Russian strikes hit Kyiv as Moscow bolsters domestic air defenses

Russian missile and aerial bombardment targeted Ukrainian regions including Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia, resulting in at least 17 deaths and dozens of injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed calls for Western missile interceptors, stating that such systems "could have saved the lives" of those killed. Zelensky also affirmed that Ukrainian forces will not voluntarily withdraw from the Donbas region.

Concurrently, Ukrainian drone attacks hit targets across Belgorod, Crimea, and the outskirts of Moscow, causing casualties among civilians. To counter these persistent aerial threats, Russian commanders deployed three concentric rings of air defense around Moscow and Saint Petersburg, reassigning defensive batteries from other sectors. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump voiced caution regarding sensitive military technology transfers related to air defense systems promised to Ukraine.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica, La Stampa.