Zelensky says lack of US Patriot missiles left Kyiv wide open to Russian blitz

A residential building was engulfed in flames (Picture: AFP)

Several ‘explosions’ rang out,the mayor said (Picture: Reuters)

Zelensky said that as the country has only a few Patriot interceptors – the only kind that can deal with Kremlin-built missiles – it is ‘encouraging Russia to launch attacks that take human lives’.

‘It is critical that partners hear that these capabilities are needed not somewhere in stockpiles for hypothetical scenarios,but here and now,to contain and stop the Russian war in Ukraine.’

‘Every package of ballistic missile interceptors saves the lives of our people. And every night without them results in more casualties. I thank everyone who is working to strengthen our defences.’

This is the second major attack on Kyiv this week after missiles killed nine people,including six members of one family,on ​Thursday.

During the attack,a Russian cruise missile also entered the airspace of Nato member Poland.

Polish officials described it as an ‘unidentified object’ that caused a 9-metre-wide crater in a field in the country’s southeast.

Nine people died in the blasts (Picture: EPA)

Kyiv has asked Washington to let it make its own interceptors (Picture: Reuters)

Only the US can make Patriot interceptor missiles,so Ukraine has asked Washington to grant it a licence to make its own.

US President Donald Trump,who vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war ‘on day one’ of his re-election,said talks for this are still ‘ongoing’ on Friday.

Washington,he cautioned,had to be ‘very careful about letting somebody build them’.

He added: ‘ We’re talking about it,but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology. And I don’t think this would ever happen,but,you know,there’s people that you give that technology,they can someday turn on you.’

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