Zelensky accuses Putin of 'senseless terror' after fresh missile strikes as Ukraine faces a multi-billion pound funding crisis

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 14:03 EDT, 8 September 2026 | Updated: 14:33 EDT, 8 September 2026 Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of ‘senseless terror’ after a devastating volley of missiles caused more civilian deaths in Ukraine.The President reacted to the Kremlin’s first major attacks on his country since Vladimir Putin hosted senior US officials in Moscow in talks intended to end the four-year conflict.Hours after the barrage of ballistics, Ukraine warned Britain’s Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, that an estimated 23 billion Euro of essential funding pledged by its allies remains outstanding.The latest Russian attacks are proving effective due to Ukraine’s shortage of air defence missiles such as the US-made Patriot system.At least two people were killed and ten were injured in the air strikes on Kyiv. Some 31 of 32 Russian cruise missiles were intercepted but, as Ukraine officials conceded, an undisclosed number of ballistic missiles evaded their defences. After hosting senior US officials in Kyiv, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to Western allies to increase their support to counter Russia's aerial bombardment According to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is seeking to achieve the 'maximum damage to life' from air strikes.Yesterday President Zelensky said: ‘Russia deliberately tried to calculate for maximum damage to life. No strike against Ukraine and against life can be left unpunished. Russia must be stopped.‘Everyday we make the case to our partners for our need for interceptors. Ballistic missiles remain particularly difficult to intercept.’President Zelensky thanked Germany for the donation of two Patriot launch systems from its armoury and Britain for a £100million winter munitions package. But overall, Western donations are falling short of Ukraine’s needs.Hours later, at the latest meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, the country’s defence chief Yevhenii Khmara warned Western ministers, including the UK’s Wes Streeting:‘The unity in Europe, the unity of the entire world, is necessary for us to implement our war plan. The plan is only as good as the resources to implement it and financial decisions are needed today.‘Of the 70 billion Euros for securities pledged in Ankara [at the last NATO summit], 62 billion has been provided, including bilateral assistance and the European Union loan. The additional 8 billion is still outstanding.‘However, I would like to stress that the overall defence gap, or deficit, is 23 billion Euro. I ask that you make the necessary financial decisions by November, so that we can see results on the battlefield already this winter.’Mr Streeting responded: ‘We owe it to the Ukrainian people to give them every bit of support through what is inevitably a challenging winter and to demonstrate to the aggressors in Moscow that our commitment to Ukraine remains unwavering.‘Minister Khmara has been very clear about the Ukrainian requirement for 300 Patriot missiles from partner stocks, 500 air-to-air interceptors and £2 billion for drones.’The UK is also running out of time to meet its commitment to supply Ukraine with 120,000 drones this year. Mr Streeting said ‘over 25,000’ had been delivered so far in 2026 ‘with thousands more to be delivered before winter’.Last night official defence sources confirmed the UK still intends to reach the 120,000 target as deliveries tend to be weighed towards the end of the year. However, filling the 23 billion Euro gap will take a big effort by Ukraine’s allies, according to sources.Russia’s latest attacks targeted critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Odesa and Kharkiv, and Sumy where a railway station was struck. Overall, Ukraine intercepted 175 aerial munitions. The country seldom discloses how many Kremlin warheads evaded its defences.Buildings were destroyed and fires broke out in at least five districts of Kyiv. The UK’s latest support package includes air defence interceptors, large-calibre artillery rounds and drones. While Ukraine could use the £100million to buy US Patriot defensive missiles.The provisions were unveiled as Romania confirmed its security services foiled a Russian sabotage mission on its soil.While the White House confirmed yesterday that Donald Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin following the US’s diplomatic mission to Moscow and Kyiv. The US and Russian Presidents spoke for an hour according to Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov.