Russia launches one of its largest ballistic missile barrages on Kyiv, killing at least 6 across Ukraine

Overnight barrage on Kyiv

Russia launched one of its largest ballistic missile barrages on Kyiv since the full-scale invasion began, firing 41 missiles and 125 drones in the early hours of Sunday 19 July. The attack started around 1:30 a.m. and lasted several hours, with explosions echoing across the capital. Ukraine’s air force said 18 missiles and 108 drones were intercepted, but the weapons that got through caused extensive damage. Among the 41 missiles were 25 Iskander-M and S-400 ballistic missiles, 3 Onyx, about 10 Zikon anti-ship missiles, and 3 Kh-59/69 cruise missiles.

President Volodymyr Zelenski said the assault was one of the largest Russian ballistic missile attacks recorded and that Moscow had spent days stockpiling missiles for it. The barrage came a day after Ukrainian drones struck two Wildberries logistics centres in the Russian towns of Elektrostal and Kotovsk, killing eight civilians.

Casualties and damage across Ukraine

At least one person died and 16 were injured in Kyiv, according to Zelenski. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that a 89-year-old woman was killed and 15 people hospitalised, three in serious condition. Fires broke out in five districts, damaging residential buildings, a supermarket, a shopping centre, a student dormitory, and vehicles. A projectile struck an underground passage near Lukianivska metro station, leaving a deep hole and depriving hundreds of residents of their usual shelter.

The missiles kept coming one after another, the explosions were loud, it was horrible. I thought my life was going to end.

Later on Sunday, a Russian strike hit a postal facility on the outskirts of Kharkiv, killing four people and injuring 20, according to regional governor Oleg Sinegubov. Three men aged 24, 45 and 62 died at the scene, and a 25-year-old later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Guided bomb attacks on Kherson and Sumy each killed at least one person. Across the country, at least six people were killed and dozens wounded.

When the alarm started, we checked for ballistics and then went into the corridor. Then one missile after another started exploding.

Air defence shortage and Patriot deal

Kyiv has been hit frequently by ballistic missiles in recent weeks, exposing a severe shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors. Zelenski said protection against ballistic missiles is the country’s top priority and called on European partners and the United States to accelerate deliveries. Last week he announced a political agreement with Washington to licence-produce Patriot interceptors in Ukraine, expressing hope that production could begin before the end of the year. President Donald Trump has said he is ready to grant the necessary licences, though full-scale manufacturing could take years.

Ukrainian retaliation strikes

Hours after the overnight barrage, Ukraine’s military announced retaliatory strikes on Russian assets. It said it destroyed the tanker ‘Avero’, part of Russia’s so-called ghost fleet used to evade sanctions, and attacked two other tankers, ‘Asia’ and ‘Nissos’, while they were loading at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in Novorossiysk. The CPC confirmed the strikes, saying a fire on the ‘Asia’ was extinguished with no casualties or oil spill. Ukrainian forces also hit three oil depots in Stavropol and 13 energy facilities under Russian control: eight in Crimea and five in occupied eastern and southern Ukraine.

Political pressure and protests

The escalation unfolded against a backdrop of political turmoil in Kyiv, where anti-government protests entered their fourth consecutive day. The metro station that was damaged had been a vital shelter for up to 52,000 people during air raids. Over the past week alone, Russia launched 1,450 drones, more than 1,640 guided aerial bombs, and 99 missiles at Ukraine, according to Zelenski.