Russia Hits Kyiv with Ballistic Missiles Again

Russia launched another ballistic missile attack on Kyiv overnight, the third such strike on the Ukrainian capital in less than a week. According to Ukrainian authorities, the attack killed one woman and injured two other people.

Russian forces used five ballistic missiles and 169 drones in the overnight strikes. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted more than 80% of the drones but failed to shoot down any of the ballistic missiles.

Kyiv has long warned that it lacks US-made interceptors for its Patriot systems, the only weapons in Ukraine’s arsenal capable of destroying ballistic targets.

Storage facilities and a non-residential building were damaged in Kyiv. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, also came under missile attack, with local officials reporting damage to private homes and a church.

The strikes came during the NATO summit in Ankara, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet US President Donald Trump.

Strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses is expected to be one of the main topics of discussion. Trump said in Ankara that he believed the war could be “settled, hopefully soon”.

(Reuters, mja)