Russian drone hits Kyiv station where hundreds were sheltering

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of "an assault on humanity" after a barrage of drones and missiles hit Ukraine, as Germany promised to supply five Patriot air defence systems to help an under-pressure Kyiv.

- Luke Harding Kyiv Dan Sabbagh

Ukraine's president yesterday said Moscow launched more than 420 drones and 20 missiles in its latest overnight attack, killing at least two people and targeting a metro station in the capital, where people were sheltering, for the first time.

Boris Pistorius, Germany's defence minister, said Berlin was prepared to pay the US for the fastest possible delivery of five Patriot systems to Ukraine, though it remains unclear how soon this could be achieved.

Media reports suggested that Germany would urgently transfer two systems from its own arsenal of nine and buy replacements from the US, with details about the transfer of the other three to be worked out.

The announcement was made at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group of 50 western allies, which is jointly chaired by Germany and the UK. Britain added it would spend £700m on air defence and artillery ammunition for Ukraine this year.

Pistorius said he had agreed with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, that "Germany will contribute to providing the five urgently needed Patriot systems as quickly as possible. How we can achieve that is something we will coordinate closely and in a spirit of mutual trust among partners within the next few days."