The Kabul Tribune (KT) — At least 28 people were killed after Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region early Monday, highlighting Ukraine's growing shortage of U.S.-made air defense interceptors, Reuters reported.
According to Ukrainian officials, the overnight assault killed 18 people in Kyiv and 10 others in the surrounding Kyiv region. Rescue workers continued searching through the rubble of a damaged apartment building as emergency crews worked to recover victims.
Reuters reported that Ukraine's air force failed to intercept any of the 23 ballistic missiles launched by Russia during the attack, underscoring Kyiv's increasing vulnerability as supplies of U.S.-made Patriot air defense missiles decline. Ukrainian forces did, however, intercept 37 other missiles and more than 90% of the 351 drones used in the attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for increased military support from Western allies, saying Ukraine urgently needs additional Patriot missile systems and interceptors to defend against ballistic missile attacks. He also urged allies to expand production of air defense systems and said Ukraine could manufacture Patriot systems if it received the necessary U.S. licenses.
The attack came a day before a NATO summit, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Zelenskiy as part of renewed efforts to advance peace negotiations.
Reuters reported that nearly 30 buildings in Kyiv sustained significant damage. Authorities also said two people were killed in Russia's Zaporizhzhia region after a drone strike hit a fuel station, while two more civilians died in separate drone attacks in the northeastern Sumy region.
Russia's Defense Ministry said it had carried out a "massive" strike using long-range precision missiles and drones, claiming it targeted military facilities, airfields and energy infrastructure in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's military said it had launched long-range strikes against three Russian oil refineries, including Russia's largest refinery in Omsk, as well as two vessels belonging to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" in the Sea of Azov.
Russia has intensified its aerial campaign against Ukraine in recent months as fighting along the front lines has slowed. Ukraine continues to urge its Western allies to provide additional air defense systems, warning that shortages of advanced interceptors are leaving cities increasingly exposed to large-scale missile attacks.
