Zelensky’s renewed plea for more military aid came as he faced a direct political challenge from the popular ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who has called for an election and launched a scathing attack on the government by claiming corruption has deprived the military of weapons.
The latest strikes on Kyiv began around midnight local time as air raid sirens sounded across the city, followed by the impact of around 20 Russian missiles.
The strikes cut power to thousands of properties, plunging parts of the Kyiv region into darkness.
A day of mourning for those killed overnight was declared on Friday.
Russia used 168 drones and 44 missiles in the attack, mainly targeting Kyiv, Ukraine’s air force said, adding that air defences shot down 146 drones and 39 cruise missiles.
Anastasiia Kovtun, 31, sat with her partner next to the ruins of her flat, which was part of a nine-storey building.
The primary school teacher said she felt like her “head was going to blow” when she heard the explosions in her area from the shelter.
“It’s so frightening to realise it’s your house, you never think you’re going to be next,” she told the BBC.
When asked if she would ever be able to live in her flat again, she said: “Even if were able to move back in, we wouldn’t want it after this. If we stayed in the flat for ten minutes more we might have been killed.”
