A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack struck the Kyiv region and the capital overnight, resulting in the deaths of 17 people and leaving 44 others injured. The assault lasted approximately two hours and hit several business locations, including a food warehouse, a construction supply facility, and a mail sorting center.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the attack targeted civilian infrastructure with no military connection, though Russian officials claimed these sites served dual-purpose roles in support of military operations. The strikes included 24 ballistic missiles, four hypersonic or supersonic missiles, and 115 jet-powered drones.
This incident highlights the growing intensity of Russian ballistic missile strikes this summer, which appear aimed at exploiting Ukraine’s thinning stock of air defense interceptors. Ukraine currently faces a critical shortage of ammunition for its U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, the only equipment capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
President Zelenskyy indicated that supplies of such defensive missiles during the first half of this year dropped to one-third of 2025 levels. He emphasized that the delay in receiving these systems contributes directly to higher civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. The ongoing conflict has seen a shift toward this pattern of attrition, with Russia targeting logistics hubs and distribution centers to pressure Ukrainian resources.
In response, Ukraine has continued deep-strike operations using long-range drones, targeting facilities like oil refineries within Russia. Ukrainian drone attacks recently hit a warehouse in the Tula region linked to the retailer Wildberries. While the war of attrition continues, peace efforts led by international partners remain at a standstill.