Russian strikes kill nine, wound dozens across Ukraine as Zelensky warned of massive attack

A barrage of Russian missile and drone strikes killed nine people and wounded dozens across Ukraine on Tuesday, authorities said, days after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow was preparing a massive new strike.

The attacks hit Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv as peace talks to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II remain stalled.

What happened in the latest Russian strikes on Ukraine?

Russia launched coordinated missile and drone attacks across multiple Ukrainian cities on Tuesday, killing nine people and wounding dozens. Kyiv was hit with ballistic missiles, sparking fires and cutting power across several districts. Dnipro and Kharkiv were also struck, with casualties reported in both cities. The attacks followed Zelensky's public warning that Russian forces were preparing a large-scale offensive.

How many people were killed and wounded in Kyiv?

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed four people were killed and at least 58 wounded in the capital, including two children, during what he called a "mass enemy attack."

AFP journalists on the ground heard multiple explosions and observed residents rushing to shelters carrying bags and blankets. A large plume of smoke rose from the city center as fires broke out across several districts.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's City Military Administration, confirmed the strikes used ballistic missiles. "The enemy is striking with ballistic missiles," he said. Air defense units were activated across the city as officials urged residents to remain in shelters.

Which other Ukrainian cities did Russia strike?

In Dnipro, a Russian attack killed five people and wounded 25 others, three of whom were in serious condition, according to regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha.

In Kharkiv, Mayor Igor Terekhov said 10 people were wounded, including a child. The strikes underscored the geographic scale of Russia's air campaign, which has targeted Ukrainian cities almost daily since the 2022 offensive began.

Did Ukraine retaliate against Russia?

A Ukrainian drone strike killed one person in Russia's Kursk region, near the Ukrainian border, regional governor Alexander Khinshtein confirmed. A separate drone sparked a fire at an oil refinery in Krasnodar, in southwestern Russia, according to the city's operational headquarters.

Ukraine has steadily increased its retaliatory strikes on occupied territories and Russian soil in response to the ongoing bombardment.

What did Zelensky say before the Russian strikes?

Zelensky had warned on Friday that Ukrainian intelligence detected Russian preparations for a new massive strike, urging citizens to heed air alerts. "Please pay attention to air alerts, protect your lives," he said.

He also renewed calls to allies to approve and fund the supply of Patriot missile systems capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.

Zelensky wrote directly to US President Donald Trump and Congress last week requesting Patriot systems to counter the intensifying attacks. Ukraine has argued that additional air defense capacity is essential as Russia escalates its aerial campaign. The Ukrainian president has framed the request as urgent given the frequency and scale of incoming strikes.

How many drones did Russia launch at Ukraine in May?

Russia launched a record 8,150 long-range drones at Ukraine in May, a 24 percent increase from April, according to an AFP analysis of Ukrainian air force data.

Kyiv intercepted roughly 90 percent of all incoming drones and missiles during the month. The figures reflect a sharp escalation in aerial bombardment as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have yielded no breakthrough.