Image@ BBC
Ukraine’s Air Force has revealed it was unable to intercept any of the 23 ballistic missiles launched by Russia against Kyiv overnight on Sunday, citing a critical shortage of interceptor missiles.
The large-scale assault killed at least 12 people in the capital, while six others died elsewhere in the Kyiv region, according to Ukrainian officials.
Dozens more sustained injuries as residential areas suffered extensive destruction.
President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukraine’s international partners to approve stronger military support at this week’s NATO summit, stressing the urgent need for additional air defence systems.
Zelensky said Russia fired a total of 68 missiles and 351 attack drones during the overnight operation.
While Ukrainian forces successfully destroyed or disrupted 37 missiles and 326 drones, the ballistic missiles penetrated the country’s defences because of dwindling interceptor supplies.
He warned that civilians would remain vulnerable as long as advanced Patriot missile interceptors remained unavailable to Ukraine despite existing stockpiles held by allied nations.
Residents across Kyiv endured another night of explosions as air defence batteries responded to incoming threats.
By Monday morning, emergency crews were battling fires and clearing debris from heavily damaged neighbourhoods, where several apartment buildings partially collapsed after direct impacts.
Rescue teams, assisted by sniffer dogs and heavy machinery, searched through the wreckage for survivors trapped beneath concrete slabs.
Witnesses described scenes of grief, including families waiting anxiously as search operations continued.
Kyiv’s military administration reported 49 people injured in the capital, while Zelensky said another 16 were wounded across the surrounding region.
The latest bombardment came only days after another major Russian strike that claimed 30 lives.
Ukrainian authorities accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilian districts, while Russia maintained its attacks were aimed at military and energy infrastructure in response to Ukrainian operations inside Russian territory.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continued long-range drone strikes on Russian energy facilities. Authorities in Sevastopol, located in Russian-occupied Crimea, reported temporary electricity disruptions following the attacks.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said Ukraine launched 625 long-range drones, claiming 613 were intercepted.
Attention is now turning to the NATO summit opening Tuesday in Ankara, where Zelensky is expected to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the gathering.
Ahead of the meeting, Zelensky appealed to the United States and European allies to deliver firm commitments to strengthen Ukraine’s air shield, saying their combined capabilities could better protect civilians from continued aerial assaults.
Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine’s immediate requirement for additional air defence systems would be a key issue during summit discussions.
Russia has occupied roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong