Russia launches massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing 17
Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges partners to supply anti-ballistic systems following one of the Kremlin's deadliest attacks on Kyiv this year.
Quick Look
- Russia launched a massive wave of drone and ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv, killing at least 17 people and injuring 44.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies for more anti-ballistic interceptors.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Russia has increased missile strikes on Ukrainian cities to exploit Kyiv's shortage of ballistic missile interceptors.
Russia launched a massive wave of drone and ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine's capital, killing at least 17 people and leaving 44 injured in one of the Kremlin's deadliest attacks across Kyiv this year.
The bombardment comes as each side ramps up air attacks on critical infrastructure and logistics hubs, with Ukrainian drones hitting more warehouses belonging to Amazon-style retailer Wildberries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered his condolences to the families of those killed in Russia's latest attack, saying the "heavy strike" featured 24 ballistic missiles, four Zircon/Oniks missiles and 115 drones.
The main targets of the attack were warehouse facilities belonging to civilian businesses, Zelenskyy said Wednesday, alongside strikes on infrastructure and a railway station.
"Ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those killed today. It is very important that our partners understand that delays in supplying them, or an unwillingness to provide anti-ballistic systems, lead directly to such horrific casualties and destruction," Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
"Partners who are not yet ready to play a more active role in supplying interceptors can help by implementing new sanctions," he added, noting that a significant share of Russia's ballistic missile production was not yet under sanctions.
Russian forces have increased the number of missile strikes on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, likely as part of a push to exploit Kyiv's shortage of ballistic missile interceptors.
Ukraine remains heavily reliant on the American Patriot PAC-3 system to intercept Russian ballistic missiles and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly argued that domestic production of this technology would help to ease an acute air defense shortage.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has recently appeared more willing to support Ukraine, recently cast doubt on whether Washington would agree to support one of Kyiv's most pressing demands.
In a telephone interview with the Financial Times, Trump said on July 30 that he had not yet decided whether to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot surface-to-air interceptor missiles.
Open Questions
- Will the U.S. allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles?
- What further sanctions will international partners implement against Russian missile production?
