
After Another Night of Horror, Zelensky Implores the West to Send Patriot Missiles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded again with world leaders to provide the beleaguered country with Patriot missiles following a devastating Russian strike overnight in Kyiv that killed at least 12 people and injured about 50 others.
“Last night, Kyiv came under a massive Russian attack,” Zelensky wrote on X, listing 68 missiles and 351 attack drones and detailing the damage, which he said was inflicted at 10 locations.
“So far, 64 people have been rescued, including two children,” he added. “As of now, it has been confirmed that, tragically, eleven people were killed in this attack. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Around 60 more people were injured.”
Later, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on Telegram that the death toll had risen to 12, with three children among the injured and the number of casualties expected to rise as more people are pulled from the rubble. He declared Tuesday a day of mourning for the victims of the attack.
Zelensky implored the United States and Europe to help prevent the loss of civilian life, which he said they have the power to do.
He also said that Ukraine had the capability to intercept Russian drones and cruise missiles, but not the ballistic missiles that were also deployed against the civilians in Kyiv.
“Our warriors performed well today in intercepting drones and cruise missiles, but unfortunately not Russian ballistic missiles,” he wrote on X.
“And the reason lies in the insufficient supply of interceptor missiles,” he explained. “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 defense, and thus the protection of ordinary people’s lives.”
“As long as Patriot missiles remain in our allies’ stockpiles, Russia is only encouraged to keep ‘vanquishing’ residential buildings. The United States and Europe have enough strength to stop this terror,” he said.
The crushing attack follows another devastating wave of strikes against the capital city last week that claimed 13 lives and injured about 80 people.