Ukraine failed to intercept any ballistic missiles in deadly Kyiv attack

Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv in the early hours of Monday, killing at least 18 people and injuring dozens more in the second large-scale bombardment of the Ukrainian capital in less than a week. The assault exposed a dangerous gap in Ukraine's air defenses just hours before NATO leaders are set to gather in Ankara, Turkey, for a summit where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make an urgent plea for more Western air defense systems.

None of 29 Ballistic Missiles Intercepted

Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 68 missiles and 351 drones during the overnight attack, with the strikes targeting mainly Kyiv. None of the 29 ballistic missiles launched were intercepted, according to Ukraine's air force, which attributed the failure to a critical shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles.kyivindependent+4

Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat confirmed that the insufficient supply of Patriot missiles was the primary reason no ballistic missiles were shot down. "Russia is increasingly relying on ballistic missiles because Ukraine faces a shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles," Ihnat said on Ukrainian television.united24media

The attack hit apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure across the capital. It came just four days after a July 2 strike on Kyiv killed 17 people and injured more than 90, in what Russia's Defense Ministry described as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on oil facilities.npr+1

Zelenskyy Presses for Patriot Deliveries at NATO Summit

President Zelenskyy called on allies to approve additional Patriot interceptor deliveries at this week's NATO summit in Ankara, which begins Tuesday. "The reason is precisely the insufficient supply of interceptor missiles," Zelenskyy wrote.wikipedia+1

The appeal follows a request by Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who earlier this month sent official letters to nearly 40 partner countries seeking the immediate transfer of Patriot missiles from existing stockpiles in exchange for future deliveries under long-term contracts.united24media+1

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with Zelenskyy during the summit as part of a renewed push to end the war, a senior U.S. official told Reuters. The two-day summit at the Beştepe Presidential Complex will bring together leaders from across the alliance to address security challenges.reuters+1

Air Defense Crisis Deepens

The back-to-back attacks on Kyiv have underscored what defense analysts describe as a worsening imbalance between Russia's missile production and Ukraine's ability to defend against them. The United States has been unable to guarantee timelines for Patriot missile deliveries, even as Ukraine warned of a critical shortage.euromaidanpress+1

The July 2 attack involved 74 missiles, including 24 ballistic missiles, and 496 drones, according to Ukraine's air force. Monday's strike, while smaller in overall scale, proved equally devastating due to the complete failure to intercept any of the ballistic missiles fired.npr