Russian attacks kill 6 in Ukraine as Kyiv races to produce Patriot missiles

Russian forces launched another wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine on Friday, killing at least six people and wounding 29, according to the Associated Press and Reuters, as the country's persistent air defense shortage continues to leave its cities exposed.reuters+1

The attacks, which targeted Kyiv and other regions including Odesa and Kharkiv, come amid a period of intensified Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital. On July 7, a massive barrage of 351 drones and 68 missiles killed at least 22 people across Ukraine, with 15 dead and 56 wounded in Kyiv alone, according to the AP. Ukraine's air force said all 29 ballistic missiles in that attack struck their targets, underscoring the limits of Kyiv's existing defenses.apnews

Patriot Missile Production Pledge

The renewed bombardment adds urgency to a potential turning point in Ukraine's defensive capabilities. At the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, President Donald Trump told President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United States would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles domestically. "We're going to give a license to you to make Patriots. That's pretty cool," Trump said, according to Reuters.reuters

Zelensky said on July 9 that technical details still needed to be worked out between Ukrainian and American teams before production could begin. On July 10, Zelensky urged that Ukraine must make "every effort" to begin domestic production as soon as possible. Analysts have warned that Russia may intensify ballistic strikes in the interim window before Ukrainian-produced Patriot missiles become operational.france24+2

Ukraine's Oil Strikes Force Russia to Import Fuel

While Ukraine struggles to defend its skies, its long-range drone campaign against Russian oil infrastructure has inflicted mounting economic damage. CNN reported that nearly all of Russia's 83 regions are experiencing gasoline shortages or supply disruptions, with production running roughly 20 percent below domestic demand.cnn

In an unprecedented reversal, Russia has begun importing gasoline by sea from India, with at least 60,000 metric tons already dispatched, Reuters reported. Moscow plans to import as much as 400,000 metric tons of fuel per month from various countries, and Russia's parliament approved tax code amendments last week offering subsidies on fuel imports. Ukraine has struck Russian oil facilities more than 300 times since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, creating what amounts to a nationwide fuel crisis affecting an estimated 50 million Russians.wikipedia+2