Russian missiles kill at least 9 in Kyiv, hours after Zelenskiy warned Ukraine cannot stop ballistic strikes

The attack

Russian forces fired a large-scale salvo of missiles and drones at Ukraine in the early hours of Monday, striking residential districts in Kyiv and other regions. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 68 missiles (including 23 ballistic and six anti-ship Zirkon and Oniks types) and 351 long-range drones were launched. Air defences shot down 37 missiles and 326 drones, but none of the ballistic missiles were intercepted. A total of 29 missiles and 18 drones hit 34 locations across the country.

Zelenskiy’s warning

On Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted on X that Russia had used around 2,200 attack drones, more than 1,730 guided aerial bombs and 106 missiles against Ukraine the previous week. He said Ukraine could effectively down over 90% of drones but not all ballistic missiles, and that Moscow was now relying on those weapons to sustain its war. He again urged European allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences.

We already have the capacity to effectively shoot down more than 90% of drones, but unfortunately not all ballistic missiles are intercepted. And it is on ballistic missiles that Moscow now relies to continue its war.

Casualties and damage

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klichkó reported damage in three districts: Holosivskyi, Podilskyi and Darnytskyi. Residential buildings caught fire, and rescue teams pulled survivors from the rubble. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration, said the death toll in the capital had reached nine, with 46 injured across the city, adding that the figures were not final. Earlier reports had put the toll at seven dead and 24 wounded. Among the injured were two children aged 7 and 8, according to Klichkó. In Darnytskyi district, a 25-storey building was hit on the fourth floor, trapping residents on upper floors; 22 people were rescued. Another 30-storey residential block suffered a fire on the 23rd and 24th floors.

Five people died in the Russian attack. My deepest condolences to the family and friends. There are no words that can ease this pain.

Air defence performance

Ukrainian forces intercepted 37 of the 68 missiles and 326 of the 351 drones, according to the Air Force. All cruise missiles were shot down, but the complete failure to stop any of the 23 ballistic missiles confirmed the shortage of PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot systems that Zelenskiy has been flagging daily to partners. The six anti-ship Zirkon and Oniks missiles also evaded defences.

Geopolitical timing

The barrage came days after a Russian attack on Kyiv killed 30 people on Thursday, the deadliest on the capital this year. Zelenskiy noted that the new strike was timed before the annual NATO summit, which opens on Tuesday in Turkey. Russia’s Defence Ministry said it had used long-range, high-precision weapons launched from air, land and sea, as well as drones, against military and energy facilities in the Kyiv region and military bases elsewhere in Ukraine.