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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is preparing new ballistic missile strikes against Ukraine, citing intelligence reports of an imminent threat.
The warning came as Kyiv renewed calls for Western allies to provide additional air defence weapons, particularly interceptor missiles for US-made Patriot systems.
Speaking in his nightly address on Thursday, Zelensky said: “We now have intel about the Russians preparing new ballistic missile attacks. We need the capabilities to shoot down all this Russian evil. We are awaiting the relevant decisions.”
The Ukrainian president said countering Russian ballistic missiles had been the main subject of a meeting with his senior military commanders earlier in the day.
He warned that delays in Western military assistance and sanctions were allowing Moscow to maintain its missile production capabilities.
“Sanctions pressure is insufficient – and we need the packages from partners that we have discussed with them,” Zelensky said.
“The longer sanctions packages targeting ballistic missiles are delayed, the longer Russia can maintain its supply schemes for the components needed for this production.”
He said restrictions targeting the supply of components used in Russian missile manufacturing could take months to produce results, urging Ukraine’s foreign ministry to accelerate discussions with international partners.
Ukraine has repeatedly called for additional Patriot interceptor missiles to protect its cities and critical infrastructure from Russian ballistic attacks.
The US-made Patriot system is among the few Western air defence systems supplied to Kyiv capable of intercepting certain Russian ballistic missiles, although its effectiveness depends on the type of missile, engagement conditions and availability of interceptors.
Unlike slower-moving drones and cruise missiles, ballistic missiles travel at extremely high speeds and can leave Ukrainian air defence crews with limited time to respond.
The warning followed a series of Russian attacks across Ukraine on Thursday that killed at least 19 people in Dnipro, Chernihiv and Kremenchuk, according to Zelensky.
In Dnipro, a Russian drone struck a railway station where passengers were waiting for a train travelling between Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia.
Two 15-year-old girls were killed in an attack on central Chernihiv, while three people died in Kremenchuk, where Zelensky said six children and 26 adults were injured.
Further strikes were reported in Dnipro later in the evening, alongside attacks affecting the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions.
The Ukrainian president said the continued bombardment demonstrated the need for stronger international pressure on Moscow despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities.
Ukraine also reported conducting two missile strikes against Russian military targets on Thursday.
Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had destroyed two Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft and struck a launcher used by Russia’s Iskander short-range ballistic missile system.
“I have just received a report – we carried out two missile strikes, destroying two Russian Su-34s and hitting an Iskander launcher,” he said.
Ukraine’s naval forces subsequently identified the target as the Marinovka airfield in Russia’s Volgograd region, where the Su-34 aircraft were reportedly stationed.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from the Russian defence ministry of the reported losses.
The Su-34 is a Russian twin-engine fighter-bomber used extensively during the war to launch guided aerial bombs and other weapons against Ukrainian positions.
The Iskander system, meanwhile, has been used by Russian forces to conduct ballistic missile attacks against Ukrainian military facilities, energy infrastructure and urban areas.
Striking aircraft and missile launchers on Russian territory forms part of Ukraine’s efforts to reduce Moscow’s ability to conduct further attacks.
Zelensky also said Kyiv had assigned additional tasks to its long-range strike forces but declined to disclose operational details.
The warning comes as Ukraine continues to press its Western partners for additional military assistance and tougher sanctions targeting Russia’s defence industry.
Zelensky welcomed a British commitment announced the previous day to provide Ukraine with an additional £10 billion over three years, while also pointing to discussions with the Netherlands on strengthening Ukrainian air defences.
He said Kyiv expected further decisions from its allies in the coming days, particularly on interceptor missiles needed to protect civilians and critical infrastructure.
