Zelensky: Ukraine Intercepted 60% of Ballistic Missiles in Overnight Russian Attack

Ukraine intercepted 60% of the ballistic missiles launched by Russia during its latest massive overnight attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, while speaking to journalists in New York. Russia launched three separate waves of ballistic missile attacks early morning on Sept. 24, Zelensky said, adding that he discussed the assault with Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi and Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The ballistic strikes were part of a broader overnight assault that also targeted Kyiv with drones. A Russian missile attack on the capital killed two and injured at least six people, according to Kyiv authorities. Missile debris damaged a private house, a 16-story apartment building and an eight-story nonresidential building in Dniprovskyi District. In Podilskyi District, debris damaged windows and part of the facade of a maternity hospital and set cars on fire in a nearby parking lot. A diagnostic center was also damaged. Warehouses were damaged or set ablaze in Solomianskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts. The missile attack followed a major Russian drone assault on Kyiv on Sept. 23. That attack killed two people and injured dozens, while damaging warehouses, gas stations, transport infrastructure and other sites across the capital. Despite the reported 60% interception rate in the latest ballistic attack, Zelensky said Ukraine needs to shoot down more incoming missiles. Other Topics of Interest Kyiv Under Attack: Russian Missiles Kill 2, Injure at Least 6 Amid UN Ceasefire Push Missile debris damaged a maternity hospital and nearby homes hours after Moscow ruled out pausing its war for negotiations. He also acknowledged that Ukraine’s success rate has at times been far lower this year, with some attacks seeing only 10% of ballistic missiles intercepted – and others with none intercepted. “It’s not because someone lacks experience. Someone lacks missiles,” Zelensky said. Ukraine Scrambles for Air Defense Missiles Zelensky said Ukraine’s interception rate for ballistic missiles has varied sharply this year. In some attacks, Ukrainian forces intercepted only 10% of incoming ballistic missiles, while in others they were unable to intercept any. “And it’s not because someone lacks experience. Someone lacks missiles,” Zelensky said. He said he had asked US President Donald Trump to help provide additional air defense missiles, despite shortages in US and allied stocks. Ukraine is also seeking additional interceptors from European and other countries, Zelensky said. He described the effort to replenish Ukraine’s air defense stocks as a painstaking process, with Kyiv sometimes obtaining missiles “two at a time” or “one at a time.” “We are collecting hundreds one or two missiles at a time,” Zelensky said, adding that some of the requests have to be handled at the highest political level because routine discussions between officials do not always produce results when stocks are limited. Zelensky said the United States has the greatest capacity to provide Ukraine with air defense missiles on a large scale. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.