Attacks on Kyiv ahead of NATO summit : What is Putin goal ?

What Happened

On the night of July 6–7, 2026, Russian forces launched a large-scale missile and drone strike on Kyiv, killing at least 22 people in the capital and 15 in the surrounding Kyiv region, and injuring dozens. Debris clearance was underway at over 20 sites, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned of in a July 5 Telegram message citing intelligence reports, involved 68 missiles—including Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 3M22 Zircon and Oniks cruise missiles—and 351 drones. Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat stated that Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a high percentage of cruise missiles but failed to down any ballistic missiles due to a severe shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha both characterized the attack as a deliberate targeting of civilians, with Sybiha calling it “one of the most brutal attacks ever.” The bombardment occurred ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, and analysts Oleksandr Kraiev of Ukrainian Prism and Ivan Us of the National Institute for Strategic Studies interpreted it as a dual signal: intimidating NATO allies to undermine their support for Ukraine, and reinforcing an image of Russian strength domestically amid growing war-weariness. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged urgent provision of additional air defense systems and said the 21st sanctions package would be expedited.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The attack directly targets the cohesion of the NATO alliance on the eve of a summit, testing whether high civilian casualties can weaken Western resolve to support Ukraine. It exposes Ukraine’s critical dependence on Patriot missile supplies to counter ballistic threats, and the concurrent domestic messaging aims to shore up flagging Russian support for the war. The summit’s response—particularly decisions on air defense transfers, possible license production for Patriot missiles, and a proposed $140 billion two-year aid package—will signal the alliance’s strategic endurance.

Watch For

The immediate focus is the NATO summit in Ankara, where leaders are expected to discuss and possibly approve a $140 billion military aid package, the transfer of Patriot systems in exchange for NATO security guarantees, and the potential licensing of Patriot missile production to Ukraine. The EU’s 21st sanctions package, promised in the coming days, will be another bellwether. Further Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, exploiting air defense gaps, may test the summit’s commitments.