Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine / Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Russia has fired more than 100 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and its suburbs in just two weeks, while deliveries of the interceptors Ukraine needs to stop them remain delayed.
"Since Oct. 14 alone, there have already been several Russian ballistic attacks," Zelenskyy said. "In fact, more than 100 ballistic missiles have been launched against Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast in just two weeks."
Air defenses stretched thin
Zelenskyy said the delivery of air defense equipment remains "severely limited" and has been delayed, and thanked partners providing assistance on time. He emphasized that Ukraine is currently struggling to defend itself against Russian ballistic missiles.
"We are doing everything possible to preserve our energy system, infrastructure and logistics," he said. "And the task is extremely difficult. Unfortunately, there have also been casualties."
The October 26 attack
Zelenskyy pointed to Russia's October 26 attack on Kyiv, which damaged the campus of Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics, Kyoto Park, residential buildings, a bridge across the Dnipro River and metro infrastructure.
BusinessToday, citing a Ukrainian military source, reported that Russia hit Kyiv's Southern Bridge with four Iskander ballistic missiles in overnight strikes, killing at least one person, and that energy facilities, logistics and infrastructure in 10 other regions were also attacked. Moscow's Defense Ministry said it struck transport infrastructure in the capital, a logistics hub in the Kharkiv region, and industrial facilities and cargo vessels, describing the targets as military.
A war of attrition over the capital
The barrage on Kyiv comes as Russia and Ukraine continue to clash along the front line, with Ukraine's General Staff reporting 178 combat engagements in a single day, the fiercest fighting in the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole sectors.
Overnight from October 27 into October 28, Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched an Iskander ballistic missile and 88 attack drones, and that air defenses shot down or suppressed 71 of the drones, with impacts recorded at eight locations.
For Kyiv's residents, the numbers translate into nights spent in metro stations used as shelters and days assessing damage to homes, universities and bridges. Zelenskyy's message to partners was blunt: the missiles keep coming, and the interceptors meant to stop them are not arriving fast enough.
Sources: The New Voice of Ukraine (Zelenskyy's October 27 remarks, 100+ missile figure, delayed interceptor deliveries, October 26 damage); BusinessToday (Southern Bridge hit with four Iskander missiles, one killed, 10 regions attacked, Russian Defense Ministry account); Ukraine Air Force via Mezha (overnight October 27-28 drone and missile attack, 71 drones downed). Casualty and damage figures are as reported by the outlets cited; Russian and Ukrainian accounts of targets differ.