At least 17 people were killed after Russia launched a large-scale overnight missile and drone assault on Kyiv and surrounding areas, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning that more lives could have been saved if Ukraine had sufficient missile interceptors.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia fired 24 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and 115 drones, targeting Kyiv and nearby cities. The attacks struck warehouse facilities, logistics hubs, infrastructure and a railway station, while fires broke out at multiple industrial sites.
Zelenskyy said the primary targets were civilian businesses, including warehouses, a brewery and construction materials facilities, arguing they had no military purpose. He blamed the high death toll on Ukraine’s dwindling air defence capabilities, saying supplies of interceptor missiles are now three times lower than in 2025.
Ukrainian officials also alleged that cluster munitions were used during the assault. Among the damaged sites was Epicentr, one of Ukraine’s largest retail chains.
The attack comes as Ukraine continues to press allies for additional air defence systems. Reports indicate U.S. officials are discussing several options to replenish Ukraine’s Patriot missile stockpiles, including allowing some missile components to be manufactured in Ukraine before final assembly in Germany.
Ukraine also carried out strikes inside Russia, targeting a Wildberries warehouse facility in the Tula region, which Kyiv claims supports Russia’s military logistics. Russian authorities said drones also damaged apartment buildings and that an oil refinery in Ufa was attacked.
Separately, the director of a Russian drone manufacturing plant was seriously injured after the vehicle he was travelling in exploded, killing his driver. The cause of the blast has not been confirmed.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 475 Ukrainian drones overnight and maintained that its strikes targeted military logistics facilities. Ukrainian intelligence also claimed North Korea has supplied Russia with a new missile unit equipped with up to 120 missiles and six launchers, reportedly deployed in western Russia.
Following the latest attacks, French President Emmanuel Macron said the European Union would increase pressure on Russia through additional sanctions while continuing military assistance to Ukraine. Zelenskyy also urged G7 and EU partners to tighten sanctions on companies involved in Russia’s ballistic missile production.
