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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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The strikes cut power to thousands of properties, plunging parts of the Kyiv region into darkness.<\/p>\n A day of mourning for those killed overnight was declared on Friday. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Anastasiia Kovtun, 31, sat with her partner next to the ruins of her flat, which was part of a nine-storey building. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “It’s so frightening to realise it’s your house, you never think you’re going to be next,” she told the BBC.<\/p>\n 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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n