Ukraine needs long-range weapons to protect its cities and frontline soldiers from Russian bombs and drones, he said today Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a massive overnight drone and missile attack.

Russia launched overnight its fifth drone attack on Kiev in two weeks, with Ukraine’s air defense systems destroying all air weapons before they reached the capital, the Ukrainian military said.

The Ukrainian Air Force announced via Telegram that its air defense systems destroyed 35 of the 39 drones and two cruise missiles fired by Russia overnight. The attack, according to the Air Force, targeted 10 Ukrainian regions.

It was not immediately clear how many drones were launched against Kiev. There are no casualties and no significant damage has been reported, Serhii Pokpo, head of the Ukrainian capital’s military administration, said via Telegram.

“During last night alone, the Russian army used almost 40 ‘Shahed’ against Ukraine. More importantly, most of them were shot down by our sky defenders”Zelensky said via Telegram, referring to the drones.

He said that Russian bombers at Russian air bases must be destroyed in order to protect Ukraine from airstrikes.

“Our adequate long-range capabilities should be a fair response to Russian terror. Whoever supports us in this supports the defense against terror.” Zelensky said.

Zelensky repeated his call on Western allies to allow long-range strikes on Russia in London on Friday, saying Britain should try to persuade its partners to lift restrictions on their use.

NATO member countries have taken different approaches to how Ukraine can use the weapons they give it. Some have made it clear that Kiev can use them to strike targets inside Russia, while the United States takes a more limited approach, allowing its weapons to be used only within Russia’s borders against targets that support Russian military operations. in Ukraine.

Russia launched three Iskander ballistic missilesthe Ukrainian Air Force announced, without specifying what happened to them.

The military command in the Sumy region, in the northeastern part of Ukraine bordering Russia, said via Telegram that a Russian missile destroyed critical infrastructure in Shostkinsky Oblast. He did not release details on the type of infrastructure affected.

There was no immediate comment from Russia on the attacks. Moscow says it does not attack civilian targets in Ukraine.

“These systematic attacks… with drones prove once again that the aggressor is looking for an opportunity to strike Kiev,” Popko said. “They’re trying new tactics, looking for new avenues of approach to the capital, trying to expose our air defense position.”