KYIV, Aug 8: Four people, including a child, were killed in Russian drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said, as the country’s air defences struggled to intercept the latest barrage.
Two grandparents and their three-year-old grandson were killed after Russian drones destroyed their home in the Brovary district of Kyiv region. Three other family members and a neighbour were injured and taken to hospital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said another person was killed in Kyiv in a strike involving six ballistic missiles targeting civilian infrastructure.
Ukraine’s Air Force said it intercepted or downed 135 of 151 Russian drones launched overnight. The attack also involved six ballistic missiles and other guided missiles.
The strikes came amid growing concerns over Ukraine’s shortage of air-defence interceptors, particularly ammunition for US-made Patriot systems capable of countering ballistic missiles.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continued its long-range strikes on Russian energy facilities. In the Krasnodar region, five people were injured after debris from a downed drone sparked a fire at the Ilsky Oil Refinery, local authorities said.
The latest escalation comes as Zelenskyy is visiting Serbia for talks with President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Djuro Macut on economic cooperation, European Union ties and security issues.
