Kyiv, Ukraine | August 5, 2026 (V7N) - At least 17 people were killed and more than 40 others injured after Russia launched a large-scale overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region, Ukrainian authorities said on Wednesday.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the attack included ballistic missiles and drones, with Ukraine successfully intercepting 98 of the 115 drones launched. However, officials confirmed that none of the ballistic missiles were intercepted, highlighting the country's urgent need for additional air defense systems, particularly US-made Patriot interceptors.
The strikes triggered multiple fires across Kyiv, leaving thick smoke hanging over the city by sunrise. Explosions echoed through the capital shortly after midnight, while residents described the night as one of the most terrifying in recent months.
Among the hardest-hit locations were warehouses, logistics centers, railway infrastructure, and a postal sorting facility. A missile strike on a train station in eastern Kyiv killed eight people, while attacks on an Epicentr logistics hub and a postal center claimed several more lives.
Russia's Ministry of Defense stated that the strikes targeted transportation, logistics, and distribution facilities allegedly used for storing and transporting military equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles.
President Zelensky said additional missile defense systems could have prevented the loss of life, warning that Ukraine continues to face a critical shortage of air defense capabilities as Russia intensifies its missile campaign.
The latest assault follows a sharp increase in Russian missile attacks over recent months, with July recording the highest number of missile launches against Ukraine since the start of the war.
END/WD/RH
