Russia unleashed one of its deadliest missile and drone barrages in recent months overnight, killing at least 17 people and injuring 44 others as explosions ripped through Kyiv and surrounding areas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow fired a devastating combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and attack drones in a coordinated assault that struck civilian infrastructure across the country.
According to the Ukrainian leader, Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles, four Zircon and Onyx missiles, and 115 drones, many of them jet-powered, in a barrage that triggered fires, widespread destruction and frantic rescue efforts.
The president accused the Kremlin of deliberately targeting civilian businesses rather than military sites.
Among the buildings hit were warehouses belonging to logistics companies, construction-material depots, a brewery and other commercial facilities, alongside critical infrastructure and a railway station.
Russia used cluster munitions against densely populated areas of Kyiv. The pattern of these attacks points to an effort to destroy not only lives, but also Ukrainian culture, identity, and the ability of Ukrainians to live freely in their own country. pic.twitter.com/lhVkPT6TyE
— Shaun Pinner (@ShaunPinnerUA) August 5, 2026
One of the most heartbreaking scenes unfolded in Kyiv region’s Brovary district, where eight people waiting on a railway platform were killed before they could board what would have been their final train.
Emergency crews worked through the wreckage as flames engulfed residential buildings, warehouses and an office block. Thick smoke drifted across parts of the capital while firefighters battled multiple blazes sparked by the strikes.
Rescuers continued searching collapsed structures on Tuesday, raising fears the death toll could still climb.
Officials said the Kyiv region alone accounted for many of the casualties, with dozens more treated for injuries ranging from shrapnel wounds to severe burns.
In an emotional address following the attack, Mr Zelensky argued that many of the deaths could have been prevented if Ukraine had received additional supplies of anti-ballistic missile interceptors from its Western allies.
He warned that every delay in delivering air-defence systems comes at a human cost, saying the latest attack demonstrated the urgent need for stronger protection against Russia’s increasingly sophisticated missile arsenal.
The Ukrainian president also urged allies that are unable to provide more military assistance to instead tighten economic pressure on Moscow.
Russia, with the help of North Korea, continues to exploit Ukraine's shortage of Patriot interceptors by launching ballistic missiles at a rate that exceeds its own domestic production. Night after night, missiles rain down on Kyiv and cities across Ukraine, while Europe and… https://t.co/YTcUtUshwg
— Shaun Pinner (@ShaunPinnerUA) August 5, 2026
He called on the G7, the European Union and other partners to impose fresh sanctions, arguing that parts of Russia’s ballistic missile industry remain untouched by existing restrictions.
The overnight bombardment is the latest reminder that, despite more than four years of war, Russia retains the ability to launch large-scale attacks deep into Ukraine, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict as diplomatic efforts to end the fighting remain deadlocked.
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