Russia launched ballistic missiles and drones at Ukraine, killing at least 21 people in the deadliest strikes the country has seen this year, the BBC reported. Kyiv and surrounding areas were the primary targets, with 17 people reported dead.

Attack Details and Casualties

Attacks in Kharkiv and Donetsk also claimed one and three lives, respectively, as Ukraine has repeatedly called for more US-made Patriot missile interceptors to defend against Russian ballistic attacks. However, the country has not reported intercepting any of the missiles in the overnight attack.

Zelensky said delays in receiving anti-ballistic systems from allies have led to “horrific casualties and destruction.” The president added that the supply of interceptors from allies has been “significantly reduced” this year.

Targeted Infrastructure

Russia’s defense ministry claimed it struck logistics hubs and supply centers in Kyiv and the surrounding region, while these centers were involved in the storage, delivery of various weapons and military supplies, as well as the production and distribution of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The ministry also said it hit three cargo vessels transporting weapons and military equipment near the Black Sea port of Odesa; Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned that people could be trapped under rubble after residential buildings, a railway station, and warehouses were hit.

Ukraine’s emergency services reported one death in Kyiv and at least 16 injured, with a further 16 dead and 29 injured in the wider region; In Kharkiv, regional head Oleh Syniehubov said one person had died and several were injured, including one in critical condition. Donetsk governor Vadym Filashkin reported three deaths and 27 injuries in the region.

Fires were still being extinguished in five locations across the Kyiv region on Wednesday, covering an area of approximately 230,000 sq m.

Missile and Drone Interceptions

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles and four anti-ship missiles during the attack on the capital — In addition, 115 drones were launched by Russia during the overnight attack, with 98 intercepted by air defense systems.

Data analyzed by BBC Verify shows that missile interceptions over the last month have fallen compared with the same period last year. In 2026, the interception rate was 44.4%, compared to 66.7% in 2025. Ukraine intercepted 156 of 351 Russian missiles launched between 6 July and 5 August 2026, compared with 128 of 192 during the same period in 2025. This represents an 83% increase in Russian missile launches this month compared with last year.

Analysis of drone interceptions for the same period shows a much smaller decline, with a drop of almost three percentage points (85.8% in 2026, 88.4% in 2025).

Russia has intensified attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks, while Ukraine has also increased its attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, including power facilities. In Tula region, Russia, a drone crashed into a Wildberries warehouse, causing a fire. Governor Dmitry Milyaev said one person was injured with no deaths reported. The facility was evacuated pre-emptively, and firefighting teams were working at the site.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted warehouses, including those operated by Wildberries. Five people were killed and 10 wounded in the Moscow region on Tuesday morning in the most recent strikes on warehouses. The day before, Russian officials reported seven people killed and 58 injured after a drone hit a busy beach in the southern Krasnodar region.

Ukraine expressed outrage over a video showing a man being chased by a drone in Kherson, calling it a deliberate “hunt” and “safari” targeting civilians. Both sides have denied deliberately targeting civilians.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU had received €1.4bn from immobilized Russian assets, which will be used to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.