Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine killed at least six people, including two children, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for increased pressure on the Kremlin on his way to Sweden, seeking more defense capabilities amid stalled peace efforts.
Zelenskyy called the October 22 attack "vile" and said it struck energy and civilian infrastructure in at least 10 Ukrainian regions, including the capital, Kyiv.
"Another night proving that Russia does not feel enough pressure for dragging out the war.... Russian words about diplomacy mean nothing as long as the Russian leadership does not feel critical problems," he said in his X post.
Zelenskyy, who is heading to Sweden to discuss defense cooperation between the two countries, once again claimed that Ukraine’s long-range capabilities could change the course of the 44-month-old war.
Previously, Ukraine signaled that the US administration's decision not to green-light deliveries of Tomahawk missiles for the war-torn country had weakened its diplomatic leverage.
As the Ukrainian president departed Kyiv early in the morning, the country's State Emergency Service said that three people, including two children, were killed in the region.
Energy And Civilian Infrastructure Targeted
Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, added at least 21 residents were injured in the attack. Mayor Vitaliy Klitschkoadded that a two-year-old child was among the injured.
Klitschko said that debris from drones and missiles caused fires in Kyiv's Dnipro, Pechersk, and Darnytsya districts, damaging residential buildings and industrial sites.
The attack began late on October 21 as witnesses reported hearing explosions and air defense units in operation.
Emergency services were dispatched to several sites where debris from the destroyed air weapons fell, sparking fires.
A house caught fire in the region surrounding Kyiv, injuring an elderly woman, said regional Governor Mykola Kalashnyk on Telegram.
Authorities in southeastern Ukraine also reported attacks. Russian drones hit the city of Zaporizhzhya, igniting fires in several residential buildings, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram.
"Due to an enemy attack overnight, nearly 2,000 people are without electricity. Recovery work will begin as soon as security allows," he reported.
Volodymyr Kohut, the head of the Poltava regional military administration, said that direct hits and falling debris caused damage to oil and gas industry facilities in the Myrhorod district.
An industrial town west of Dnipro was also targeted by Russian missiles and drones, the Ukrainian Air Force said. No damage or casualties were reported.
Russian Chemical Plant Hit In Storm Shadow Attack
A Ukrainian attack on a chemical plant took place earlier in Russia’s southern Bryansk region. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on October 21 that Ukrainian forces used French-British Storm Shadow missiles in the attack.
"A massive combined missile and air strike was carried out, including with Storm Shadow air-launched missiles, which overcame the Russian air defense system," the General Staff said in a statement. "The results of the strike are being assessed," it added.
The General Staff described the chemical plant as an important component of the Russian military-industrial complex, producing gunpowder, explosives, components for rocket fuel, and “for ammunition and missiles that the Russian military uses to shell the territory of Ukraine.”
The air force launched the attack in cooperation with ground forces, the navy, and other components of the Ukrainian defense forces.
Aleksandr Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk region, said on Telegram that Ukraine attacked the region with drones and missiles. He added that no one was injured, and no damage was reported.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram that during the afternoon on October 21 its air defense units destroyed 57 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region.
