At least 17 people were killed and 44 others injured after Russian forces launched a large missile-and-drone barrage against Kyiv and its surrounding region overnight into Wednesday, 5 August 2026.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia deployed 24 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and 115 drones during the attack. Explosions were reported across the capital and nearby communities during an assault lasting approximately two hours.
Ukraine said its air defences intercepted 98 of the 115 drones but were unable to destroy any of the ballistic or cruise missiles. Ukrainian officials linked the failure to a critical shortage of interceptors for systems such as the American-made Patriot air-defence platform.
Emergency personnel worked through fires and damaged buildings as they searched for victims and attempted to contain the destruction. Several injured people were reportedly in critical condition, raising concerns that the death toll could change.
Warehouses, logistics centres, a mail-sorting facility, a railway station and a brewing company were among the sites damaged. Ukrainian officials maintained that several of the affected facilities were civilian businesses with no connection to military operations.
A Nova Poshta mail-sorting centre and an Epicentr retail logistics facility were among the locations reportedly struck. Fires also broke out at warehouse buildings in Brovary and Bucha, communities located near Kyiv.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces targeted seven logistics centres that it alleged were storing drones, components and other equipment with potential military uses. Reuters reported that it could not independently verify Russia’s description of the sites.
Zelenskyy said additional ballistic-missile interceptors could have prevented some of the deaths. He called on Ukraine’s international partners to accelerate the delivery of air-defence equipment and impose further sanctions on companies connected to Russian missile production.
The attack came as Ukraine continued carrying out long-range drone operations inside Russia. Russian authorities claimed that hundreds of Ukrainian drones had been intercepted, while strikes reportedly affected a warehouse belonging to major Russian retailer Wildberries and an oil refinery.
The latest bombardment highlights the increasing vulnerability of Ukrainian cities as supplies of advanced air-defence missiles decline. It also raises concerns about further civilian casualties if Ukraine is unable to replenish its interceptor stocks while Russia continues launching large-scale ballistic-missile attacks.
