Three people — one of whom was a child — lost their lives when Russian ballistic missiles struck the eastern outskirts of Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday. Witnesses heard a series of roaring explosions, and debris shattered nearby apartment blocks and cars, igniting a blaze that spread to a nearby garage and a fuel tank.
Emergency crews were dispatched to extinguish fires while the Ukrainian state emergency service (DSNS) posted photos of the destruction, noting that further victim counts were pending. The head of the regional military administration, Timur Tkachenko, reported that three additional people were wounded by the strikes.
In a separate but related development, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Serbia, emphasizing the need for more missile‑interceptor systems. He warned that the dwindling supply of anti‑ballistic interceptors has left Ukraine exposed, arguing that a stronger shield could have saved lives in the recent deadly assaults.
Stated in a press briefing, Zelensky said that interceptors supplied by allies had been significantly reduced this year, contributing to the severe casualties. He also referenced Ukraine’s retaliation against Russian oil refineries and the financing of Russian war efforts via oil revenues.
