Zelenskyy claims Russian strikes hit Azerbaijani Embassy, kill civilians in Kyiv

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday accused Russia of launching a “wicked” wave of strikes that killed at least four people and wounded dozens, saying debris from an Iskander missile also struck the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv.

In a statement, Zelenskyy said about 430 drones and 18 missiles, including ballistic and aeroballistic types, were used in the attack, damaging dozens of residential buildings in the capital and hitting multiple regions.

He said a Zircon missile was preliminarily identified in the Sumy region.

Emergency services continued operations at the sites, while Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko briefed him on rescue work and air defense efforts.

Zelenskyy again urged Europe and the US to provide additional air defense systems and interceptor missiles, arguing sanctions must be strengthened to “stop these attacks on life.”

- Strikes on Ukraine-Russian regions

His remarks followed Russia’s claim that 216 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across several regions and over the Black Sea.

Authorities in Russia’s city of Novorossiysk declared a state of emergency following a drone attack, the city’s mayor said.

Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, reported widespread Russian strikes across multiple regions.

In Kherson, regional head Oleksandr Prokudin said 36 settlements were shelled, leaving one person dead and three injured. Residential areas, infrastructure and transport facilities were damaged, including 18 houses.

Zaporizhzhia regional governor Ivan Fedorov said 731 strikes hit 20 settlements, killing four people. He reported airstrikes, MLRS barrages and more than 400 drone attacks, mostly FPV-type, on towns including Bilenke, Gulyaipole, and Mala Tokmachka.

Two civilians were also killed in a separate FPV drone strike in Preobrazhenka.

In Kyiv, the State Emergency Service said one person was killed and at least 24 injured after missile strikes triggered fires in several districts, prompting evacuations from high-rise buildings.

In the Kirovohrad region, regional head Andriy Raykovych said 16 settlements were left without electricity after a strike damaged a power line.