Russia strikes Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine expands drone hospital efforts

Russian missile attacks on Kyiv have killed three people, including a child, in a district northeast of the capital. The strikes hit residential buildings and a fuel tank, according to witnesses. Ukrainian prosecutors said the attack could amount to a war crime. The deaths came as Ukraine's air defences again failed to intercept incoming Russian ballistic missiles, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to renew his appeal for more US-made Patriot interceptor missiles.

In response, Ukraine has continued its long-range drone campaign against Russian infrastructure. The military said its drones struck two Russian oil refineries, part of a strategy to disrupt Russia's oil production, which Ukraine says finances the war. Ukrainian drones have also targeted warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, which Ukraine accuses of supplying equipment to the Russian armed forces. Russia denies this. Sky News data analysis identified around 20 Wildberries sites hit in the past three weeks, causing significant disruption to the company's logistics network and affecting thousands of small businesses.

The war has also spread to other areas. Russia reported three people killed by drones in the western city of Belgorod, while Ukraine said the Black Sea port of Odessa was damaged in a Russian attack, with eight people injured. President Zelensky accused Russia of waging war against global food security by targeting Ukraine's grain export hub.

Diplomatically, President Zelensky made his first official visit to Serbia, a traditional Russian ally that has refused to impose sanctions on Moscow. He discussed economic and security issues with President Aleksandar Vucic, who reiterated Serbia's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity. Meanwhile, the US Senate passed a sanctions bill against Russia, championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, targeting major buyers of Russian oil. The bill also includes sanctions against Iran and gives the president discretion to waive them.

On the ground in Kyiv, the near nightly attacks have forced residents to seek shelter in underground metro stations. Many families spend the night in the Soviet-era tunnels, which were designed to withstand a nuclear war. Despite the constant threat, life continues above ground, with market traders returning to work and municipal crews clearing debris. The resilience of the population is evident, but the exhaustion is real. As one resident put it, "It's a crime." The war shows no sign of ending, with both sides continuing to trade strikes.