At least four people were killed and 15 others injured after Russia launched a large overnight missile and drone attack on the Kyiv region early Saturday, local officials said.
Mykola Kalashnyk, head of Kyiv’s regional administration, said the strikes hit four districts, damaging homes, schools, businesses and key infrastructure. Three of the injured were in critical condition and two of them were undergoing surgery, he said in a social media post.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the main target of the attack was energy infrastructure in the Kyiv region. According to him, Russia launched about 430 drones and 68 missiles during the overnight assault.
The attack came shortly after the United States postponed planned peace talks between Russia and Ukraine this week, citing the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Despite strong criticism of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, Russia has not taken direct action to support its ally. Analysts say Moscow’s limited response shows the limits of its influence, although the Kremlin could still gain from the situation. Rising global energy prices are boosting Russia’s revenues, while the Middle East conflict may also shift international attention away from Ukraine.
Zelenskyy warned that Russia could use the global crisis to intensify attacks on Ukraine and urged Western partners to focus fully on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense.
“Russia will try to take advantage of the war in the Middle East to cause even more destruction here in Europe, in Ukraine,” he said on social media. He called for increased production of air defense missiles in Europe, especially those capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, to better protect civilians.
Ukraine is also waiting for approval from the White House for a proposed joint drone production agreement with the United States, which Kyiv believes would help strengthen its defenses.
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy also criticized Washington’s decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil exports for 30 days, saying the move could provide Moscow with about $10 billion and prolong the war.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck targets in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight. Local officials said an oil refinery and the Port Kavkaz facility were hit, injuring three people and damaging a service vessel and port infrastructure.
Authorities also said falling drone debris caused a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery, though no casualties were reported there.
Both Russia and Ukraine have recently claimed progress along the front lines, with Kyiv saying its forces pushed back Russian troops in some areas, while Moscow insists its offensive continues to advance.