Russia launched a missile and drone attack on apartment buildings in Kyiv on July 6, killing at least 14 people and wounding around 60 others, authorities reported. This strike came just days after a previous Russian attack killed more than 30 people in the Ukrainian capital.

The early Monday morning assault caused significant damage, including punching a hole through a multi-storey apartment block and ripping its top floors apart. More than 10 explosions were heard during a ballistic missile alert overnight, with visible flashes in the sky.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged NATO and international partners, particularly the United States and European nations, to make "strong decisions" at the NATO Summit in Ankara to bolster Ukraine's air defenses. He emphasized the critical need for advanced interceptor missiles, including those compatible with US-made Patriot systems, to protect civilian lives.

Mr. Zelenskyy reported that Russia fired 68 missiles and 351 attack drones on Kyiv during the attack. Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry described the operation as a "massive strike" targeting "military-industrial enterprises," as well as fuel and energy facilities across several Ukrainian regions.

The European Union also stated that Ukraine requires reinforcements for its air defense capabilities.

Eyewitness accounts described the impact at 1:30 a.m. as powerful, with blast waves shattering all windows and multiple subsequent hits. Glass was reported falling throughout the affected apartments, leaving no panes intact.

This attack marks the second Russian missile and drone strike on Kyiv within a week, underscoring ongoing security challenges ahead of the NATO summit.

Sources