Russia hits Ukraine in largest attack yet

What This is

• Russia carried out one of its largest missile-and-drone attacks on Kyiv since the full-scale invasion began, hitting many districts over hours and causing widespread damage.
• Reported casualties in Kyiv ranged from about 13 to 30 killed, with many more wounded, as rescuers searched rubble at damaged apartment blocks and other sites.
• Ukraine said Russia fired roughly 70-plus missiles and close to 500 drones in the assault, including ballistic missiles that are harder to intercept.
• The strikes damaged or destroyed residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, and residents sheltered in metro stations during long air-raid alerts.
• Ukraine said its air defenses were strained, with reports of low interception rates for ballistic missiles and heavy reliance on U.S.-made Patriot systems and interceptors.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to speed up deliveries of air-defense systems and asked for U.S. licenses to produce Patriot missiles in Ukraine.
• Russia described the strikes as retaliation and said it targeted military or energy sites, while Ukrainian officials said homes and civilian areas were hit.
• The EU proposed new sanctions after the barrage, including measures aimed at entities linked to Russia’s drone production and supply chain.
• Fighting continued beyond Kyiv, with additional Russian strikes reported elsewhere in Ukraine, and both sides kept up long-range attacks across the border.

Why This Matters

• Mass attacks on a capital test whether air defenses can keep civilians safe as the war drags on.
• Shortages of interceptors and delays in deliveries can quickly turn into higher death tolls and deeper infrastructure damage.
• If Ukraine gains local production of Patriot missiles, it could reduce reliance on slow foreign supply and change the long-term balance of resilience.
• New EU sanctions aimed at drone supply chains could shape Russia’s ability to sustain large-scale strikes, but also raise the stakes for economic escalation.