Russian missile strikes kill four in Kyiv as Ukraine presses US for Patriot production
Fresh Russian ballistic missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital have killed at least four people, intensifying pressure on Kyiv to secure domestic production of vital air defence systems amid complex US negotiations.
At least four people were killed and 15 others wounded in Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv early Saturday, according to local officials. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the casualties, which include two boys aged 13 and 17, following more than ten explosions across the capital.
Fires broke out across the city, causing power outages in several areas. A residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district was partially destroyed with people trapped inside, while a warehouse caught fire in Darnytskyi.
This escalation follows a widespread Russian attack two days prior that killed at least eight people, including six members of a single family near Kryvyih Rih. During that same assault, a suspected Russian cruise missile landed in Poland, raising regional security alarms.
The intensified bombardment underscores Ukraine’s critical shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles, currently its only reliable defence against ballistic threats. President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to Washington DC earlier this week to urge the United States to grant Ukraine a licence to produce the systems domestically.
However, US President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that no agreement has been reached. Speaking at a Camp David cabinet meeting, Trump stated that talks are ongoing but emphasised the US must be "very careful about letting somebody build them", describing the transfer of production rights as "a big step".
These remarks arrive just weeks after Trump offered Ukraine the right to manufacture the interceptors. The hesitation highlights growing complexities in Western military aid and the strategic sensitivities surrounding advanced weapons technology sharing.
In response to the sustained aerial campaign, Kyiv has increasingly targeted Russian logistical and economic infrastructure. Recent Ukrainian strikes have focused on retail warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer.
Ukrainian authorities state these operations aim to disrupt logistics hubs used for purchasing military equipment. This strategy seeks to degrade the Russian army’s supply chains while compensating for the immediate shortfall in air defence capabilities.
