Russia's Massive Missile and Drone Strike on Ukraine Kills 20 as Patriot Stockpiles Run Critically Low

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine in the early hours of Monday, killing at least 20 people while exposing Kyiv's acute shortage of American-made interceptor missiles. The strike came just days after what had been the deadliest air attack on Kyiv so far this year.

Rescue teams continued to dig through the rubble of a destroyed high-rise apartment building in Kyiv. The latest assault occurred on the eve of a NATO summit where U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a bid to restart peace efforts.

No Ballistic Missiles Intercepted

According to Ukrainian Air Force data, Ukrainian forces failed to shoot down a single one of the 23 ballistic missiles launched by Russia — a stark reflection of the country's eroding air defense capability as its precious Patriot missile stockpiles are depleted.

Zelensky has repeatedly called on allies to supply more interceptor missiles, the only weapon in Ukraine's arsenal capable of defeating ballistic missiles. These projectiles are extremely difficult to intercept due to their high speed and steep flight trajectories.

Zelensky urged that "tough decisions" be made at the NATO summit opening Tuesday in Turkey to ensure Ukraine has the means to defend itself. Ukrainian Air Force figures showed that in July, air defenses successfully intercepted only 4 out of 49 ballistic missiles.

"As long as Patriot missiles remain sitting in allies' stockpiles, Russia will only be encouraged to keep destroying residential buildings," Zelensky wrote on X. "The United States and Europe have the ability to stop this terror."

Noteworthy, however, is that Ukrainian air defenses did successfully intercept 37 other missiles during the attack, along with more than 90% of the 351 drones deployed.

Search and Rescue Operations Continue

Officials said the attack killed at least 14 people in Kyiv and six more in surrounding regions, with dozens wounded. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said nearly 30 buildings across Kyiv sustained serious damage.

Search and rescue operations continued into Monday afternoon, with emergency workers sifting through the rubble and twisted metal of a multi-story residential building whose upper floors had been destroyed.

Alona, 22, was waiting for news of her friend Vika, 19, who went missing after the strike. "We're waiting here for them to bring her out… She's so kind, only 19 years old, a good girl," Alona told Reuters, struggling to hold back tears as she watched the rescue operation from a nearby playground.

Reuters television footage showed what appeared to be human remains buried beneath chunks of concrete from an upper floor of one building. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the bodies of a family of three — including parents and a child — had been recovered from the wreckage.

Russia Intensifies Air Campaign

Russia's Defense Ministry said Monday that its forces had carried out a "massive" strike on Kyiv and other locations using long-range, high-precision air-, ground-, and sea-launched weapons as well as drones. The ministry said military and energy infrastructure in Kyiv and surrounding areas were targeted, along with military airfields in multiple Ukrainian regions.

Moscow has dramatically escalated its air war this year against a backdrop of near-stalled ground advances and persistent disruption from Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian military logistics and oil industry targets.

Despite continued Russian pressure on the strategically important eastern city of Kostiantynivka, Ukraine has recaptured ground in some sections of a front line stretching more than 1,200 kilometers (approximately 746 miles). Zelensky on Saturday denied Russian claims of having captured the city.

On Monday, Kyiv's military announced strikes on three Russian oil refineries, including Russia's largest refinery in Omsk — more than 2,414 kilometers (approximately 1,500 miles) away — as well as attacks on two "shadow fleet" vessels in the Sea of Azov.

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