Russia launches new strikes on Kyiv, killing at least 9 people

In Kyiv, at least 9 people died and scores more have been injured under Russia's intense overnight barrage of ballistic missiles and drone attacks.

As Ukraine faces severe strain on its air defence stockpiles, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges Washington to help secure permission from tech billionaire Elon Musk to use the Starlink satellite network in Russian territory in a bid to destroy mobile missile launchers at their source.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump edges away from his earlier commitments to grant Ukraine license to produce Patriot air defence systems domestically.

Russia conducted the large-scale attack Saturday morning that targeted multiple districts and shelled residential buildings in Kyiv.

It follows Ukrainian strikes on Russian online retailer Wildberries on Friday.

Rescuers in the Ukrainian capital are searching through the rubble after heavy blasts that shook the city in the wee hours.

35 people were evacuated from the upper floors of a five-storey building that was torn apart in the Solomianskyi District. Two lost their lives with eight reported injured, said Ukraine's state emergency service.

From a basement shelter where she was taking cover as air raid sirens went off, a 64-year-old resident said she woke up from explosions at 1:30am and heard "the sound of shattering glass."

"It's getting worse by the day," she added, pointing to the frequency of Russian strikes that she said happened "practically every day." She said it's incredibly hard to bear this psychologically.

The death toll in the district of Darnytskyi, meanwhile, has reached seven after the bombardment caused fires and damage to houses, vehicles and an administrative building. Another 14 people injured in the same area.

The country's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed his appeal to Western allies, pitching US President Donald Trump and other senior officials on helping Ukraine win permission from Elon Musk to use his Starlink to guide strikes inside Russia.

Zelenskyy's request for expanded use of the satellite communications system could come with risk for Musk, as two NATO-nation intelligence services reportedly suspect Russia is developing a new anti-satellite weapon to target Starlink constellation.

Zelenskyy also reiterated Kyiv's demand for additional interceptors, specifically US Patriot air defence systems, and urged Washington to grant a previously discussed licensing agreement that would allow Ukraine to produce the system in house.

However, Trump stopped short of offering firm guarantees on the proposal during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, telling reporters discussions were ongoing regarding the licensing matter and that he hasn't made a decision on it.

Trump cautioned, "it's a hard thing to give away that kind of technology."

"And I don't think this would ever happen, but, you know, those people that you give that technology, they can someday turn on you, you know, that is possible."