Zelenskiy stressed the need for improved air defense systems after a recent Russian drone attack

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Sunday that Ukraine must enhance its air defense capabilities to safeguard its citizens, following the successful interception of 50 out of 73 Russian drones launched overnight across various regions.

“An air alert has been issued nearly every day in Ukraine this week,” Zelenskiy communicated via the Telegram messaging platform. He noted that over the past week, Russia deployed more than 800 guided aerial bombs, approximately 460 attack drones, and over 20 missiles of different types.

“Ukraine is not a testing ground for weapons. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent nation. Yet, Russia persists in its attempts to harm our people, instill fear and panic, and undermine our strength,” he remarked.

Earlier on Sunday, the Ukrainian military reported that air defense units had successfully destroyed over 10 Russian drones targeting Kyiv during an overnight assault.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties resulting from the attack, as indicated by Kyiv’s military administration on Telegram.

Explosions were reported in Kyiv, indicating the activation of air defense systems, according to witnesses from Reuters.

Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration, stated, “Unmanned aerial vehicles were approaching Kyiv from various directions.” He added that the air raid alert in the city persisted for over three hours. There has been no immediate response from Russia regarding the incident.