At least nine people were killed and 23 injured after Russian forces struck Ukraine's capital Kyiv with ballistic missiles overnight, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said on Saturday morning.

The missiles hit several homes and a five-storey residential building, while cars were also set alight. Four children were among the 23 injured, the emergency service said.

In a post on his Telegram account, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said several people were trapped in a damaged residential building during the attack. The first and second floors of the building had partially collapsed, he said, while some warehouses in the city were also on fire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched 35 missiles overnight, including 27 ballistic missiles, as well as 185 attack drones. He said only one ballistic missile was intercepted, blaming a shortage of interceptors for Ukraine's Patriot air defense systems.

"As usual, the Russians struck ordinary residential buildings," Zelenskyy said, adding that 18 residential buildings, a school, the Lithuanian Embassy and infrastructure facilities were damaged.

"Every package of ballistic missile interceptors saves the lives of our people," he said. "And every night without them results in more casualties."

The attacks come as Moscow has intensified its bombing campaigns in recent weeks and months. Last week, Zelenskyy met with his US counterpart Donald Trump and the UK's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham as he seeks increased support to boost Ukraine's air defenses.

Source: www.dw.com