Russian attacks in Kyiv and the surrounding region killed four people, including a 3-year-old child, Ukrainian officials said Saturday.
_x000D_The Russian attacks in Kyiv came as Ukrainian air defenses struggled to stop another major overnight barrage of drones and missiles. Ukraine, meanwhile, reported strikes on oil facilities deep inside Russia.
_x000D_ _x000D_Grandparents and Grandson Killed in Kyiv Region
_x000D_Multiple Russian drones destroyed a home in the Brovary district of Kyiv region early Saturday.
_x000D_Two grandparents and their 3-year-old grandson died in the attack, local authorities said. The strike reduced the family home to rubble and damaged nearby buildings and vehicles.
_x000D_Three other family members and a neighbor who went to help were hospitalized.
_x000D_In Kyiv city, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said another person died after a Russian strike involving six ballistic missiles targeted civilian infrastructure.
_x000D_Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted or destroyed 135 of 151 Russian drones launched overnight. The attack also included six ballistic missiles and other guided weapons.
_x000D_ _x000D_Ukraine Faces Growing Air Defense Pressure
_x000D_The latest Russian attacks in Kyiv highlight Ukraine’s continuing shortage of air defense ammunition.
_x000D_Moscow has repeatedly launched large drone and missile barrages against Ukrainian cities during its full-scale invasion. Russia says it targets military facilities, while Ukrainian officials say civilian areas have repeatedly suffered damage and casualties.
_x000D_Ukraine is particularly short of interceptors for U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems. The system remains one of the few weapons available to Ukraine that can counter ballistic missiles.
_x000D_Zelenskyy has urged international partners, especially the United States, to provide additional Patriot ammunition.
_x000D_He has also called for stronger sanctions aimed at restricting Russia’s ability to produce ballistic missiles.
_x000D_Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses destroyed about 5,300 Russian drones and missiles last month. Russia launched around 9,000 attack drones and missiles during the same period, according to the ministry.
_x000D_ _x000D_Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Facilities
_x000D_The fighting also extended deep into Russian territory.
_x000D_Six people were wounded after a fire broke out at the Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region. Local officials said debris from a downed drone caused the fire.
_x000D_Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces struck the Ilsky refinery and the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara region.
_x000D_The Samara regional governor confirmed that drones hit an industrial facility but did not identify the site as the refinery.
_x000D_Ukraine has carried out frequent long-range drone strikes against Russian oil facilities in recent months. Kyiv says the attacks aim to disrupt Russia’s military and economic infrastructure.
_x000D_ _x000D_Zelenskyy Visits Serbia
_x000D_The latest Russian attacks in Kyiv came shortly after Zelenskyy arrived in Serbia for his first official visit to the country.
_x000D_Serbia has maintained relatively friendly relations with Russia despite Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
_x000D_Zelenskyy said he planned talks with Serbian President Aleksandar VuÄić and Prime Minister Äuro Macut.
_x000D_The discussions are expected to cover economic relations, Serbia’s relationship with the European Union and security issues.
_x000D_As Russian strikes continue and Ukraine faces pressure on its air defense systems, Kyiv is seeking more international support to protect its cities and civilian population.