of which four missiles and 50 drones were intercepted.

In Russia, the Ministry of Defense said that its air defenses shot down 121 Ukrainian drones over Russia overnight.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that such attacks increase Ukraine’s need for Patriot defense systems.

“It is precisely because of such attacks that we pay special attention to Patriot systems – so that we can protect our cities from this horror. It is crucial that partners with the relevant capabilities implement what we have discussed in recent days," Books in English on X.

“America, Europe and the G7 countries can help ensure that such attacks do not threaten lives,” he said.

Ukrainians are adapting

With plumes of smoke from the attack in Kiev rising in the background, Ukrainians, accustomed to frequent Russian air attacks, spent the day shopping unhindered at a popular nearby agricultural market.

“We didn’t know the attack happened here, but even when we found out, we kept coming. Despite the Russian strike, there were still a lot of people here who needed to eat. I knew people would come to shop, " Halina Stetsiora, 54 years old, said:

The fruit and vegetable vendor arrived very early in the morning to set up her stall, while the attacks were still ongoing.

Serhiy Lihus, 53, a beekeeper, said he was driving his car to the market when he heard the explosions. “It was still dark, around 6:30 a.m., and everything was on fire." He said. However, he went to the market to sell his honey.

Svetlana Shchelovska, 40, a customer, said that despite the threat of attacks, “you still need to buy food to have something to eat, and markets like this are not an everyday occasion.”"

Pay for air defences

Zelensky hopes that Ukraine can purchase 25 Patriot missiles from the United States to strengthen its air defenses, especially in cities.

On Friday, Zelensky urged the United States to do so Expanding its sanctions on Russian oil From two companies to the entire sector, he appealed for the use of long-range missiles to respond to Russia.

Zelensky was in London for talks with two dozen European leaders who did just that Pledging military assistance To protect his country from any future Russian aggression if the ceasefire halts the operation More than three years of war.

The meeting, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aims to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding momentum to recent actions that have included… A new round of sanctions From the United States and European countries regarding Russia’s vital revenues from oil and gas exports.

The talks also discussed ways to help protect the Ukrainian electricity grid from the Russian electricity grid Missile and drone attacks are almost daily As winter approaches, Ukrainian air defenses will be strengthened and Kiev will be provided with long-range missiles capable of striking deep into Russia. Zelensky urged the United States to send Tomahawk missiles, an idea that US President Donald Trump took into consideration.

Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, said Friday that he believes Russia, the United States and Ukraine are “very close to a diplomatic solution” to end the three-year-old war.

Speaking to CNN after arriving in Washington for talks with US officials, Dmitriev said the planned summit in Budapest between Trump and Putin had not been canceled but would likely be held at a later date.

Trump said Tuesday to him Plan a quick meeting With Putin it was suspended because he did not want to be a “waste of time”.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made it clear in public statements on Tuesday that Russia opposes an immediate ceasefire.

A White House official confirmed on Friday that Dmitriev, who announced his visit on the 10th of this month, will meet with US envoy Steve Vitkov. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the private meeting publicly.