Three killed, including child, in Russian missile strike near Kyiv

Russia intensified its overnight bombardment across several Ukrainian regions on Tuesday, striking power substations, residential districts and transport hubs in a coordinated series of air and missile strikes. Ukrainian officials reported multiple explosions in the eastern city of Donetsk and the northern oblast of Chernihiv, with emergency services confirming several injuries but no confirmed fatalities. The attacks, which began shortly after midnight, were carried out by Russian air forces and unmanned aerial systems, and were described by Kyiv’s defense ministry as an attempt to degrade the country’s critical infrastructure ahead of the upcoming spring offensive.

In a televised address earlier in the day, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine’s stockpiles of missile interceptors are rapidly depleting, raising concerns about the nation’s ability to defend against the heightened Russian assault. He appealed to international partners for accelerated delivery of air‑defense systems, emphasizing that the shortfall could leave major cities more vulnerable to further strikes. The warning underscores the growing strain on Ukraine’s defensive capabilities as the conflict enters its second year, and highlights the strategic importance of external military aid in sustaining the country’s air‑defense shield.