Russia Fires 351 Drones, 68 Missiles at Ukraine, 21 Killed in Kyiv Attack
Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine early Monday, killing at least 21 people and injuring more than 60 , as waves of drones and missiles struck Kyiv and the surrounding region, exposing critical gaps in the country's air defence.
According to Ukrainian authorities, 15 people were killed in Kyiv while another six died in the wider Kyiv region . Rescue teams continued searching through the rubble of damaged residential buildings, with officials warning that the death toll could rise.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia fired 351 drones and 68 missiles , including 29 ballistic missiles , during the overnight attack. While Ukrainian forces intercepted most drones and cruise missiles, none of the ballistic missiles were shot down , underscoring Kyiv's growing shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the United States and European allies to strengthen Ukraine's air defences ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara , warning that Russia is exploiting the shortage of interceptor missiles to intensify attacks on civilian areas.
Russia's Defence Ministry claimed the strikes targeted Ukraine's military-industrial facilities, including drone and missile production sites, air defence repair centres, and fuel infrastructure. However, Ukrainian officials said the bombardment severely damaged residential neighbourhoods in Kyiv's Podilskyi and Darnytsia districts, with apartment blocks partially collapsing and dozens of civilians trapped beneath the debris.
The attack came just days after another Russian missile strike killed 31 people in Kyiv , the deadliest assault on the capital this year. Ukrainian officials say Moscow has stepped up its long-range attacks in response to Kyiv's recent drone strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed it intercepted 519 Ukrainian drones overnight, while authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea reported temporary power outages following Ukrainian attacks.