Russian forces launched new deadly attacks on Ukraine, killing at least nine people on Wednesday, a day before the leaders of countries that are some of Ukraine’s biggest backers were to discuss how to slow Moscow’s offensive. Ukrainian authorities said that along with the nine killed, 29 others, including five children, were wounded when Russian missiles hit an apartment block in Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown.

Zelensky said the strike has again proven that “Ukraine, together with its partners, must strengthen its air defences”, something that he has repeatedly appealed for with Ukraine’s Western partners. The US has agreed to send another Patriot missile system, two US officials said late Tuesday.