Defense systems shot down more than 30 missiles and drones launched by Russia, officials in the Ukrainian capital Kiev said, while the governor of Russia's Kursk province announced the downing of several Ukrainian drones over the city next to the border with Ukraine.

Ukrainian authorities on Friday lifted warnings of air strikes in most parts of the country, and Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said in a message: "There are explosions in the city. Air defenses are working," he said, adding that a new wave of drones was heading towards the city.

Military authorities in Kiev said on Telegram that Russia had launched drones and cruise missiles at the same time. "According to preliminary information, the air defense forces have detected and destroyed more than 30 air targets of various types in the airspace over and around Kiev," it said in a statement.

On Thursday, 3 people were killed and at least 14 others were wounded in Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital, according to the regional administration of the Kiev region.

The military administration in Kiev also announced that a fire broke out in the Dnipro district of the city as a result of the fall of the wreckage of one of the rockets.

Ukraine's General Staff said its defenses overnight destroyed 15 Russian long-range missiles and 18 drones.

Ukraine's Donetsk governor announced that 3 civilians were killed and 12 wounded in Russian shelling of the province.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities in Kherson reported on Friday that a civilian was killed and 16 wounded in Russian shelling of the southern province.

This week, Russia's military carried out a series of intensive strikes targeting Kiev and other Ukrainian regions with missiles and drones, with Ukraine announcing it was completing preparations for a major counteroffensive to retake its territory.


NATO Membership

On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for speeding up his country's accession to NATO and security guarantees. He said Ukraine had seen strong support from allies at the Moldovan summit on fighter jets.

Zelenskiy stressed that his country is working on new defense solutions that include air defense, aviation and troops on the ground. In an evening speech after his visit to Moldova and his participation in the European Political Summit, he said that his country is doing its best to get closer to the political decision of the European Union regarding its membership.

US President Joe Biden said his country continues to support and defend Ukraine and democracy around the world. He stressed that his country has mobilized more than 50 countries to enable Ukraine to protect itself, its dignity and sovereignty.

In a speech at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation ceremony, Biden said the world was witnessing increasing challenges stemming from what he described as Russia's brutal aggression against Ukraine.

He said he told Zelensky that he was working with U.S. partners to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets, including F-16s.


Ukrainian attacks and targeting Belgorod

In contrast, the governor of Russia's Kursk province announced that air defenses shot down several Ukrainian drones near the city of Kursk, which borders Ukraine.

Roman Starvojit said on Telegram: "Tonight an air defense system shot down several Ukrainian drones near Kursk." "We ask the residents of Kursk to remain calm, the city is under the reliable protection of our army," the governor added.

Since the start of the war, Russia's Kursk border region has been regularly bombarded by Ukrainian forces.

Russia's western Kaluga governor said air defenses had shot down a Ukrainian drone over a forest in the province.

The governor of Russia's Smolensk, which borders Belarus, also said two marches attacked an oil refinery in the province with little damage.

The frequency of attacks on Russian territory has increased, culminating in an unprecedented drone attack on Moscow last Tuesday, in addition to a large armed incursion last week into Russia's Belgorod province, adjacent to Ukraine's Kharkiv province.

Russian media reported Thursday that 11 people were injured, including 4 seriously, as a result of the Ukrainian shelling on Belgorod, while the governor of the Russian province announced the activation of air defenses over the region.

Moscow said on Thursday it had foiled an attempt by Ukrainian forces to "invade" the Belgorod region.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that up to 70 fighters participated in the attack, which was launched by 5 tanks, 4 armored vehicles and 7 pickup trucks, noting that 3 penetration attempts, organized by Ukrainian formations described as terrorists, to invade its southern border in the Belgorod province were thwarted.

Moscow used aircraft and artillery to repel attacks and prevent Ukrainian forces from crossing into Russian territory, it said, adding that more than 50 Ukrainian fighters had been killed.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's National Security Council, described the bombing and attack on Russian regions as terrorism. He said that it is necessary to eliminate the so-called terrorists, namely the Kiev regime and those behind it, the Americans and Europeans, as he put it.