The Ukrainian capital was shaken by a wave of explosions just after midnight, as the Air Force reported that Russian missiles had entered Kyiv’s airspace. The air defense response was immediate, while flames engulfed several parts of the metropolis. At the same time, Zaporizhzhia and areas around Kharkiv were struck by drones, wounding at least 17 people.
In a Telegram statement, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that air defense had been activated to counter the ballistic missile attack. “The enemy is striking Kyiv with ballistic missiles and our defense systems are working in the capital,” he wrote.
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Reports from the scene indicate that fires broke out in three separate locations in the Holosiivskyi district, south of the city. Both Klitschko and Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said that so far there are no reports of casualties or injuries in the capital.
For about 50 minutes, air raid sirens filled the air and residents reported hearing at least six explosions during the offensive.
Meanwhile, in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, drone strikes left 11 injured, emergency services reported. Six others were wounded near Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest metropolis.
This military escalation came just hours after the conclusion of the “Coalition of the Willing” summit in Paris, where Ukraine’s allies discussed expanding military support for Kyiv and increasing pressure on Moscow.
At the end of the meeting, nine European states formalized a defense alliance focused on building anti-ballistic capabilities on the continent.
President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the summit as “a historic moment for all of us,” while once again appealing to partners for more air defense systems, as Ukraine faces a shortfall of munitions for American Patriot systems.
Since June, Russia has significantly increased the use of ballistic missiles against Kyiv, weapons known for their high speed and complex maneuvering, making them much harder to intercept than cruise missiles.
One of the most devastating attacks hit the capital on the night of July 1-2, when Russian salvos killed at least 30 people, in what Ukrainian officials described as one of the most brutal strikes since the beginning of the conflict.
