Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributed the deaths of at least eight people across Ukraine to insufficient or delayed air defense supplies following a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Dozens more were reported injured.

The strikes targeted Kyiv and nine other regions, extending from Lviv in the west to Sumy and Kharkiv in the northeast, according to the president. The Ukrainian air force stated that Russia launched a total of 284 drones and 70 missiles, including nine ballistic missiles. The air force reported intercepting or suppressing 265 drones and 55 missiles, with preliminary reports indicating 11 missiles and 17 drones hit targets in 20 locations.

"In a situation where we critically lack missiles for air defense from our partners, our soldiers are doing the seemingly impossible, demonstrating a very high level of professionalism," Zelenskyy stated on Telegram. He emphasized that this expertise saves lives but is constrained by the availability of air defense missiles, noting that insufficient or delayed supplies lead to the casualties being experienced.

Zelenskyy further asserted that this "Russian terror" highlights the critical need for international support in defending against missile threats. "This is a task that cannot be solely undertaken by Ukraine, by one country alone," he wrote, calling on partners to act and stressing the importance of timely assistance to protect lives.

In the Kyiv region, at least one person was killed, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. The western city of Lviv was also heavily targeted. Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported that at least 20 people were injured and more than 20 residential buildings, a school, and two kindergartens sustained damage. A video posted to X showed significant destruction in a residential area of the city.

Serhiy Kiral, Lviv's deputy mayor, confirmed to ABC News that rescue operations were underway in the affected residential areas. He noted that Wednesday night's attack was the most substantial on Lviv since a drone strike in March.

This wave of attacks underscores the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces in defending its airspace against persistent Russian aerial bombardments. The president's remarks point to a critical reliance on international military aid, particularly advanced air defense systems and their accompanying munitions, to mitigate civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.

The situation highlights the complex interplay between military strategy, international diplomacy, and humanitarian concerns in the protracted conflict. Ukraine's ability to effectively counter Russian aerial assaults remains dependent on the consistent and timely delivery of military hardware from its allies.