Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Kill 12 Across Ukraine as Zelenskyy Condemns ‘Horrific Attacks’

KYIV: Russian missile and drone attacks killed at least 12 civilians and wounded around 40 others across several regions of Ukraine, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to condemn the assaults as “horrific” and renew calls for stronger international air defense support.

The deadliest attack struck the central city of Dnipro, where a Russian missile killed six people and injured 29 others after damaging civilian infrastructure. In the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, a Russian drone struck a passenger minibus, killing three civilians and wounding several others. Additional fatalities were reported in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv regions following separate drone and aerial attacks.

Ukrainian authorities said the latest wave of strikes also damaged homes, businesses, schools, vehicles, and energy infrastructure, with emergency blackouts imposed in several regions as soaring summer temperatures increased electricity demand. Rescue operations continued at multiple sites affected by the attacks.

President Zelenskyy urged European allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, particularly against ballistic missiles, describing the continued attacks on civilian areas as acts of terror. He stressed that additional defensive systems remain essential to protecting lives and critical infrastructure.

The attacks came amid an intensifying phase of the conflict, with Ukraine stepping up long-range drone strikes on Russian military and energy facilities in recent weeks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that the Ukrainian campaign has disrupted fuel supplies but has vowed to continue Moscow’s military operations despite mounting pressure.