Russian Missile and Drone Attack Injures 10 in Kyiv as Ukraine Faces Air Defence Strain

KYIV: Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s capital early Saturday, injuring at least 10 people and causing widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, as Kyiv continues to face mounting pressure from intensified aerial attacks.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russian forces fired six ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles, and 121 drones during the overnight assault. Ukrainian air defences intercepted two cruise missiles and neutralised 111 drones, but several ballistic missiles struck their targets, highlighting the growing challenge posed by shortages of advanced air defence interceptors.

The attack triggered fires and caused significant damage across several districts of Kyiv, including an office building, a transformer substation, warehouses, and other non-residential facilities. Blast waves also shattered windows in nearby residential buildings, while emergency services responded to multiple incidents across the capital.

Ukrainian officials said 11 locations nationwide were hit during the overnight barrage. The latest strike forms part of a recent escalation in Russian attacks on Kyiv, which have resulted in dozens of civilian casualties in recent weeks. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly appealed to Western allies for additional Patriot missile systems and interceptor munitions to strengthen the country’s air defences.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had targeted facilities linked to Ukraine’s drone production industry and port infrastructure in southern Ukraine, while Ukrainian officials maintained that the attacks primarily affected civilian areas and critical infrastructure.