Russia Strikes Kyiv With Ballistic Missiles as Ukraine Seeks More Air Defense Support

Russia launched a fresh wave of ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones against Kyiv on Wednesday, killing at least three people and injuring 13 others, as Ukraine continues to struggle with a shortage of U.S.-made air defense interceptors capable of stopping ballistic threats.

The attacks coincided with the NATO summit in Ankara, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with U.S. President Donald Trump. During their discussions, Zelenskiy raised the possibility of Ukraine securing licenses to manufacture the interceptors domestically to strengthen the country's air defense capabilities.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one drone struck a 25-story residential building in the afternoon. Overnight missile and drone strikes also ignited fires at two warehouses, with emergency crews battling the flames for hours. Among the injured was a child, while two victims remained in serious condition.

In the southern port city of Odesa, another Russian attack killed four people and wounded six, according to local officials. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, also suffered missile strikes that damaged homes and a church. A separate attack on a residential building later in the day left two people dead.

Ukraine's Air Force reported intercepting 139 of the 169 drones launched overnight but failed to destroy any of the five ballistic missiles fired by Russia. Officials say ballistic missiles remain one of the country's biggest challenges due to their speed and flight path, with U.S.-made interceptors currently the only effective defense.

Russia has intensified its aerial campaign in recent months despite limited progress on the battlefield. Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes have killed 60 people in Kyiv and the surrounding region in July alone, while only four of 54 ballistic missiles launched during the month have been intercepted.

President Trump said during the NATO summit that he remained hopeful the conflict could be resolved soon after holding talks with both Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Putin has maintained that Russia will continue its military campaign and insists Ukraine surrender the remaining parts of the Donetsk region still under Kyiv's control.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported that overnight Ukrainian drone attacks killed one person and caused damage to several industrial facilities. Reuters said it could not independently verify battlefield claims made by either side.