Russia Launches Third Air Attack on Kyiv in a Week as Pressure Mounts on Ukraine

Russia launched another overnight missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, marking the third major air attack on the city in less than a week as Moscow intensifies its aerial campaign against Ukraine. The latest strike came amid growing concerns over Ukraine’s dwindling supply of advanced air defence interceptors capable of stopping ballistic missiles.

According to Ukrainian military officials, Russia fired a combination of ballistic missiles and attack drones toward Kyiv during the overnight operation. Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting more than 80 percent of the 169 drones launched across the country, but none of the five ballistic missiles were successfully destroyed, highlighting the increasing challenge posed by Russia’s missile attacks.

The assault triggered explosions across parts of Kyiv, with city authorities reporting fires in non-residential buildings and warehouse facilities. Emergency crews were deployed to extinguish the blazes and assess structural damage. Officials confirmed that at least one person was killed and others were injured, although rescue operations continued as authorities searched affected areas.

Beyond the capital, Russia also launched attacks on other regions of Ukraine. In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, missile strikes damaged residential properties and a church, while previous attacks on the southern port city of Odesa left several civilians injured, underscoring the broad scope of Moscow’s latest offensive.

Military analysts say Russia has significantly increased its use of ballistic missiles and long-range drones in recent months as fighting along the front lines has slowed. Ukrainian officials argue that Moscow is seeking to overwhelm the country’s air defence systems through repeated large-scale attacks while targeting infrastructure and urban centres far from the battlefield.

The renewed bombardment coincides with a NATO summit in Ankara, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to press allies for additional military assistance, particularly more U.S.-made Patriot air defence systems and interceptor missiles. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that shortages of advanced air defence ammunition are limiting the country’s ability to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.

Residents of Kyiv continue to endure repeated overnight air raid alerts, with many seeking shelter in underground metro stations and bunkers. The succession of attacks has heightened anxiety among civilians, many of whom have experienced multiple large-scale bombardments within a matter of days.

Despite intensified Russian air operations, Ukrainian officials insist that air defence units continue to intercept the majority of incoming drones while emergency services work rapidly to respond to missile impacts. However, defence experts caution that sustained attacks could place further strain on Ukraine’s already stretched air defence network if additional support from Western partners does not arrive soon.