Russia strikes Kyiv with ballistic missiles as Ukrainian drones target Moscow region overnight

Missile strike on Kyiv

Russia again attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with ballistic missiles in the early hours of 16 August 2026. Several explosions could be heard in the city after the alert was issued. Kyiv's military administration issued an air raid alert at around 2:00 am local time, warning of incoming ballistic missiles and urging residents to head to shelters.

Air raid alert in Kyiv due to the ballistic missile threat.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in the capital and said the city was under ballistic missile attack, writing on Telegram that Kyiv was being targeted with ballistic missiles. He called on residents of the city of millions to remain in their shelters. Soon after the alert, a fire broke out in a non-residential building in the Obolonsky district, Klitschko and authorities said, without specifying any casualties. Fires were reported in two city districts, with firefighters deployed to the scenes.

Wider attacks across Ukraine

The Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram that attacks with missiles, glide bombs, and drones were also targeting other parts of the country. Among the targets were the industrial cities of Kremenchuk and Kryvyi Rih. The reports did not specify casualties or the extent of damage in those locations.

Russia has increasingly been using long-range missiles in its war against Ukraine. The intensified ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv and other cities come as Ukraine faces a shortage of interceptor missiles for its Patriot air defense systems after four and a half years of war. The US-produced Patriot systems are considered the most effective defense against ballistic missiles, which are particularly difficult to intercept due to their high speed. Ukraine has several Patriot systems but not enough interceptor missiles to deploy them effectively across all threatened areas.

Drone swarm approaching Moscow

Overnight, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defenses had downed drones flying toward the capital. In posts on the state-backed MAX platform, Sobyanin said Russian forces intercepted around 28 drones approaching Moscow. On Telegram, Sobyanin reported that air defenses in the capital region had fended off more than 50 drones. The discrepancy in the reported numbers could not be immediately reconciled. Emergency services were deployed at debris crash sites. Sobyanin did not initially provide information on possible damage or injuries.

War context

Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's war of aggression for more than four years with Western assistance. For counterattacks on Russian territory, Kyiv primarily uses drones, and has carried out strikes deep inside Russian territory in recent weeks. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly struck Russian oil refineries and military infrastructure. Meanwhile, Moscow has pressed its offensive in the east and launched deadly barrages on cities including Kyiv. Ukrainian officials have said Moscow has at times used North Korean ballistic missiles in these attacks. The claims of both sides could not be independently verified.