Russia attacked cities across Ukraine this morning with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, killing at least 18 people and wounding more than 100, according to local authorities.
The attacks on cities including Kiev and Dnipro followed Russian warnings of "systematic" attacks on the capital after a deadly drone strike on a student dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region of Ukraine last month, for which Kiev denies responsibility.
This is the third major attack on Kiev in less than a month. Russia is stepping up attacks on Ukraine while Washington is focused on Iran and Washington-brokered peace talks are stalled.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired 73 missiles and more than 600 drones in the attack. He reiterated his call for Washington to send additional Patriot interceptors to supplement Kiev's stockpile.
"This was a large-scale attack and an absolutely clear message from Russia - if Ukraine is not protected from ballistic and other missile attacks, the attacks will continue," he wrote on Telegram.
The Kremlin on Tuesday announced a "new paradigm" of war over what it called "inhumane acts of terrorism" by the Ukrainian military against civilians.
"If the regime in Kiev knowingly commits such inhumane ... terrorist acts against civilians, against children, then that is a completely different paradigm," said Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman.
Moscow announced attacks and called on foreigners to leave Kiev.
Last week, Zelensky sent a letter to US President Donald Trump and Congress requesting air defense systems.
He did not receive a response by Monday, Reuters reports.
