On the night of Tuesday, August 4th into early August 5th, 2026, Russia launched a massive missile and drone assault on Kyiv and its surrounding areas, killing at least 17 people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces fired 24 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles, and 115 drones during the attack. The main targets were warehouse facilities belonging to civilian businesses, including sites in the city of Brovary and a warehouse fire in Bucha.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirmed on Telegram that cleanup operations were underway following the "massive attack."

Zelenskyy warned that the "horrific casualties and destruction" were a direct result of Ukraine’s shortage of missile interceptors, a critical defense gap exploited by the Russian offensive. The Pentagon has reportedly increased production of Patriot and THAAD missile interceptors amid strains on stockpiles.

Residents in Kyiv heard the first explosions around 12:30 a.m. local time (21:30 GMT, Monday), with the successive booms from nearly 30 missiles rattling the capital.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed it had destroyed 475 Ukrainian drones across various regions.

This attack highlights ongoing challenges faced by Ukraine in defending against sustained missile and drone barrages amid limited interceptor resources.

Sources