President Zelensky reports devastating consequences of attacks on Odesa, Kharkiv, and Pavlohrad, and again calls for more air defense systems. The Times reports that Trump is not responding to his pleas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, August 9, 2026, released alarming figures on the intensity of Russian attacks over the past week. Russian forces fired 61 missiles of various types, 56 of which flew on a ballistic trajectory, more than 1,560 strike drones, and 1,540 guided aerial bombs.
Zelensky reported on social media that he had received reports from Serhii Koretskyi, Mykhailo Drapatyi, and Viktor Mykyta about the consequences of strikes on Odesa, Kharkiv, Pavlohrad, and other Ukrainian regions. He emphasized that Russia has continued its "ballistic terror," which is not limited to a single city or community.
In Odesa and its surroundings, efforts are underway to restore electricity supply after a fierce strike on the energy sector. Residential buildings and the port were also damaged, which Zelensky said is proof that Russia is "systematically waging war against global food security." So far, eight people are known to have been injured, and all are receiving assistance.
In Kharkiv, a direct drone hit destroyed four floors of an ordinary residential high-rise. Dozens of people were wounded, and two people were killed. "My condolences..." Zelensky wrote. In Pavlohrad, an attack was recorded near a shopping center and on energy infrastructure, injuring nine people, including four children.
Zelensky again appealed to international partners to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and send more air defense systems. "Every such attack on human life is a constant reminder-we need more pressure, more sanctions against Russia, and more air defense for Ukraine. I am grateful to those who help," he said.
His appeal comes at a time when the British newspaper The Times, according to the Telegram channel Slavyangrad, expresses outrage that U.S. President Donald Trump is not responding to Zelensky's pleas, as the Ukrainian leader faces an increasingly dire situation. Recall that during the massive attack on August 1, only one of 27 ballistic missiles fired was shot down, which Zelensky attributed to a critical shortage of missiles for Patriot systems.
In an interview with the United News telethon the day before, on August 8, Zelensky also shared concerning information about the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. "North Koreans appear on the territory of the Russian Federation from time to time. At first, we were talking about hundreds, then thousands, and now a decision has been made to deploy 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans on Russian territory. They are studying this war," he said.
The Ukrainian president warned that North Korea would gain knowledge of modern warfare through this experience, receive licenses and military tools from Russia, which could escalate crises in the Pacific region as well. He also confirmed that North Korean missiles have already been found on Ukrainian territory, calling it an "established fact."
Zelensky called on South Korea to cooperate more closely with Ukraine, especially in the area of air defense, where Ukraine has the greatest shortages. "We would very much like to receive support from South Korea. They have a legal restriction in their constitution, but we would like that cooperation and we count on it," he said, adding that diplomats from the two countries are in contact.
Commenting on Vladimir Putin's strategy, Zelensky assessed that the Russian president "still cannot find victory in this war" and is thinking about mobilization without an official declaration, introducing "a kind of secret agreements" and closing borders. "He will need to sell victory. He won't have it in Ukraine. He wants to take Donbas, but we will not withdraw on our own," he concluded.
