Russian strikes on the Kyiv region that killed at least 17 people have drawn a sharp rebuke from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who condemned what she called “horrible atrocities” and vowed the EU would keep backing Ukraine.
Local authorities said the latest attack followed an air force warning of incoming ballistic missiles.
Explosions rang out across the city shortly after midnight local time. Kyiv’s military administration reported that a combined wave of missiles and drones hit residential buildings and several warehouses.
“Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused,” Ms von der Leyen warned. She said the European Union received the latest tranche of windfall profits from Russian assets frozen in the bloc on Monday and would make the funds available to Kyiv.
Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 98 of the 115 drones launched by Russia overnight. Preliminary air force statistics showed, however, that none of the missiles were intercepted.
While Kyiv can bring down most drones, it remains dependent on allied supplies to defend against missiles.
“Ballistic interceptors are what could have saved the lives of those killed today,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said as he announced the death toll had reached 17.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that at least three people were hospitalised, including one in serious condition.
Mr Klitschko said a warehouse near the city centre was destroyed and that rescuers had pulled two people from the ruins.
The air alert in Kyiv was lifted after being in effect for about one hour and 25 minutes
A teenager sits on a bicycle watching flames rise from a burning logistics warehouse in Kyiv
“There may still be people under the rubble … search and rescue operations are proceeding,” he said.
The city’s military administration said the strikes also caused an ammonia leak, with emergency crews working to contain it.
The overnight barrage came a day after Russian attacks on Kyiv and its suburbs on Saturday killed 10 people and wounded more than 30, while Ukrainian drones sank a huge Russian container ship in the Black Sea.
Fires, smoke seen across Kyiv skies following overnight strikes
In recent weeks, both Russia and Ukraine have ramped up long-range strikes, with Russia more than doubling its missile use in July.
Drone attacks on both sides have also become routine, with Ukraine stepping up strikes on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities and logistics networks.
In the Moscow region yesterday morning, five people were killed and 10 others wounded in strikes that targeted depots linked to the Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries.
Ukraine also voiced outrage over footage showing a man being chased by a drone in Kherson city, describing it as a deliberate “hunt” and “safari” targeting of civilians.
Smoke rising over a church following massive Russian ballistic missile
UN human rights monitors have warned about the growing toll on civilians, with casualties now at their highest level since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.
In response, Ukraine has repeatedly urged allies in recent months to send more US-made Patriot interceptors to strengthen air defences against Russian ballistic attacks.
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Mr Zelensky has argued that a shortage of ballistic missile interceptors “only encourages Russia to launch such attacks that take human lives”.
He met US President Donald Trump last Tuesday and pressed Washington to grant licences allowing domestic production of Patriots.
