Ukraine to press NATO for expanded anti-ballistic air defense after Russian strikes on Kyiv

Ukraine’s government said it will press NATO allies for more anti-ballistic air defense after Russia carried out a large overnight missile and drone attack that Ukrainian officials described as including ballistic missiles hitting Kyiv and the surrounding region. The attack, officials said, resulted in more than two dozen deaths and widespread injuries, prompting Zelenskyy and other officials to renew a call for interceptor missiles as the alliance meets to discuss support for Ukraine’s air defenses.

Ukrainian officials described the scale of the strike as Russia launched 68 missiles, including 23 ballistic missiles, and 351 drones overnight. The Ukrainian air force said Ukrainian forces shot down or otherwise suppressed 37 of the missiles and 326 drones, while impacts were reported across dozens of locations. Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, bore the brunt of the attack, with city officials reporting deaths and injuries and describing damage across multiple districts.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and the city’s regional administration said at least 15 people were killed and more than 50 others injured, with dozens hospitalized. A further six people were killed and at least 26 were injured across the wider Kyiv region, according to the region’s governor. Ukrainian officials said rescue teams were searching for additional victims under rubble at damaged residential buildings.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces intercepted many drones and cruise missiles, but that they did not intercept any of the ballistic missiles launched at Kyiv during the attack. In statements published ahead of the NATO summit, he attributed the gap to insufficient supplies of interceptor missiles, urging allies to approve additional Patriot deliveries from stockpiles and to make stronger decisions at the summit in Ankara.

The dispute over air defense comes as European and Western leaders weigh how to protect Ukrainian cities against Russian ballistic attacks, which can be harder to intercept than cruise missiles or drones. In related comments carried by BBC and other outlets, Zelenskyy is expected to use the NATO meeting in Turkey to argue that Ukraine needs more interceptor missiles, particularly those intended for ballistic threats.

The Ukrainian appeals are likely to feed directly into NATO discussions over how quickly air-defense capabilities can be replenished and expanded for frontline use. For families and local communities in Kyiv and nearby areas, the immediate focus remains on emergency response and recovery from damaged buildings, while Ukraine’s government seeks to reduce the likelihood that ballistic weapons can reach populated areas in future barrages.

NATO allies have repeatedly discussed augmenting Ukraine’s air defenses, but delivery timelines and the mix of systems remain central points in the effort to shield cities from different categories of Russian munitions. Ukrainian officials said they intercepted other classes of weapons during this attack, but the absence of interceptors for ballistic missiles was decisive, making the question of missile supply the next concrete step in the diplomacy.