At least 14 people have been killed and about 60 others injured after Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, ahead of a crucial NATO summit in Turkey.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia fired 68 missiles and 351 attack drones overnight, with apartment buildings among the targets. The attack, the second on Kyiv in a week involving ballistic missiles, left extensive damage to residential buildings and prompted emergency rescue operations.
Zelensky urged NATO allies to strengthen Ukraine's air defence capabilities, saying the country urgently needs more interceptor missiles for its Patriot defence systems to counter Russia's ballistic missile attacks.
"It is critically important that the world, first and foremost the United States and our European partners, come out of the NATO Summit in Ankara with strong decisions in support of our air defence," Zelensky said.
The European Union also called for additional air defence support, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying Ukraine urgently requires reinforcements.
Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed carrying out what it described as a "massive strike" using missiles and drones, claiming it targeted military-industrial, fuel and energy facilities across several Ukrainian regions.
Meanwhile, Russia said it intercepted more than 500 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that several waves of drones were heading toward the Russian capital.
The latest escalation comes as diplomatic efforts to end the more than four-year war remain stalled. US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit, with the White House saying discussions will focus on efforts to end the conflict. Trump is also expected to hold follow-up talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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