Russian strikes claim three lives in Ukraine as Zelenskyy urges a boost in air defence
Drones and missiles struck parts of Ukraine during the night, killing at least three people, officials said. One strike follows another without pause now. Because of this, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy keeps pointing to weaker defences when he speaks about help needed from countries in the West.
TL;DR
Fires from Russia killed at least three civilians in Ukraine while night fell. Zelenskyy again asked Western nations for help shielding skies, his words repeated days ago. Missiles launched far beyond borders keep hitting, officials on both sides admit. Talks meant to stop fighting sit frozen, going nowhere under today’s terms.
A blast tore through the night as Russian drones and missiles struck across Ukraine, killing at least three people, authorities spoke out Monday. Following the wreckage, cries from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed beyond borders, urging partners to step up aid aimed at shielding skies.
Midnight passed when Ukraine’s Interior Ministry reported widespread strikes launched by Russian forces using drones together with distant-firing munitions. As Sunday faded into Monday, air defences logged 149 drone sorties and 11 missile discharges originating across the border. Defenders managed to knock down or jam signals for 116 of those flying threats while confirmation on how many missiles were stopped still waits. Across fifteen different areas inside the country, damage occurred where 23 drones reached their targets alongside multiple warheads that evaded interception. By dawn, officials had collected impact data spanning urban and rural zones alike.
A blast from a Russian drone in Bohodukhiv, located roughly 35 miles northwest of Kharkiv, took the life of one woman along with a child aged ten, reported Ukraine’s Interior Ministry via a message on Telegram. Wounded during the same incident: three more individuals among the civilian population. Farther south, within the coastal urban center of Odesa, residential buildings suffered impact from an aerial device; death followed. Among that event's consequences, two others sustained injuries. Fresh information came out after new reports from Ukraine's emergency rescue teams.
Nine people were hurt when Russia hit homes in Shakhtarsk, the interior ministry says. Fires broke out at multiple spots after the strike, and crews rushed in to put them out. Some residents could not stay in their houses, officials reported. Help arrived quickly to support displaced families amid the damage.
After fresh appeals by Zelenskyy for additional Western-supplied air defence gear, attacks occurred. On Sunday, via a social media post, he noted multiple Russian ballistic missiles hitting Kyiv while pointing out the persistent pressure on current defensive capabilities.
“Missiles for air defence are needed every single day,” Zelenskyy said. “Protection against Russian ballistic attacks is needed every single day.” He added that no country should be left without assistance while facing sustained attacks.
During the night, Russian military units intercepted no fewer than seventy-one aerial drones launched by Ukraine. Operations at two regional aviation hubs, Volgograd and Kaluga, were briefly halted. This pause followed alerts tied to unmanned aircraft sightings near airspace corridors. Federal transportation authorities confirmed interruptions without specifying exact timelines. Drone movements prompted safety reviews before services resumed gradually under monitored conditions.
From Kyiv's perspective, striking Russian territory holds justification when aimed at infrastructure tied to conflict support. At the National Aviation University, an address unfolded before learners gathered to listen. Energy facilities were named as valid points of focus due to their role in sustaining hostilities beyond borders. One leader described how fossil fuel income transforms into military hardware across the frontier. Funds derived from such trade enable purchases that later appear on battlefields. The connection drawn was clear: commerce feeds capability, which then impacts lives under fire. A cycle forms where black gold becomes bullets seen falling from the sky.
Even with fighting ongoing, diplomacy continues without pause. Last week brought another meeting, this time in the United Arab Emirates, uniting envoys from the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia. Constructive tones were noted by everyone involved; however, significant progress stayed out of reach. The status of Donbas under occupation remains unsettled, mentioned Kyiv's representatives. Security assurances after conflict ends stand unaddressed as well. So does authority over the Zaporizhzhia facility generating atomic energy.
On Friday, Zelenskyy mentioned the U.S. suggested Miami as the location for upcoming negotiations, expected soon; Ukraine has agreed to attend. While details remain sparse, the proposal came directly from American officials earlier that day; participation will proceed as planned.
Little hope remains, stated Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in comments relayed by Tass, for stronger economic ties between Moscow and Washington. As the conflict nears three years, signals from across the Atlantic suggest penalties may grow, President Donald Trump indicating fresh measures might follow absent progress toward settlement.