At least 21 civilians, including four children, were killed and approximately 60 others wounded in a sustained series of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and multiple regions across Ukraine, officials reported. The attacks occurred overnight into Wednesday, marking one of the deadliest bombardments since the conflict intensified.

Ukrainian authorities had forewarned about the escalation. President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated the day prior that intelligence assessments pointed to an imminent “massive” Russian strike. Despite these warnings, the Ukrainian military was unable to fully prevent the onslaught.

The attacks coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday, although it remains unclear if the timing was intentional. Ukrainian defenses reportedly faced significant challenges due to a shortage of ammunition for US-supplied Patriot air defense systems, limiting their capacity to intercept incoming ballistic missiles.

Russia employed a combination of ballistic missiles and drones across at least a dozen Ukrainian regions, signaling a continued focus on civilian areas. This has drawn condemnation from international leaders. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Russia’s tactics as a “deliberate strategy of terror,” aimed at disrupting daily life for Ukrainians seeking peace.

The Ukrainian government has repeatedly highlighted the humanitarian impact of these attacks and called for increased support from Western partners to bolster its defensive capabilities. The incident underscores the intensifying nature of the conflict and the challenges Ukraine faces in protecting its population amid persistent Russian bombardments.