Russian Overnight Strikes Kill 21 as Zelensky Presses Allies for More Interceptors
An overnight Russian barrage of ballistic missiles and drones killed at least 21 people across Ukraine, with the heaviest toll in the capital region. President Volodymyr Zelensky said more interceptors "could have saved lives."
The attack on Kyiv and its outskirts was the deadliest in the area this year. Ukraine's emergency services said one person was killed and 16 wounded in the city, while 16 more died and 29 were injured across the surrounding region. In Kharkiv, regional head Oleh Syniehubov reported one death and several wounded, including one person listed in critical condition. In Donetsk, governor Vadym Filashkin said three people were killed and 27 injured.
Zelensky said delays in receiving anti-ballistic systems from partners lead to "horrific casualties and destruction." He also said the flow of interceptors from allies had been "significantly reduced" this year. Ukraine has repeatedly asked for additional US-made Patriot systems, which are among the few weapons capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.
Ukraine's air force said on Telegram that Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles and four anti-ship missiles at the capital, as well as 115 drones, of which 98 were intercepted. Ukrainian officials did not report intercepting any of the missiles in the overnight attack, underscoring the pressure on the country's missile-defense stocks.
BBC Verify's analysis of Ukrainian air force data shows the missile interception rate over the past month fell to 44.4%, from 66.7% in the same period last year. Between July 6 and August 5, Ukraine intercepted 156 of 351 Russian missiles, compared with 128 of 192 in the same window in 2025. Russian missile launches in that period rose 83%. Drone interception rates slipped only slightly, from 88.4% to 85.8%.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it had struck logistics hubs and supply centers in Kyiv and the surrounding region, saying they stored and delivered weapons and military supplies and were involved in producing and distributing unmanned aerial vehicles. It also said it hit three cargo vessels carrying weapons near the Black Sea port of Odesa.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said residents feared people could still be trapped under debris after residential buildings, a railway station, and warehouses were hit. Firefighting operations were still under way in five places across the Kyiv region on Wednesday, spanning roughly 230,000 square meters, according to emergency services.
The bombardment is part of a pattern of increasing Russian strikes on Kyiv in recent weeks. Ukraine, meanwhile, has intensified its own attacks on Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries and power facilities.
In Russia's Tula region, Governor Dmitry Milyaev said a Ukrainian drone crashed into a warehouse belonging to online retailer Wildberries overnight, causing a fire and injuring one person; no deaths were reported. The company said firefighting crews were at the scene and the facility had been evacuated as a precaution. Ukraine has repeatedly hit Wildberries facilities. On Tuesday morning, separate warehouse strikes in the Moscow region killed five people and wounded 10, according to Russian officials.
A day earlier, Russian officials said a drone struck a crowded beach in the southern Krasnodar region, killing seven people and injuring 58. Ukraine, meanwhile, expressed outrage over a video showing a man being chased by a drone in Kherson, describing it as a deliberate "hunt" and "safari" targeting civilians. Both sides have denied deliberately targeting civilians.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that the EU had received €1.4 billion (£1.2 billion) from immobilized Russian assets, and that the money would be used to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Additional reporting by Paul Brown