Zelensky Visits Serbia Amid Fresh Russian Strikes and Stalled Patriot Missile Production

Volodymyr Zelensky and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the situation in his war-torn country as “difficult” during a visit to Serbia, one of the few European countries to have maintained close ties with Russia throughout Moscow’s ongoing war against Kyiv, now in its fifth year. “The situation in Ukraine is difficult,” Zelensky told a press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Saturday, referring to an overnight missile strike involving ballistic missiles targeting infrastructure, as well as attack drones. Four people, including a child, were killed in the strikes on the capital, Kyiv, and the surrounding region, while Ukrainian forces retaliated by targeting Russian oil facilities. Zelensky arrived in Belgrade on Friday, marking the first visit by a Ukrainian president to Serbia in eight years. He claimed that deliveries of US-made Patriot air defence interceptors, the only system in Kyiv’s arsenal capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, have “slowed” compared with a year ago. “There are fewer of these missiles in 2026. In 2025 there were more, I’ll tell you honestly, in terms of monthly supplies,” he told reporters. Zelensky further stated that the US has agreed to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptors domestically, but the process remains stalled by licensing and other paperwork.

Russia's fresh overnight strikes

The comments came after a Russian drone attack on the Brovary district northeast of Kyiv killed a three-year-old boy and his grandparents. The attack destroyed the family’s home and damaged nearby buildings and vehicles. Three other family members and a neighbour who came to their aid were hospitalised. Zelensky noted that another person was killed in a Russian strike involving six ballistic missiles targeting civilian infrastructure in the city. Ukraine’s Air Force said it had intercepted or destroyed 135 of 151 Russian drones launched overnight, along with six ballistic missiles and other guided missiles. Ukraine has struggled with a critical shortage of air-defence interceptors as Russia continues to target cities and civilian infrastructure. The Ukrainian Defence Ministry said its forces shot down around 5,300 drones and missiles in July, accounting for just under 60% of the roughly 9,000 Russian aerial weapons launched during the month. Zelensky has repeatedly urged the US and other countries to provide more air-defence ammunition. He has also called for permission to manufacture Patriot interceptors in Ukraine and for additional capabilities to counter Russian missile strikes. Following the latest attacks, Zelenskyy appealed on X for stronger sanctions to “prevent the production of these ballistic missiles,” as well as more anti-ballistic systems and interceptors.

Ukraine hits Russian oil facilities

In Russia, six people were wounded after debris from a downed drone sparked a fire at the Ilsky Oil Refinery in the southern Krasnodar region, according to local officials. Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces also struck the refinery and the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara region, more than 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed that drones struck an “industrial enterprise” but did not identify the facility as a refinery. Ukraine has carried out near-daily long-range drone and missile strikes against Russian oil infrastructure in recent months, using domestically developed weapons. The campaign has disrupted Russia’s fuel supply and placed additional pressure on the Kremlin.