Kyiv regional governor Oleksii Kuleba said the strike took place in the region around the capital. It was not yet clear if there were any casualties. Deputy head of the presidential office Kyrylo Tymoshenko told Telegram that they “hit critical infrastructure facilities” in the region, without elaborating which ones. In the southern city of Mykolaiv, overnight shelling destroyed a five-story apartment building as fighting continued on Ukraine’s southern front. Mykolayiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkovic said the top two floors of the building were completely destroyed in a single attack and the rest of the building was left in ruins. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries. Early morning attacks on Ukraine’s southern front have become a daily occurrence in Russia’s war, as Kiev’s forces push for a counteroffensive aimed at recapturing territory seized by Moscow. Attacks in Kyiv had become rare before the capital was hit at least four times during Monday’s mass attacks, which killed at least 19 people and injured more than 100 across the country. Western leaders pledged this week to send more weapons to Ukraine, including air defense systems and weapons that Kyiv said are critical to defeating Russian invasion forces. Britain said Thursday it will provide missiles for advanced NASAM anti-aircraft systems the Pentagon plans to send to Ukraine in the coming weeks. It is also sending hundreds of additional aerial drones for intelligence gathering and logistics support, as well as another 18 howitzer guns. UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said “these weapons will help Ukraine defend its skies from attack and strengthen its overall missile defense alongside the US NASAMS”. The systems, which Kyiv has long wanted, would provide medium- to long-range defense against missile attacks. The offer comes as NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels, aiming to help bolster Ukraine’s air defenses after Monday’s widespread Russian attack. Ukraine’s military said this week that its current air defenses have shot down dozens of incoming Russian missiles and Shahed-136 drones, the so-called kamikaze drones that have played an increasingly deadly role in the war.
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