Russian strikes kill 28 in Kyiv area, exposing Ukraine air-defense shortages

KYIV — Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv and surrounding areas early Monday, killing at least 28 people as Ukraine warned of a growing shortage of U.S.-made Patriot air defense interceptors needed to counter ballistic missiles.

Rescue teams continued searching through the rubble of a heavily damaged apartment building in Kyiv, where several victims remained trapped after the overnight bombardment. The attack came a day before a NATO summit, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to discuss renewed efforts toward peace.

According to Ukraine's air force, Russia fired 23 ballistic missiles during the assault, none of which were intercepted. The military said the failure reflects the country's dwindling supply of Patriot missile interceptors, currently the only system in Ukraine capable of destroying ballistic missiles.

Zelenskiy renewed his appeal for additional Patriot systems and interceptors, calling it "simply absurd" that production has not been expanded to meet the growing threat posed by Russia's missile campaign.

He said Ukraine has the capability to manufacture Patriot systems if granted U.S. production licenses, adding that domestic production could help protect both Ukraine and its allies.

Ahead of the NATO summit, Zelenskiy urged member nations to make "strong decisions" to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses. Air force data showed Ukrainian forces intercepted only four of 49 ballistic missiles launched by Russia in July.

Ukraine said its air defenses successfully shot down 37 other missiles and more than 90% of the 351 drones launched during Monday's attack.

Search for survivors continues

Ukraine's State Emergency Service said at least 18 people were killed in Kyiv, while prosecutors reported another 10 deaths in the surrounding Kyiv region. Several residential buildings were damaged in the town of Vyshneve, outside the capital.

Elsewhere, officials said a Russian drone strike killed two people at a gas station in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. In the northeastern Sumy region, two civilians were also killed in separate drone attacks near the Russian border.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said nearly 30 buildings in Kyiv sustained significant damage.

Emergency crews spent hours searching through collapsed concrete and twisted steel at a high-rise apartment building where the upper floors were destroyed.

One resident, identified only as Alyona, said she was waiting for news about her 19-year-old friend, who remained missing after the attack.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said rescuers recovered the bodies of an entire family — two parents and their child — from the debris.

The strike came just days after another deadly Russian attack on Kyiv that killed 31 people, the deadliest assault on the capital this year.

Russia intensifies air campaign

Russia's Defense Ministry said it carried out a "massive" strike using long-range precision weapons launched from the air, land, and sea, along with drones.

The ministry said the attacks targeted military and energy facilities in Kyiv and the surrounding region, as well as military airfields in other parts of Ukraine.

Russia has intensified its aerial attacks in recent months as its ground offensive has slowed. Ukrainian forces have continued launching long-range strikes against Russian military logistics and oil facilities while regaining limited territory along parts of the 1,200-kilometer (746-mile) front line.

Ukraine also announced Monday that it struck three Russian oil refineries, including the country's largest refinery in Omsk, about 2,414 kilometers (1,500 miles) from Ukraine, as well as two vessels belonging to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" operating in the Sea of Azov. -Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka; Editing by Daniel Flynn, Michael Perry, Lincoln Feast, Gareth Jones, Ron Popeski and Sanjeev Miglani/Reuters