Russian strikes kill 10 in Kyiv; Ukraine sinks Russian container ship

Russian ballistic missiles and drones struck Kyiv early Saturday, killing at least 10 people and wounding over 30, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks targeted five districts of the capital, damaging residential buildings, vehicles, warehouses, and the Lithuanian embassy. In the eastern Darnytsky district, seven people were killed and 14 wounded. The western Solomiansky district saw two deaths and eight injuries, with a five-storey residential building partially collapsed and residents trapped inside. One additional death was reported in the Kyiv suburb of Brovary. Emergency services conducted rescue operations at multiple sites where people remained trapped in collapsed structures.

In response, Ukrainian drones sank the Russian-flagged container ship Yanina in the Black Sea early Saturday. The vessel, owned by Rosatom's shipping arm, was carrying civilian goods including frozen food and construction materials near the Russian port of Novorossiysk. All 17 crew members were rescued. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine's involvement, describing the ship as "sanctioned" and citing Russia's alleged use of the waterway to transport sanctioned goods including oil.

Zelenskyy reiterated calls for Patriot air defence systems, stating that the shortage of ballistic missile interceptors encourages Russian attacks. He reported speaking Friday with US Vice President JD Vance and described an earlier meeting with President Donald Trump as "positive and productive." However, Trump appeared to walk back an earlier commitment made at a NATO summit in July to license Patriot production to Ukraine, saying Friday that Washington had not yet agreed to the proposal and must be "very careful" about transferring such technology.

The strikes came two days after a large-scale Russian attack across Ukraine that killed 10 civilians and wounded more than 50, and followed reports of a Russian missile entering Polish airspace. Russia's defence ministry claimed it had targeted "military-industrial complex enterprises and logistics centres." Both Ukraine and Russia deny targeting civilians. The attacks reflect an escalation of long-range strikes in recent weeks, with Russia reportedly more than doubling its missile use last month.