Russian air attacks struck Kyiv late on October 26, hitting a university dormitory and other civilian sites, leaving at least one dead, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ukraine’s partners to provide the “proper tools” for the country to defend itself.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 10 people were injured in the strikes, “most of whom were students from a university dormitory.”
The strikes come just before a US-negotiated cease-fire is to start in the eastern city of Oleshky, and efforts by a bipartisan group of US lawmakers for the White House to step up efforts to defend Ukraine.
“It is precisely under such circumstances, when the threat is constant, when strikes can come at any moment and target cities and villages directly, that artificial delays in providing air defense to Ukraine help terror,” Zelenskyy said in a post on social media.
“It is important that our partners understand that Ukraine needs the proper tools to destroy Russian ballistic missile launchers. This would be the most effective way to save lives. It is important that the world sees that Russia is showing nothing but a desire to kill and continue waging war. “
US lawmakers have been challenging President Donald Trump’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian energy imports and demanding guarantees that Kyiv will retain access to critical American military and intelligence support.
In a series of legislative initiatives, congressional inquiries, and appeals to the administration, Republicans and Democrats have warned that decisions benefiting Moscow or disrupting Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities could undermine US national security, weaken congressional authority, and prolong Russia’s war.
The pushback comes after the administration authorized transactions involving Russian diesel fuel, amid reports that Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink and military-grade Starshield satellite communications systems had been restricted.
Ukrainian officials say the disruptions have affected military operations, although they have said in recent days that satellite connection speeds had been restored. Questions remain about who imposed the restrictions.
For several months, Zelenskyy has also called on the US and other allies to step up supplies of critical defense systems such as Patriot missiles amid almost nightly barrages of Russian ballistic missiles and drones.
He said last week that Ukraine was still waiting for previously agreed deliveries of interceptors for Patriot air-defense systems.
Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Russian officials deny targeting civilian infrastructure in the conflict, which has raged since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.
The university hit in the attack was identified as the State University of Trade and Economics (SUTE), one of Kyiv’s largest schools with more than 15,000 students.
