Zelensky Visits Russia-Friendly Serbia as Russian Strikes Kill Four in Kyiv Region

Zelensky Condemns Deadly Russian Strikes as He Visits Serbia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia’s latest deadly attacks on Kyiv on Saturday during his first official visit to Serbia in eight years.

At least four people, including a child, were killed in overnight Russian strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks involved drones and ballistic missiles, with Ukraine’s air force reporting that it intercepted or shot down 135 of 151 drones launched overnight.

Zelensky arrived in Belgrade on Friday, where he met Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Vučić described Ukraine as a “friendly nation” and said he was honored to welcome the Ukrainian leader.

The two presidents discussed Ukraine and Serbia’s efforts to join the European Union, bilateral relations and opportunities to expand cooperation. Serbia has maintained close ties with Moscow and has not imposed sanctions on Russia, despite pressure from the EU.

Zelensky warns of Patriot missile shortages

Zelensky said Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of air-defense interceptors, particularly missiles for the U.S.-made Patriot systems, which are capable of countering ballistic missiles.

He said deliveries of Patriot interceptors have slowed compared with 2025 and claimed that a U.S. agreement allowing Ukraine to produce its own interceptors has been delayed by licensing and other paperwork.

“Last night there was another missile strike,” Zelensky said, describing ballistic missile attacks against infrastructure as well as drone strikes.

Ukraine says its air defenses destroyed thousands of Russian drones and missiles last month, but officials have repeatedly warned that limited interceptor supplies are making it harder to protect cities and critical infrastructure.

Child and grandparents killed in Kyiv region

The latest strikes also hit the Brovary district northeast of Kyiv. Local officials said a Russian drone attack destroyed a family home, killing a 3-year-old child and the child’s grandparents.

Three other family members and a neighbor who came to help were hospitalized. The house was reduced to rubble, while nearby buildings and vehicles were also damaged.

Zelensky said another person was killed in a separate strike involving six ballistic missiles targeting civilian infrastructure in Kyiv.

He again called on international partners to impose stronger sanctions aimed at restricting Russia’s ability to produce ballistic missiles and urged countries to provide additional air-defense and interceptor systems.

Ukraine strikes Russian oil facilities

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces carried out strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.

Russian officials said six people were wounded after a fire broke out at the Ilsky Oil Refinery in the Krasnodar region, reportedly after debris from a drone fell on the facility.

Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces also struck the Ilsky refinery and the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara region, more than 800 kilometers from Ukraine.

Russia’s Samara governor confirmed that drones struck an industrial facility but did not identify it as the Syzran refinery.

Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones and missiles against Russian oil facilities as part of its campaign to disrupt Moscow’s energy infrastructure and military supply chains.

The attacks come as Russia continues its large-scale aerial campaign against Ukraine, while Kyiv seeks more air-defense systems and ammunition from its international partners.