A 20-storey apartment building in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev caught fire following a Russian air attack that saw waves of ballistic missiles strike the city shortly after midnight local time. According to Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, emergency crews were dispatched to a strike site in a northern suburb as air defence units worked to repel the assault.
The city's military administration reported via Telegram that warehouse buildings were also set ablaze across two districts, warning residents that the danger to the capital remains high. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that the missiles were deployed against the city from at least two different directions.
This latest escalation follows a trend of increased long-range attacks from both sides in recent weeks, with Russia reportedly more than doubling its missile usage throughout July. UN human rights monitors have expressed concern regarding the rising number of civilian casualties, noting that figures have reached their highest levels since the conflict began in February 2022.
In response to the ongoing threat, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the lack of adequate ballistic missile interceptors only encourages Russia to continue attacks that claim human lives. Ukraine has been actively urging its allies to provide more US-made Patriot missile interceptors to bolster its airspace protection. President Zelenskyy met with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, last Tuesday to discuss obtaining licences for the domestic production of Patriot missile systems.
