Russian airstrikes kill at least 18 across Ukrainian cities

Russian airstrikes hit Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv early Tuesday, killing at least 18 people and wounding more than 60, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Ukrainian officials had publicly warned in recent days that Moscow was planning a major attack. The strikes Tuesday morning followed those alerts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the United States for additional military support in response to the attacks. Zelensky said Ukraine needed air defense systems and other weaponry to counter Russian operations.

Russian officials have not issued statements about the specific targets struck Tuesday or the extent of damage caused by the airstrikes.

The airstrikes are part of sustained aerial campaigns Russia has conducted since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has stated its military targets infrastructure and weapons facilities, while Ukrainian officials characterize the strikes as attacks on civilian areas.

Ukrainian officials have requested increased military aid from Western nations throughout the conflict. The U.S. and other NATO members have provided weapons systems and financial support to Ukraine since the invasion began.

Russia has cited NATO expansion and Western military support for Ukraine as sources of security concern. Moscow launched the invasion in February 2022, which it framed as a military operation to protect Russian-speaking regions. Ukraine and Western nations characterized the invasion as unprovoked aggression.