Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Missile Strikes on Kyiv Kill 17; Ukraine Renews Patriot Plea
At night, Russia sent powerful missiles and flying drones to attack Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine.
The weapons hit homes, shops, warehouses, and even a country's embassy building.
At least 17 people died, and more than 40 people were hurt.
Ukraine's leaders said they could not stop any of the fast ballistic missiles.
They asked friends in other countries for more special air-defense missiles called Patriots, which can shoot down incoming missiles.
Ukraine's president said these defenses could have saved lives.
The leader of NATO, a group of countries that work together for safety, talked with Ukraine's president about getting help faster.
In another part of Ukraine, hundreds of families with children were told to leave their city to stay safe.
Russia says it was only aiming at places that help make drones and weapons.
Many innocent people have been hurt in this conflict, and Ukraine says more help is needed to protect them.
Russia launched an overnight missile and drone barrage on Kyiv and the surrounding region, killing at least 17 people and wounding more than 40, according to Ukrainian authorities.
One article cites Kyiv authorities reporting one woman killed and at least 12 people wounded, with Mayor Vitali Klitschko saying at least three people were hospitalised.
Ukraine said it failed to intercept any of the incoming ballistic missiles and renewed its plea for additional US-made Patriot interceptor missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said ballistic interceptors 'could have saved the lives of those killed today' and discussed air defence needs with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The strikes damaged residential buildings, warehouses and Lithuania's embassy; Russia's Defence Ministry said it targeted transportation, logistics and distribution centres tied to Ukraine's drone programme.
- Who
- Russian forces carried out the strike; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte responded.
- What
- An overnight missile and drone barrage on Kyiv and its region that killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 40.
- When
- Overnight into Wednesday; explosions were heard shortly after midnight (2100 GMT Tuesday).
- Where
- Kyiv, Ukraine, and the surrounding region; evacuation orders were also issued for Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region.
- Why
- Russia said it targeted transportation, logistics and distribution centres supporting Ukraine's drone programme; Ukraine says the lack of ballistic missile interceptors encourages such attacks.
Ukrainian & Allied View
Russian View
Nature of the strikes
Ukrainian & Allied View
The barrage hit residential buildings, warehouses and Lithuania's embassy, killing civilians and pushing civilian casualties to their highest level since February 2022.
Russian View
Russia's Defence Ministry said it targeted transportation, logistics and distribution centres allegedly involved in storing weapons and supporting Ukraine's drone programme.
Cause of civilian deaths
Ukrainian & Allied View
President Zelenskyy said a lack of ballistic missile interceptors 'only encourages Russia to launch such attacks that take human lives.'
Russian View
Russia described its strikes as attacks on Ukraine's military-industrial complex industries and logistics centres.
Attacks on civilian infrastructure
Ukrainian & Allied View
Ukraine expressed outrage over a video of a man chased by a drone in Kherson, calling it a deliberate 'hunt' and 'safari' targeting civilians.
Russian View
Ukraine has also intensified its attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities and logistics, with five people killed in the Moscow region on Tuesday.
- Reported death toll
- At least 17 (an earlier tally cited one woman killed)
- Reported wounded
- More than 40
- Ballistic missiles intercepted
- None, according to Ukrainian authorities
- Air defence sought
- US-made Patriot interceptor missiles
- Sites damaged
- Residential buildings, warehouses and Lithuania's embassy
- Russian justification
- Transportation, logistics and distribution centres tied to Ukraine's drone programme
- Evacuation
- Hundreds of families with children ordered to leave Kramatorsk, Donetsk region
- Saturday attacks context
- 10 killed and more than 30 wounded in Kyiv; Ukrainian drones sank a Russian container ship in the Black Sea
