Russia unleashes one of biggest ballistic missile attacks of the Ukraine war, Kyiv says

Russia launched a massive ballistic missile strike on Ukraine overnight, marking one of the most intense aerial assaults since the start of the conflict four years ago. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Moscow deployed over 40 missiles and 120 attack drones in the operation. The primary target for the barrage was the capital city of Kyiv, where residents reported a two-hour window of heavy explosions and subsequent smoke across the skyline.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the scope of the attack, noting that air defense systems managed to neutralize 126 incoming targets. Despite these efforts, 23 missiles and 10 drones bypassed defensive shields, striking 20 locations. Local emergency services reported one death and 16 injuries in the capital, where images show significant damage to infrastructure, including large craters in the ground and scorched buildings.

The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged the operation, stating the target was Ukrainian defense industry facilities and logistics centers. This escalation aligns with a shift in tactics, as analysts note that Russian forces increasingly prioritize ballistic missiles due to their speed and difficult flight paths, which complicate interception attempts by Ukrainian air defenses.

Ukraine continues to operate with a limited supply of Patriot missile systems, which are currently in high demand globally. While government officials negotiate for more equipment and look into potential domestic production of air defense capabilities, the current supply remains insufficient to counter the volume of fire. Meanwhile, the conflict continues to span multiple fronts, with Ukraine reporting its own successful drone strikes against an oil export hub on the Russian Black Sea coast that disrupted petroleum transport operations.