Russian strikes on Kyiv kill 17; Ukraine reports no missile intercepts
Russian missile and drone strikes killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 40 in Kyiv and its outskirts in the early hours of Wednesday, Ukrainian officials said. The attacks, which occurred after midnight, left thick smoke billowing over the capital as rescue crews worked through the night.
The Ukrainian air force reported that it had shot down 98 of 115 drones launched by Russia, but that none of the missiles fired at Kyiv were intercepted. This stands in contrast to earlier attacks in the conflict, when Ukraine successfully shot down many Russian missiles. The inability to stop the latest barrage underscores a worsening shortage of air defence systems, especially the U.S.-made Patriot interceptors that Kyiv has urgently requested from its allies.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the death toll could have been lower with better equipment. "Ballistic interceptors are what could have saved the lives of those killed today," he said in a statement. He noted that supplies of air defence missiles from partner countries had fallen by a factor of three compared with 2025.
The strikes targeted warehouses, infrastructure and a railway station, according to Ukrainian authorities. At a train station on the eastern edge of Kyiv, an AFP journalist counted eight bodies covered with white sheets near the tracks. The retail chain Epicentr said one of its logistics hubs was burned to the ground, killing an employee. Three postal workers also died in a separate strike, and online retailer Rozetka reported its third attack in a week.
Moscow, for its part, said it hit "transportation, logistics and distribution centres" that were involved in storing and delivering weapons and military cargo, as well as producing and distributing drones. Russian forces have repeatedly targeted such facilities in recent months, part of a broader effort to disrupt Ukrainian supply lines.
The latest attack is part of an intensifying Russian campaign against the Ukrainian capital. In July, Moscow launched a record number of missiles at Ukraine, according to an analysis of Ukrainian air force data. The United Nations says civilian casualties have risen in 2026, as the war approaches its fifth year with no peace talks in sight.
In the eastern Donetsk region, where Russian forces have made incremental gains, the regional governor ordered hundreds of families with children to leave the city of Kramatorsk. Governor Vadym Filashkin said the decision was difficult but necessary, citing a deteriorating security situation. "It is unacceptable to leave children under the constant threat of Russian attacks," he said.
International condemnation followed the attack. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the strikes "horrible atrocities", while French President Emmanuel Macron said France would not give in to intimidation and urged stronger sanctions on Russia.
Residents of Kyiv described a sleepless night. Natalia Reutska told AFP, "The night was so terrifying, so hard. We've gotten used to waking up thinking, 'we were lucky today,' and that's very scary." Hours after the attack, the smell of burning lingered in the air.
Ukrainian authorities said more than 40 people were wounded in the capital and the surrounding region. The death toll may rise as rescue operations continue.
