Ukraine intercepted just one of 27 Russian ballistic missiles during a massive overnight assault, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned critical shortages of Patriot interceptors are leaving the country increasingly vulnerable to deadly strikes. The barrage targeted Kyiv and several other regions, killing at least nine people and injuring 30 more, including four children, in one of Russia's most intense attacks in recent weeks. Missile and Drone Barrage Overwhelms Defences According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 35 missiles and 185 drones overnight, combining ballistic missiles, anti-ship missiles, guided aerial missiles and multiple types of attack drones in a coordinated assault. The main target was the Kyiv region, while Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Poltava also came under attack. The scale and variety of the strike placed significant pressure on Ukraine's already stretched air defence network. Patriot Shortage Exposed Preliminary military figures showed Ukrainian air defences destroyed or suppressed 156 incoming targets, including 154 drones, one Kh-59/69 guided missile and only a single Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missile. Of the 27 ballistic missiles launched, 26 reached their intended targets. Four anti-ship missiles and 23 attack drones also struck 21 separate locations, while debris from intercepted weapons fell at two sites. Three missiles reportedly failed to reach their targets. Zelenskyy said the inability to intercept ballistic missiles reflected a severe shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles, arguing the gap was encouraging Russia to continue launching high-intensity attacks. Kyiv Bears the Brunt The overnight strike caused widespread destruction across the capital, with fires and damage reported in the Solomianskyi, Darnytskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Dniprovskyi and Pecherskyi districts. Emergency services continued rescue and recovery operations after residential areas were hit. The death toll stood at nine, with 30 people injured, including four children, although officials warned casualty numbers could still rise. Pressure Mounts on Ukraine's Allies The attack underlines Russia's continued reliance on large-scale missile barrages to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences while highlighting Kyiv's growing dependence on Western-supplied air defence systems. As ballistic missile stocks and interceptor supplies become an increasingly decisive factor, Ukraine is likely to intensify calls for additional Patriot systems and munitions, arguing that shortages are now translating directly into civilian casualties and greater destruction on the ground. Ukraine's air defenses intercept just 1 of 27 Russian ballistic missiles overnight
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