Russian forces launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight, killing at least 18 people and wounding dozens, hours before a NATO summit opens in Ankara. Ukrainian Air Force data showed that none of the 23 ballistic missiles fired were intercepted, while air defences shot down or neutralised 37 cruise missiles and 326 of the 351 drones deployed. The strikes damaged or destroyed at least 15 residential buildings, including a nine-storey block in the historic Podilskyi district that was largely obliterated from the fifth floor upwards.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributed the failure to stop the ballistic missiles to an “insufficient supply of interceptor missiles” and called on allies to take “strong decisions” at the summit to bolster air defences. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the attack showed Ukraine “urgently” needs more air defence and that the issue would be discussed in Ankara. The Russian defence ministry described the operation as a “massive strike” using long-range precision weapons against military-industrial enterprises, fuel and energy facilities, and military airfields in several regions, presenting it as a response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure.

The inability to intercept ballistic missiles exposes a critical vulnerability for Ukraine, which depends on US-made Patriot systems. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat noted a “serious deficit” of interceptor missiles globally. Viewed from Washington, the escalation comes as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the summit, with a subsequent call to Russian President Vladimir Putin planned. The White House has stated that ending the war remains a priority, but the latest bloodshed illustrates the distance between diplomatic initiatives and conditions on the ground.

The war, now in its fifth year, has seen both sides intensify long-range strikes. Ukraine has targeted Russian energy infrastructure, causing temporary blackouts in Crimea and fuel shortages, while Moscow has stepped up aerial bombardments as its ground advance has slowed. The NATO summit is expected to reaffirm support for Ukraine, with allies pledging €70 billion in military assistance for 2026. The meeting will test the alliance’s capacity to sustain that commitment amid competing crises and Trump’s demands for European defence spending increases. The Zelenskyy-Trump meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, and the air defence shortfall is likely to dominate the agenda.