KYIV, Ukraine: A wave of Russian missiles and drones hit Kyiv and around a dozen Ukrainian regions on the night of October 6, killing at least 21 civilians, including four children, and injuring about 60 people, Ukrainian officials said.

The attack came after Ukrainian intelligence warned that Russia was preparing a major strike. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had said on Tuesday that Russia was building up for a "massive" attack.

Despite the warning, Ukraine could not stop the barrage completely. The attack also came on Russian President Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday.

The deaths and destruction highlighted the difficulty Ukraine faces in defending itself against Russian ballistic missiles and a new type of jet-powered drone. Ukraine is short on ammunition for its U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, among the few systems that can intercept Russian ballistic missiles.

Ukraine is also developing new interceptors that can destroy Russia's high-flying, jet-powered drones.

Russia and Ukraine have been fighting a long-range air war while their ground forces remain largely deadlocked, more than four and a half years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

The continued attacks are putting increasing pressure on Ukraine, which has fewer resources than Russia to sustain a prolonged aerial conflict.

U.S.-led efforts to end the war have so far offered little hope of an immediate reduction in the fighting. Discussions about possible low-level technical talks are continuing.

Western analysts say Putin appears determined to continue the war in the belief that Ukraine will eventually be forced to give in and that Western countries will eventually reduce their support for Kyiv.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the latest attacks.

"Russia is pursuing a deliberate strategy of terror," she said on X.

A Russian strike destroyed an apartment building in Pryluky in the northern Chernihiv region, killing 15 people, including four children, and injuring about 50, Ukrainian authorities said.

Deaths were also reported in three other cities, including Kyiv, Zelenskyy said.

In Kremenchuk in the Poltava region, two people were killed and seven injured, according to regional military officials. Rescue operations were continuing.

Ukraine Seeks More Air Defense

Ukraine is searching internationally for more Patriot missiles, which are in short supply partly because of the war involving Iran.

Zelenskyy said Russian ballistic missiles remained Ukraine's biggest air defense challenge and that additional systems were urgently needed.

The attacks have also increased concern about the ability of Ukrainian forces to protect civilians and critical infrastructure from Russia's expanding use of drones.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had carried out a major overnight strike against Ukrainian industrial facilities involved in producing and storing missiles and drones.

It also said Russian forces had attacked port and ship-repair facilities in the southern Odesa region, as well as ships carrying supplies for the Ukrainian military.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had also carried out attacks inside Russia, targeting two oil facilities and a training ground in the Perm, Samara and Astrakhan regions.

Russian officials did not immediately comment on those claims.

Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian forces had struck in the Black Sea and posted images that he said showed an oil tanker on fire near the Russian resort city of Sochi.

Russian online media also published the images late on October 6. Unconfirmed reports said the tanker was carrying oil from Novorossiysk to India and had been attacked by Ukrainian sea drones.