Russian overnight drone and ballistic missile strikes killed at least 17 people in Kyiv and the surrounding region, underscoring Ukraine's warnings about critical air defense shortages as it urges allies to speed up deliveries of urgently needed Patriot missiles and other weapons amid intensified Russian attacks.

The air raid alert in the region remains in effect, the emergency service said, adding that rescue workers continue operating under heightened danger because the risk of further strikes remains. That warning reflects the immediate challenge for local authorities and emergency crews: even after the first wave of damage, they must keep working while Russian drones and missiles are still a threat in the air.

"Russia has once again brought death and destruction to our land, taking the lives of civilians," Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, wrote on Telegram.

He said the highest number of casualties was recorded in the Brovary district, where nine people were killed. In the Bucha district, the strike killed four more civilians, while another person was killed in the Fastiv district, he said.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported at least 24 injured and one person killed in the attack on the capital.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles, four hypersonic missiles, and 115 drones in the attack, with the Kyiv region as the main target.

The attack was still ongoing, the air force said, with several Russian drones still in Ukrainian airspace.

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service released footage showing the aftermath of the overnight Russian attack at a site in the Brovary district of the Kyiv region.

"Ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those killed today," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X after the attack.

"It is very important that our partners understand that delays in supplying them, or an unwillingness to provide anti-ballistic systems, lead directly to such horrific casualties and destruction," he added.

In the same post, Zelenskyy said that 44 people had been reported injured in the strike on Kyiv and the Kyiv region, while another 17 people were killed. He said it was a heavy strike involving 24 ballistic missiles, 4 Zircon/Oniks missiles, and drones.

According to the Ukrainian military, air defense forces shot down or suppressed 98 Russian drones but intercepted none of the missiles launched on August 5.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the strike on Kyiv and the surrounding region, saying it targeted transport, logistics, and distribution centers with precision weapons and long-range drones.

Moscow has intensified its missile attacks on Ukraine as the country faces severe shortages of air defense systems capable of intercepting high-speed ballistic missiles, making the pace of promised deliveries a live issue for both battlefield protection and civilian safety.

By RFE/RL