Ukraine Calls for Urgent Global Response After Russia’s 9-Hour Assault

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged international partners to urgently provide more air-defense interceptors and strengthen sanctions against Russia following a massive overnight attack that killed at least 14 people and injured around 40.“A horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv,” Sybiha wrote on X. “This was one of the most brutal Russian attacks to date, with ballistic missiles raining down on our capital one after another.”JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. A horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv. This was one of the most brutal Russian attacks to date, with ballistic missiles raining down on our capital one after another.At least 12 people were killed in Kyiv, and one more in the Kyiv region. A school, a children’s hospital, and… pic.twitter.com/Wqz0p3pNS2— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) August 20, 2026 The attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region lasted for almost nine hours, according to Ukrainian authorities.At least 13 people were killed in Kyiv and another person died in the Kyiv region. More than 40 people were injured and are receiving medical assistance.A school, a children’s hospital, and residential buildings were among the facilities severely damaged in Kyiv. Russia also attacked the Chernihiv and Odesa regions. As of Thursday, Aug. 20, 462 State Emergency Service (DSNS) rescuers and 116 pieces of specialized equipment were working to clear the aftermath of the attack.Sybiha said the barrage demonstrated the urgent need for stronger air defenses.“Each Russian ballistic missile is an act of barbarism. And each interceptor delivered to Ukraine is an act of humanity and saved human lives,” he said.The foreign minister called on Ukraine’s international partners to take three immediate steps: provide additional air-defense systems and interceptors, increase sanctions pressure to hinder Russia’s ability to produce weapons, and cooperate with Ukraine on developing anti-ballistic capabilities. Other Topics of Interest Russia Targets Ukraine-Moldova Border Checkpoint as Moscow Unleashes a Multi-Layered Attack The barrage involved ballistic and cruise missiles, 168 Shahed-type drones and other weapons, while Zelensky urged allies to provide more Patriot interceptors. “We know partners who can deliver these interceptors, and we urge them once again to act without delay,” Sybiha said. “Every delay is measured in human lives.”He also called on Ukrainians living abroad and Ukrainian organizations around the world to lobby governments in key capitals for additional support.Russia publishes missile launch footageRussia’s defense ministry published a photograph showing missile launches from Russian warships in the open sea.The ministry accompanied the image with the caption: “Let’s fire a salvo.” It later added: “We give convincing arguments.” The ministry also confirmed that its forces had used high-precision weapons launched from land, air and sea, as well as long-range attack drones.The agency claimed to have struck military targets in Kyiv and the surrounding region but did not mention the civilian casualties reported by Ukrainian authorities.Strikes hit warehouses and Red Cross facilitiesIn the Boryspil district of the Kyiv Oblast, Russian forces struck food warehouses and facilities belonging to the Red Cross during the overnight attack, according to Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi.Fires were still burning at the sites, he said.The scale of the attack also affected foreign officials visiting the Ukrainian capital.Lithuanian Energy Minister Lukas Savickas and his delegation, who arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday, spent the night in a shelter as the Russian attack continued.“We had to go through what a significant part of the people in Ukraine go through very often,” Savickas told Lithuanian outlet LRT. He said the delegation remained in a shelter as the air-raid alert continued throughout the night.Russian strike leaves 13,000 without power in southern Odesa regionIn addition, Russian forces launched another massive overnight attack on the southern Odesa region, damaging civilian infrastructure, according to Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration (OVA).The attack targeted civilian infrastructure in the southern part of the region, causing power outages in several settlements. As of the morning, 13,000 subscribers were without electricity, while power workers were working to restore supplies. At another location, two food-truck trailers caught fire as a result of the attack. The fires have since been completely extinguished.There were no reported injuries. Emergency and recovery crews are continuing to deal with the consequences of the strike. Julia is a Deputy Head of News and correspondent for Kyiv Post who has previously worked as a parliamentary editor, journalist, and news editor. She has specialized in covering the work of the Ukrainian parliament, government, and law enforcement agencies.