Trending 
Russian missile and drone attacks have killed at least eight people and wounded dozens across Ukraine, authorities said on Thursday, following warnings from President Volodymyr Zelensky that Moscow was preparing another large-scale assault.
A ballistic missile struck a residential area near the central city of Kryvyi Rih, killing four adults and two children aged five and 12, according to local officials. Eight others were injured in the attack, with Kryvyi Rih’s defence council warning that the number of casualties could increase.
The strikes also affected several other parts of the country. In eastern Ukraine’s Poltava region, officials said one person was killed after a drone hit a warehouse, while at least 15 people were injured in attacks on the western city of Lviv.
In the capital Kyiv, one person was killed and two others injured after Russia launched ballistic weapons at the city, according to the Kyiv city military administration. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Russian forces were “attacking the capital with ballistic weapons” and warned residents to remain in shelters.
“The threat of further attack remains present. Stay in shelters!” Klitschko said, as emergency crews responded to fires reported in several districts. Additional injuries were recorded in an eastern district of Kyiv.
The latest attacks came after Zelensky warned late Wednesday that Russia had prepared a major strike.
“The Russians prepared a massive attack several days ago, and there is a high probability that the strike will be carried out tonight,” he said in a post on X, urging Ukrainians to pay attention to air raid alerts and seek safety.
Zelensky also renewed calls for greater military support from Kyiv’s allies, particularly additional air defence capabilities. He said discussions with US President Donald Trump included possible cooperation on producing Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukraine says it urgently needs to counter Russian ballistic attacks.
The attacks follow a period of intensified Russian long-range strikes. The United Nations has said the previous month was the deadliest for civilians in Ukraine since April 2022, as Moscow increased attacks on cities and civilian areas.
Ukraine has also stepped up strikes on Russian targets in recent months, seeking to increase pressure on Moscow as diplomatic efforts continue after more than four years of war.
