Zelensky Reports Overwhelmed Air Defenses Following Russian Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for increased Western air defense support after a recent Russian attack that resulted in at least nine fatalities and 30 injuries, including four children. The attack, which occurred overnight, involved 27 ballistic missiles, of which only one was intercepted. Zelensky highlighted the urgent need for US-made Patriot missile interceptors to protect Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from aerial assaults. He noted that the ongoing shortage of these interceptors is contributing to the frequency and severity of Russian strikes. In a related statement, US President Donald Trump expressed hesitance about allowing Ukraine to manufacture its own Patriot interceptors, citing concerns over technology transfer. The recent attacks have also resulted in significant damage to residential buildings and infrastructure in various regions, including Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Poltava. Local authorities reported that at least 14 civilians have died and 87 have been injured across Ukraine in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that it intercepted and destroyed 274 Ukrainian drones targeting its territory overnight.