Ukraine Intercepts Five Russian Ballistic Missiles as Overnight Strikes Damage Kyiv

Ukraine said its air defence forces shot down five Russian ballistic missiles during a large-scale overnight attack on Tuesday, marking the first claimed interception of such missiles in nearly two weeks. Despite the success, several missiles and drones breached the country's defences, striking Kyiv and other locations.

According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia launched 10 missiles and 135 drones overnight. While most were intercepted, one ballistic missile and 25 drones reached their targets, damaging 17 sites , with debris falling at 10 additional locations.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attack sparked fires at two warehouses and damaged a school in the capital. Emergency crews responded to multiple incidents as authorities assessed the impact. Russia's Defence Ministry claimed the strikes targeted military-industrial facilities involved in producing long-range missiles and drones, saying the operation was aimed at weakening Ukraine's strike capabilities.

The latest barrage comes as Ukraine seeks to strengthen its air defence network ahead of winter, when Russia has previously intensified attacks on the country's energy infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , who attended France's Bastille Day celebrations, said Ukraine and its partners aim to jointly develop a low-cost, mass-produced ballistic missile defence system within the next year.

A newly formed coalition of 10 European countries has pledged to support the initiative. Meanwhile, the United States has agreed in principle to license Patriot air defence system production in Ukraine, although locally manufactured systems are expected to take several years to become operational.

Ukraine also continued its long-range campaign against Russian infrastructure. Russian authorities reported a fire at the Afipsky Oil Refinery in the Krasnodar region and confirmed an attack on an industrial area in Salavat , Bashkortostan. Russia said its air defences intercepted 288 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, including Crimea and the Azov and Black seas .