Two dead, 19 wounded as Russia strikes Ukraine with missiles, drones
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Russia struck Ukraine on Saturday with 6 ballistic missiles, 6 cruise missiles, and 121 drones, killing 2 and wounding 19 across Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv, Ukraine's air force said.
- Ukraine's air force downed 2 cruise missiles and 111 of the 121 drones, but Zelensky said most ballistic missiles got through, hitting civilian infrastructure even before the air raid alert was issued.
- Ukraine is critically low on Patriot interceptor munitions and has been largely unable to down ballistic missiles over the past month, prompting Zelensky to call for swifter delivery of air defense packages agreed at this week's NATO summit.
- Trump said this week the U.S. will grant Ukraine a license to produce its own Patriot interceptor missiles, and Zelensky announced a political agreement between Kyiv and Washington has already been reached.
- Russian strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region have killed more than 60 people so far this month as Moscow has stepped up attacks on the capital in recent weeks.
- Ukraine's drone forces chief Robert Brovdi said his units struck 21 fuel tanker vessels in the Sea of Azov overnight plus 7 cargo and support ships, reaching 76 vessels hit this week.
Why it matters: Russia fired 6 ballistic missiles and nearly all reached their targets because Ukraine lacks Patriot interceptors — a shortage that has already contributed to 60+ deaths in the Kyiv region this month. The newly announced U.S. license for Ukraine to produce its own Patriot missiles directly addresses that shortfall.
