Ukraine suffered one of its deadliest aerial assaults in recent months after Russian forces launched a large overnight missile and drone attack that killed at least 17 people in Kyiv and the surrounding region.
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched 115 drones and 28 high-speed missiles, including ballistic missiles. Officials said Ukrainian air defences failed to intercept any of the missiles, highlighting the country’s growing shortage of anti-ballistic defence systems.
Ukraine Russian Missile Attack Overwhelms Air Defences
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said civilian infrastructure was the primary target of the overnight bombardment.
He said warehouses, railway facilities and commercial infrastructure suffered damage instead of military positions. Zelenskyy renewed his appeal for Western allies to provide more advanced air-defence systems capable of stopping ballistic missiles.
He warned that additional interceptors could have saved lives and prevented widespread destruction.
Railway Station Among Hardest-Hit Locations
The highest number of casualties occurred near Kvitneva railway station in the Brovary district outside Kyiv.
Local officials said several passengers remained on the platform after the final train was delayed. The missile strike killed eight people who were waiting at the station.
Emergency crews continued rescue operations for hours as firefighters battled large blazes caused by the attack.
Civilian Businesses Sustain Heavy Damage
Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilian businesses instead of military facilities.
Among the companies affected were Epicentre, ROZETKA, and Nova Poshta, three of Ukraine’s largest commercial operators. Nova Poshta said Russian forces used cluster munitions during the strike on one of its sorting centres near Kyiv.
Supermarket chain Silpo confirmed that six employees died after explosions triggered fires at two distribution centres.
In a separate attack a day earlier, Russian forces also destroyed a warehouse storing products for Ukrainian ice cream manufacturer Lasunka.
Ukraine Calls for More Air Defence Support
The latest Ukraine Russian missile attack has intensified calls for additional international military assistance.
Government officials said they will meet with affected businesses to assess the damage and coordinate recovery efforts. Meanwhile, Ukrainian leaders continue urging allies to accelerate deliveries of advanced air-defence systems to strengthen protection against future missile attacks.
