US actor Liev Schreiber calls for stronger air defences during Kyiv visit

American actor and UNITED24 ambassador Liev Schreiber was forced to seek shelter during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday, after Russian overnight strikes killed at least 16 people, according to Ukrainian officials.

Schreiber visited areas of the Ukrainian capital damaged in the attacks, including the Solomianskyi district, where debris and burnt-out cars were left behind.

Speaking about what he saw, Schreiber said the frequency of attacks highlighted the need for stronger air defences.

"I think as someone who's kind of familiar with these attacks, what I notice is that they seem to be much more frequent in Kyiv," said Schreiber. "And for me it really highlights the need for compelling air defense strategies."

He added: "I know that at one point, you know, we were providing Patriots, and I'm really hopeful that that program can start up again because I think what the site that I just saw revealed is how important that is, how necessary it is to try to stop some of these really powerful munitions before they achieve their targets which you know are clearly civilian population."

An air raid siren then sounded during the visit, prompting Schreiber and others to leave the area and take refuge in a hospital shelter.

From inside the shelter, he reflected on the experience of living under the threat of repeated attacks.

"The problem with these wars is when you're living underneath them and four or five times a week you're in an air raid shelter like this, it's hard to have perspective, but I just hope that, they realize what they've accomplished and I think how close they are to success."

"For me it's, you know, it's one of the clearest examples of the struggle that's going around, I think the struggle all over the world with democracy. And a lot of people think that I'm involved in Ukraine because I have Ukrainian grandparents..."

Schreiber, who has Ukrainian roots, has been a UNITED24 ambassador since 2022 and has supported the initiative's efforts to raise funds for humanitarian and medical needs.

He said the prolonged war had brought exhaustion, but also a new sense of confidence.

"There's a sense of the exhaustion and I think there's a sense, a very real sense of four years, but I think there's this other thing happening that's new, that's different which is a level of optimism and a clarity. And I hope a sense of confidence in what they've achieved and what they're going to continue to achieve and what ultimately they're going to achieve, so it's probably hard to see that now when you're sitting in a bomb shelter, but I see it."

Russia launched scores of missiles and drones at Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight, causing widespread damage across the capital and nearby areas.

For Schreiber, the destruction is a stark reminder of the continuing need for international support, while he maintains that Ukraine can still prevail.