Russia launches largest ballistic missile attack on Kyiv since start of war

Russia executed a sustained aerial bombardment of Kyiv early Sunday, deploying the highest volume of ballistic missiles since the conflict's inception, according to Ukraine's foreign minister. The multi-hour assault resulted in at least one death and 15 injuries, with damage spanning six districts across the capital.

The attack underscores Ukraine's mounting vulnerability in its fifth year of warfare, particularly regarding air defence capabilities. Ukraine's shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles—its most effective tool against ballistic threats—has left the nation exposed to repeated Russian strikes. Ukraine's air force successfully intercepted 18 of the 41 missiles launched overnight, though the toll of constant bombardment continues to mount.

The strikes ignited fires across residential areas, office buildings, industrial facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Emergency responders conducted rescue operations in multiple districts, extracting residents from burning structures. Concurrent Russian drone attacks targeted the Dnipropetrovsk region and struck a passenger train in Zaporizhia, killing the conductor.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the assault as a terrorist attack demanding international pressure on Moscow. Domestically, tensions have intensified following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, which some observers criticized as poorly timed given Ukraine's military momentum.

In response to ongoing supply challenges, United States President Donald Trump indicated willingness to grant Ukraine licences for domestic Patriot interceptor missile production, though implementation details and timelines remain undefined. Ukraine has also continued targeting Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea as part of its strategy to restrict supplies to occupied Crimea.