Russia launches largest ballistic missile attack on Kyiv since start of war

What Happened

Russia launched the largest ballistic missile attack on Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion overnight on Sunday, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The hours-long barrage struck six districts across the city, killing one person and wounding at least 16, Ukrainian officials said. Fires damaged residential buildings, offices, industrial sites, a dormitory, and vehicles. Simultaneously, Russian drone strikes killed one person in Dnipropetrovsk region and a train conductor in Zaporizhia region after a drone hit a passenger train, Ukraine’s national railway company reported. Ukraine’s air force claimed it downed 18 of 41 missiles launched overnight. The attack comes amid a shortage of Patriot air defence munitions, with US President Donald Trump stating he is prepared to grant Ukraine licences to produce Patriot interceptor missiles domestically, though details are unclear. Domestically, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov as part of a cabinet reshuffle has sparked street protests and criticism among soldiers.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The attack highlights Ukraine’s acute vulnerability to Russian ballistic missiles, exacerbated by a critical shortage of Patriot air defence munitions. It also unfolds against a backdrop of domestic political turbulence after Zelenskyy’s dismissal of his defence minister, which has unnerved some in the military and the public. The US offer to license Patriot production could be a game-changer for Ukraine’s long-term defence, but its timeline and feasibility remain uncertain. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s reported strikes on Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea signal a continued push to disrupt supply lines to Russian-occupied Crimea.

Watch For

Monitor whether the US finalizes and implements a Patriot production licence for Ukraine, and whether it begins to alleviate the interceptor shortage. Observe the frequency and scale of subsequent Russian ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, and any Ukrainian retaliatory strikes. Track the political fallout from Zelenskyy’s cabinet reshuffle and its impact on military morale and public support. Also watch for Ukrainian maritime strikes on Russian logistics in the Black Sea, as part of its ongoing campaign to isolate Crimea.