At least 20 people were killed early Monday after Russia launched a massive wave of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, in what officials say is yet another reminder of the country’s deepening shortage of air‑defence interceptors. The attack comes just days after the deadliest assault on Kyiv this year and ahead of a crucial NATO summit, where Ukraine is expected to push for more advanced defence systems.
According to initial assessments, Russia fired a mix of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and hundreds of drones at targets nationwide. Kyiv was among the worst‑hit areas, with rescue workers seen digging through the rubble of a heavily damaged residential building. Local authorities said several victims were trapped under debris for hours as emergency teams battled fires and structural collapses.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that while it managed to intercept 37 missiles and more than 90% of the 351 drones launched overnight, it failed to shoot down any of the 23 ballistic missiles. Officials blamed the failure on a critical shortage of Patriot missile interceptors, the only system capable of reliably stopping high‑speed ballistic attacks. The shortage has left major cities increasingly vulnerable.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to raise the issue directly with US President Donald Trump during their meeting at the NATO summit in Turkey. Kyiv hopes the alliance will accelerate deliveries of air‑defence systems and ammunition, warning that delays could cost more civilian lives.
The latest strikes also highlight Russia’s continued pressure campaign, even as Ukraine intensifies its own drone operations targeting Russian oil refineries and military infrastructure. A recent study cited in related reports suggests war casualties have surpassed 2 million, with Russia losing nearly 30,000 soldiers a month — figures that underscore the grinding, high‑intensity nature of the conflict.