Thirteen people were injured in a wave of Russian bombardments on Kyiv during the night, according to city authorities on Thursday.

The attack happened hours before EU leaders gathered in Brussels to discuss their further response to the conflict.

Four people were hospitalised following the overnight shellings, Kyiv’s military administration said on Telegram.

Russia is said to have fired 31 projectiles in the attack, including cruise missiles, as well as Iskander and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. All of them were shot down, according to the Ukrainian military.

Rocket parts fell in several neighbourhoods, setting buildings and cars on fire, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later praised the U.S. Patriot air defence system installed to protect the city.

“Russian terrorists do not have missiles capable of bypassing Patriot and other leading world systems,’’ Mr Zelensky wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

At the same time, he called for the delivery of new systems to protect the entire country, adding that “It is entirely possible if our partners demonstrate sufficient political will.’’

Kyiv has repeatedly asked Berlin to supply its long-range Taurus cruise missile system, but German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has steadfastly refused, fearing entanglement in the conflict.

Later on Thursday, at least three people were killed in the Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Donetsk due to Russian attacks, according to Ukrainian officials.

In Kherson in the south of Ukraine, a 70-year-old woman was seriously injured by shelling in a village on Thursday afternoon and died a short time later on the way to hospital, regional military administration said.

In the eastern region of Donetsk, a 60-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman were killed in the small town of Novohrodivka, according to prosecutors.

Two other people were injured.

Ukraine is at a crucial point in the war triggered by Russia’s all-out invasion in February 2022, amid reports of ammunition shortages and difficulty in recruiting new soldiers for frontline operations.

Morale was dented in February when the industrial town of Avdiivka fell to the Russians after a long and devastating battle.

However, Britain’s Ministry of Defence reported that Russian advances had slowed in recent weeks, “likely partially due to heavy losses sustained in the Avdiivka campaign.”

In Brussels, EU leaders agreed that the revenues of Russian assets frozen in the EU should be used for the benefit of Ukraine as it resisted the Russian invasion.

At a news conference after the decision was announced, European Council President Charles Michel said the declaration left room for the `specificities’ of neutral countries.

EU leaders’ declaration on the use of the seized revenues is essentially a political green light. However, the legal details still needed to be agreed on by foreign ministers based on a plan prepared by the bloc’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell.

Meanwhile, several EU states are rallying behind a Czech initiative to procure 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine from countries outside the EU.

Poland would join the effort, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Thursday.

Eighteen other countries have so far pledged funds, including Germany, France, Canada and Norway.

Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur also promised Ukraine further military aid during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday.

The Baltic EU and NATO country, one of Kyiv’s staunchest supporters in its war against Russia, would support the Ukrainian army with weapons and equipment worth €20 million ($21.8 million).

(dpa/NAN)