Russia strikes Kyiv overnight; at least 17 killed, 40+ wounded; critical infrastructure hit

Russian missiles and drones struck Kyiv around midnight, killing at least 17 people and injuring more than 40, according to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service as reported by BBC News. Apartment blocks, warehouses, a children's hospital, and a school were damaged across the city. The strikes cut power to thousands of properties in the Kyiv region, and the mayor warned residents in the Desnyansky and part of the Dnipro districts may experience disrupted hot water supply.

The attack marks the first time in several months that critical infrastructure in the capital was purposefully targeted, according to Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko. In the Brovary and Boryspil districts, one man was killed and seven wounded. In the Donetsk region, one person was killed and 11 injured, a local official said. A day of mourning is to be observed on Friday.

The Ukrainian Air Force indicated Thursday morning that none of the Russian ballistic missiles used overnight were intercepted, per BBC reporting. Ukraine has relied on American supplies of Patriot interceptor missiles to defend against Russian ballistic missiles, but the US has used much of its stockpile during the war with Iran, according to BBC reporting. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement that "the interceptors for the Patriots have not yet been replaced, and they are needed every day. Each additional missile saves the lives of our people." Klitschko echoed the request, saying Ukraine continues to face a shortage of air defence missiles and needs "ammunition, anti-missile systems, we need support from our partners."

Zelensky stated that "as long as Ukraine does not have enough anti-ballistics, Russia will not seriously think about peace." Ukraine's deputy intelligence chief told BBC that this kind of attack was the sort Russia was planning ahead of winter to make life difficult for civilians.

The Russian defence ministry said it used air, land and sea-based weapons to target military facilities and warehouses, according to BBC reporting. A UN spokesman said UN secretary-general António Guterres "strongly condemned" the strikes and was "deeply concerned" by the escalation.

Separately, BBC reporting notes that Russia's defence ministry said 726 Ukrainian drones were shot down after being launched at various regions across Russia. Ukraine targeted Moscow with a wave of 600 drones at the weekend, per BBC. According to BBC, two separate attacks on Russia this week killed at least 16 people, including one child.