Russian strikes kill eight in Ukraine as Zelenskyy seeks faster air defences

Kyiv,UPDATED: Jun 29, 2026 18:42 IST

Russian missiles and drones killed at least eight civilians and injured 35 others in Ukraine on Monday, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as “horrific attacks”. The strikes came as Russia continued its long-running bombardment campaign, which Ukraine says is aimed at damaging infrastructure and wearing down public morale.

The attacks also disrupted electricity supply in parts of the country, with the grid operator saying customers in eight regions were left without power as hot weather pushed up demand. Zelenskyy used the latest strikes to renew his call for Europe to speed up the development of air defence systems, especially to counter ballistic missiles.

Zelenskyy said a Russian missile targeting infrastructure hit the central city of Dnipro, killing five people and injuring 29. He said Russian drones also struck a passenger minibus in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing three people and injuring six, including a child.

In the north-eastern Sumy region, Police said Russian drones killed a 69-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man. Authorities also reported deadly attacks in at least six other regions of Ukraine.

“People need greater protection from such horrific attacks,” Zelenskyy said. “Above all, we need anti-ballistic capabilities. It is essential that Europe is as active as possible in developing its own anti-ballistic defence – its own systems and missiles.” The UN says more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbour more than four years ago.

Western officials say the war has shifted in recent months as Ukraine’s expanding drone strikes have caused fuel shortages in Russia and Russian-occupied territory. Analysts say the attacks have weakened Russian military supply lines to the front in eastern and southern Ukraine and slowed their advance. Ukraine’s drone engineering has also helped it build an advantage in the war and support partner countries after earlier seeking military help from abroad.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that repeated Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on oil facilities had caused fuel shortages. The shortages have led to public anger and long queues at petrol stations, but Putin ruled out any concessions to end the invasion and said Russia would ultimately prevail despite what he called “temporary” setbacks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s position on Ukraine remained unchanged and that Russian troops were continuing their offensive. Their effort “makes us confident that our goals will be achieved”, Peskov told reporters.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said the Kremlin’s position was an attempt to push the West and Ukraine into accepting Russia’s demands. But, it added, “Russia’s battlefield performance continues to decline in 2026 and Russia’s ability to seize its objectives militarily is in question.” Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences downed 209 Ukrainian drones from late Sunday to early Monday, while Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 82 of the 108 drones launched by Russia overnight.

The latest wave of attacks underlined the continuing intensity of the war, with civilian deaths, power cuts and duelling drone strikes on both sides, even as Ukraine pressed for stronger air defences and Russia insisted its military aims remained unchanged.

With PTI Inputs

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