Zelensky renews calls for more air defence after deadly strike on Kyiv

Deutsche Tageszeitung - Zelensky renews calls for more air defence after deadly strike on Kyiv

Zelensky renews calls for more air defence after deadly strike on Kyiv / Photo: © AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday renewed his plea for more air-defence systems a day after Russian strikes on Kyiv killed seven people.

Change text size:

His latest comments came after Russian missiles struck apartment blocks across the Ukrainian capital Friday.

Russia's invasion has dragged on for nearly four years, with diplomatic efforts to end the war failing, and fears are growing for the country's energy security ahead of a fourth winter of war.

Ukraine said Russian attacks had killed four people in its southern region Saturday.

"Ukraine needs support that saves lives: more air-defence systems, more protective capabilities and greater resolve from our partners," Zelensky said on social media.

Earlier, officials had said the death toll from Friday's attack on Kyiv had risen to seven after an elderly woman died in hospital.

Zelensky said one of the victims was Nataliia Khodemnchuk, the wife of an operator at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant who died during the 1986 nuclear disaster.

"Nearly four decades later, Nataliia was killed in a new tragedy caused once again by the Kremlin," he said.

Other victims of the attack included a couple in their 70s and a 62-year-old.

Ukraine also said Saturday it had attacked a Russian oil refinery near Moscow.

The Ukrainian army said on social media it had hit a refinery in the Ryazan region near Moscow. The strike, it said, was "part of efforts to reduce the enemy's ability to launch missile and bomb strikes".

Ukraine has regularly staged missile and drone attacks inside Russia throughout the Kremlin's invasion since 2022.

Ryazan governor Pavel Malkov said Russian air defences had shot down 25 Ukrainian drones over the region during the night.

"Falling debris caused a fire on the premises of one enterprise" but there had been no casualties, Malkov said on Telegram.

(Y.Leyard--DTZ)

Iran Warns South Korea Against Naval Expansion Near Strait of Hormuz

Iran has formally warned South Korea against deploying naval forces near the Strait of Hormuz, characterizing Seoul’s plan to extend the mission of its antipiracy unit as a hostile act tied to the conflict between the United States and Iran. The diplomatic dispute arises as South Korea seeks legislative approval to broaden the operational scope of the Cheonghae Unit.

Miss Universe Visa Controversy: Zambia and Congo Winners Denied Entry

The winners of the Miss Universe pageant representing Zambia and the Republic of the Congo have been unable to obtain visas to enter the United States. This development underscores the impact of sweeping travel restrictions imposed by the US government during Donald Trump's second administration, which have affected dozens of countries, particularly those in Africa.

Judge Denies Peltola Campaign’s Request for Alaska Absentee Ballot Data

An Anchorage Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a lawsuit filed by the campaign of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola, which sought detailed data on rejected absentee ballots from the Alaska Division of Elections. The ruling halts the campaign’s attempt to identify voters whose ballots were invalidated and understand the specific reasons for those rejections while the state continues its critical vote-counting operations.

Mkhwanazi and Former Ekurhuleni Officials to Face Court Over Blue Lights Scandal

Former Ekurhuleni metropolitan police department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and three former senior municipal officials are set to stand trial in the regional court on February 25, 2027. The case centers on allegations that the group facilitated the installation of unauthorized blue lights on vehicles linked to businessman Vusimuzi Matlala through fraudulent agreements.