Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv have killed at least 24 people and injured more than 100, Ukrainian officials said.
The attack came one day before a major NATO summit and marked the second consecutive week in which Russia targeted residential buildings in Kyiv with missiles and drones.
Officials said a morning strike caused severe damage to a multi-storey residential building in Kyiv’s Podilskyi district, damaging several floors of the structure.
According to a news agency report, more than 10 explosions were heard during a ballistic missile alert, while flashes of light were also seen in the sky.
Ukrainian officials said 16 people were killed in Kyiv, while 8 others died in the suburb of Vyshneve.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as brutal, saying Russia’s strategy remained unchanged and was aimed at causing maximum harm and suffering to Ukraine and its people.
Zelensky urged NATO countries to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence against Russian ballistic missiles.
He said Ukraine had intercepted drones and cruise missiles, but still lacked sufficient systems to defend effectively against ballistic missile attacks.
The Ukrainian president expressed hope that important decisions on Ukraine’s air defence would be made during the NATO summit.
NATO chief Mark Rutte said in Ankara that NATO allies and partners must ensure Ukraine receives everything it needs.
The latest strike was the second major Russian attack in a week involving ballistic missiles. Ukraine has again appealed to allies for missiles for the US-made Patriot air defence system.
The NATO summit is being held in Ankara from July 7 to July 8.
