KYIV — Ukraine intercepted only one of 27 Russian ballistic missiles launched during a large-scale overnight attack after running short of Patriot interceptor missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as he renewed calls for Western partners to urgently replenish the country's air defense stocks.
The overnight assault targeted Kyiv and several other regions across Ukraine, causing civilian casualties, damaging residential buildings and public infrastructure, and highlighting the growing pressure on Ukraine's air defense network as the war enters its fifth year.
Large-Scale Missile and Drone Attack
According to Ukrainian officials, Russian forces launched 35 missiles, including 27 ballistic missiles, along with 185 attack drones of various types during the night of July 31 to Aug. 1, 2026.
Kyiv was the primary target, while attacks were also reported in the Dnipro, Sumy, Kharkiv and Poltava regions.
Ukraine's Air Force managed to intercept only one ballistic missile, with Zelenskyy saying the limited success was directly linked to the lack of Patriot interceptor missiles.
"Only one ballistic missile was intercepted, simply because there are no interceptors for the Patriot systems," Zelenskyy wrote on X.
He said the shortage of Patriot interceptors is allowing Russia to continue conducting ballistic missile attacks against Ukrainian cities.
"It is critical that partners hear that these capabilities are needed not somewhere in stockpiles for hypothetical scenarios but here and now to contain and stop the Russian war in Ukraine. Every package of ballistic missile interceptors saves the lives of our people. And every night without them results in more casualties," Zelenskyy said.
Casualties and Damage Across Kyiv
The attack caused widespread destruction across the Ukrainian capital.
According to Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials, nine people were killed and 28 others were injured, including four children who suffered shrapnel wounds and lacerations.
Prosecutors said seven people died in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district, located on the left bank of the Dnipro River, while two people were killed in the Solomyanskyi district on the city's right bank.
Authorities reported damage across seven districts of Kyiv, where the strikes hit:
- 18 residential buildings
- A school
- The Lithuanian Embassy
- Infrastructure facilities
Several fires broke out following the attacks, while power outages were reported in parts of the city.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said the embassy sustained damage, including broken windows and damaged solar collectors, while debris was scattered across the embassy compound. No embassy staff were injured, although two missiles reportedly landed nearby.
Ukrainian Officials Call for More Air Defense
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said emergency services worked throughout the night to respond to the attack and added that the city continues expanding shelter capacity as Russian missile and drone strikes intensify.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said strengthening Ukraine's air defense remains essential.
"It is the battle for the skies that will define the trajectory of this war. The stronger the air shield over Ukraine, the closer peace becomes."
Sybiha also urged international partners to provide additional air and missile defense systems along with interceptor missiles.
Second Major Strike on Kyiv in One Week
The latest barrage marked the second major Russian attack on Kyiv within a week.
Ukrainian officials said an earlier attack on Thursday killed nine people, including six members of one family in a village near Kryvyi Rih. During that earlier wave of attacks, a suspected Russian cruise missile also entered Polish airspace.
The latest strike occurred during the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Fighting continues along approximately 1,200 kilometers of frontline, while Ukrainian officials and military analysts say Russian ground advances have slowed significantly this year even as both sides continue long-range missile and drone strikes.
Patriot Shortage Remains a Key Concern
Ukraine has relied on the U.S.-made Patriot air defense system as its primary capability for intercepting ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called on partner nations to supply additional Patriot interceptors and related air defense capabilities, saying they are urgently needed to protect civilians and critical infrastructure from continued missile attacks.
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