Continued Russian Attacks on Kiev and Regional Impact

Local officials reported on Saturday that four people, including a child, were killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, and the surrounding areas. Amidst these attacks, Ukraine targeted another oil refinery in Russia.

The residents of Ukraine have been enduring relentless drone and missile strikes. The country’s weakened air defenses struggle to repel these assaults during Moscow’s large-scale invasion, now in its fifth year. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s repeated strikes on Russian oil facilities have led to fuel shortages, causing concern among Russians.

Grandparents and Grandson Killed in Brovary District

A set of grandparents and their 3-year-old grandson died when multiple Russian drones destroyed their home in the Brovary district, northeast of Kiev. This incident occurred early Saturday morning. Three other family members and a neighbor who came to assist were hospitalized, according to local authorities. The attack demolished the house, wrecked nearby structures, and damaged vehicles.

In Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that another person was killed in a ‘six ballistic missile attack on civilian infrastructure.’

According to Ukraine’s air force, 135 of the 151 drones launched by Russia overnight were intercepted or shot down. The barrage also included six ballistic missiles and other guided projectiles.

Continuous Russian Attacks on Ukraine

Russia has persistently targeted civilian areas in Ukraine. Moscow claims its forces only aim at military installations. The Kremlin is taking advantage of the critical shortage of interceptors for Ukraine’s U.S.-made Patriot defense systems. These are their only effective tools against ballistic missiles.

Zelenskyy has appealed to other nations, particularly the United States, for more ammunition, which is now scarce due to the war with Iran. Should assistance not arrive, he aims to manufacture ammunition for the Patriots in Ukraine or gain permission from Elon Musk to use his Starlink satellite communications system for attacks within Russia against missile launchers.

Following recent offensives, Zelenskyy called for more sanctions via X to ‘halt the production of these ballistic missiles’ along with ‘anti-ballistic capabilities’ and ‘interceptor missiles.’

Ukraine’s defense systems downed approximately 5,300 drones and missiles last month, said the Ministry of Defense in Kiev on Friday. This accounted for slightly less than 60% of the nearly 9,000 drones and projectiles launched by Russia during the same period.

Ukraine Hits Russian Oil Facility

In Russia, six people were injured due to a fire at the Ilsky oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region, caused by falling debris from a drone, according to local officials.

The Ukrainian General Staff stated their forces targeted the facility in Krasnodar, as well as the Syzran oil refinery in the Samara region, over 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the border. The governor of Russia’s Samara region, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, mentioned drones hitting an ‘industrial company,’ but did not specify the refinery.

Ukraine’s long-range drone and missile assaults, which occur almost daily and use domestically-produced weapons, have targeted Russian oil facilities for months. This campaign has resulted in a fuel crisis embarrassing for the Kremlin.

Zelenskyy Visits Serbia

The attacks came just hours after Zelenskyy arrived in Serbia on Friday for his first official visit. Serbia remains one of the few European countries maintaining a friendly relationship with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine.

‘Important talks are scheduled for today and tomorrow,’ said Zelenskyy on Friday. He plans to meet his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, and Prime Minister Djuro Macut.

‘We will discuss expanding economic ties between our countries, relations with the European Union, and practical opportunities benefiting our peoples, as well as security issues,’ Zelenskyy explained.

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Elise Morton from The Associated Press contributed reporting from London. This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of generative AI tools.