A wave of Russian missiles and drones struck across Ukraine early on Monday, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 60, on the eve of a Nato summit in Ankara. The attack heavily damaged apartment blocks and other buildings, exposing gaps in Ukraine's air defences.
Fifteen people were killed in Kyiv, the main target, and 56 were injured, according to city administrator Tymur Tkachenko. In the wider Kyiv region, six more died and 21 were injured, said regional head Mykola Kalashnyk. All ballistic missiles launched by Russia struck their targets, underscoring the urgent need for more Patriot interceptor missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that while Ukrainian forces had success against drones and cruise missiles, they could not stop the ballistic missiles due to a shortage of Patriots. He called for “strong decisions” from the Nato summit, urging allies to transfer their stockpiled interceptors. “As long as Patriot missiles remain in our allies’ stockpiles, Russia is only encouraged to keep ‘vanquishing’ residential buildings,” he said.
The attack began shortly after 1am and lasted hours, hitting at least 15 multi-storey residential buildings. In the historic Podilskyi district, four buildings were hit, with a nine-storey block largely destroyed from the fifth floor up. Rescuers combed rubble for survivors, including at a 21-storey block. Survivor Alyona, 22, waited for news of her friend Vika, 19, saying “she's such a kind girl.”
Ukraine's air force reported a combined attack with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic Zircon anti-ship missiles, and 351 attack and decoy drones. Air defences shot down 37 cruise missiles and 326 drones, but 23 ballistic missiles, six Zircon missiles and 18 drones evaded and struck 34 locations across the country.
The attack came as the Kremlin confirmed a weekend call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, with plans to talk again soon. Trump is expected to meet Zelenskyy on Wednesday at the Nato summit, where a renewed push to end the war is anticipated. Russia's defence ministry said it struck military and energy facilities in Kyiv and other regions.
