Russia fired 36 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and its region overnight, Zelensky says; only four intercepted

In brief

• Russia launched 36 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and its region overnight on November 7, according to President Zelensky, and air defenses downed four.
• Zelensky said Russia used North Korean-made KN-23 missiles against one key energy facility, and energy infrastructure was the main target.
• Zelensky also called for a Patriot interceptor shortage to be addressed and for transport backup plans for the capital.

Overnight attack on Kyiv and its region

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired 36 ballistic missiles in the overnight attack on November 7, aimed at Kyiv and the surrounding region (Під час нічної атаки з 36 ракет вдалося збити лише 4, РФ використовувала балістику, вироблену в КНДР, – Зеленський – Espreso) (ППО знешкодила лише 4 із 36 ракет: Зеленський заявив про дефіцит перехоплювачів для Patriot – TSN) (РФ запустила вночі 36 балістичних ракет, і всі - на Київ і область, - Зеленський – UNIAN). Ukrainian air defenses intercepted only four of them, he wrote on Telegram after a meeting on the consequences of the strike.

Energy infrastructure targeted

Energy facilities were again the main target, Zelensky said. Preliminary examinations at impact sites indicated that Russia used KN-23 missiles, which North Korea produces and supplies, against one of the key damaged energy facilities (ППО збила 4 з 36 ракет вночі, Росія атакувала в тому числі ракетами з КНДР – Зеленський – Українська правда). Zelensky called this further evidence that global sanctions regimes should be significantly tightened against those supplying Russia's missile program.

Zelensky said Kyiv faces difficulties with electricity, water and heat supply, that residential buildings were damaged, and that a children's kindergarten was partly destroyed. Substations in the Kyiv region that link the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants with Kyiv and central Ukraine were hit, he said. Substations were also damaged in Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Twelve regions besides Kyiv came under attack, and nine people were injured, one of them a child.

Patriot shortage and diplomacy

Zelensky said Ukraine has a significant shortage of Patriot interceptors and that the United States could help most in resolving it. He said Kyiv is seeking to speed up deliveries at all levels. He also linked the request to the coming winter and to a new joint effort with partners to revive peace talks.

Transport contingency plans

Zelensky instructed Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi and the relevant agencies, together with the Kyiv City Military Administration, to prepare backup transport routes and additional transport for the capital. He said such contingency schemes do not effectively exist at the city level at present. He also received reports from Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi on restoring energy facilities and on the use of electronic warfare.

Zelensky said Ukraine will take part in upcoming Group of Seven meetings.

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