Russian air strikes kill 4-9 in Ukraine hours after Zelenskyy's warning, on eve of NATO summit
Russia launched a large-scale air assault on Ukraine shortly after midnight, hitting Kyiv and other cities with drones, cruise missiles and rockets, killing between 4 and 9 people and injuring dozens, just hours after President Zelenskyy warned of an imminent attack before the NATO summit in Ankara.
Overnight strikes
Shortly after midnight on Monday, air raid sirens sounded across nearly all regions of Ukraine as Russia launched a large-scale aerial assault. Explosions were reported in the capital Kyiv and its suburbs, with multiple residential buildings hit. A prefabricated apartment block partially collapsed, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of the structure, and rescue workers feared people were trapped under the rubble. Thousands of residents fled to metro stations for shelter, according to The Kyiv Independent. This was the second deadly attack on Kyiv in less than a week.
Zelenskyy's warning
The attack came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned in a Sunday evening video address that Russian President Vladimir Putin would likely order a new wave of strikes before the NATO summit in Turkey. Citing intelligence reports, Zelenskyy said the timing was characteristic.
It's entirely in Putin's style — right after American Independence Day (on July 4) and before the NATO summit in Ankara, he wants to cause more havoc and kill people.
He urged Ukraine's partners to provide more air defense systems without delay.
Every delay in the delivery of missiles for our air defense and for the Patriot systems costs lives and encourages Russia to continue the war.
Weapons and defenses
The Russian barrage reportedly included dozens of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic rockets. Cruise missiles fly at low altitudes to evade radar, while ballistic missiles are difficult to intercept due to their high speed. Ukrainian air defenses have a relatively high success rate against drones and cruise missiles but remain largely powerless against ballistic missiles, according to reports.
NATO summit context
The strikes set a grim backdrop for the NATO summit scheduled to begin Tuesday in Ankara, Turkey. The two-day meeting of alliance representatives will now open under the shadow of the latest escalation. Zelenskyy's appeal underscored the urgency of Western military aid as the war grinds into its fifth year.
Casualties and damage
Casualty figures varied across sources. Reports ranged from at least 4 to 9 people killed and between 12 and 46 injured. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed air defenses were active and urged residents to stay in shelters. The governor of Kyiv region reported five injured, with three people hospitalized in Bucha, northwest of the capital.
- Zelenskyy warns of imminent Russian strikes before NATO summit.
- Air raid alerts sound across Ukraine; explosions in Kyiv.
- Casualties reported: 4-9 dead, 12-46 injured; thousands shelter in metro.
- NATO summit begins in Ankara, Turkey.
