Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv and its surrounding areas early Monday, July 6, killing at least 28 people, according to Ukrainian officials.
Emergency crews continued searching through the rubble of a heavily damaged residential apartment building in Kyiv, where several people were believed to be trapped following the attack.
The assault came just ahead of a NATO summit, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as international efforts to advance peace negotiations continue.
According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, none of the 23 Russian missiles launched during the attack were intercepted. The failure highlighted Ukraine’s increasing vulnerability to Russian aerial bombardments as its stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles continues to decline.
President Zelensky renewed his appeal for additional air defense systems and interceptor missiles, stressing that the Patriot system remains the only weapon currently capable of reliably intercepting Russia’s ballistic missiles.
In a televised address, Zelensky said Ukraine possesses the expertise to manufacture such advanced defense systems but requires authorization from the United States to produce Patriot missile systems domestically in order to strengthen the country’s air defenses.
He called on NATO leaders meeting in Türkiye to make “bold decisions” that would help Ukraine better protect its cities and civilians from continued Russian attacks.
Zelensky warned that as long as Patriot missile systems remain in the arsenals of Ukraine’s allies rather than on the battlefield, Russia will continue targeting residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure with missile strikes.
