Russia Hits Ukraine With Largest Number of Ballistic Missiles, Kyiv Says

By Dan Peleschuk for Reuters July 19, 2026 A building hit amid Russia's attack on Kyiv, Ukraine. https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official Russia battered Ukraine's capital Kyiv overnight with one of its biggest ballistic missile barrages of the war, killing at least one person and wounding 16 others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday. A series of powerful explosions thundered across the darkened city in an attack that involved 41 missiles of various types and ravaged buildings across several districts. Residential buildings, warehouses, a supermarket and a dormitory were among the structures damaged, said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, adding that three people were in a serious condition. At one location in western Kyiv, emergency workers picked through smouldering debris and doused bombed-out apartments. A resident who identified himself as Vlad told Reuters he had been inside his apartment when a blast tore off his balcony door, which smashed him in the head. "My grandmother lives with me, and she can't walk. How could I run away and leave her behind?" he said. Closer to the city centre, an underground pedestrian passage near a frequently targeted metro station had caved in, leaving a pile of rubble. Russian forces have stepped up ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv and other cities in recent weeks as Ukraine struggles with a critical shortage of U.S.-designed air defense. Kyiv's military said it had shot down 18 missiles in Sunday's attack, which was aimed primarily at the Ukrainian capital. It added that 108 out of 125 drones had also been downed. Zelensky said last week that the U.S. and Ukraine have reached a political agreement on licenses to make the prized Patriot interceptors. He added that he hoped production could begin by the end of the year. But the mounting Russian attacks in the fifth year of Moscow's full-scale war are heaping pressure on Kyiv's foreign partners to accelerate supply of anti-ballistic defenses. "Protection against ballistic missiles is our constant and top priority right now," Zelensky said on X on Sunday. "Interceptors are needed every day." Read more about: Ukraine war , Kyiv , Air attack Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukraine Says Russian Strikes Kill 4 in Kyiv Region Officials said the attacks targeted "residential buildings, educational institutions, businesses and critical infrastructure." 1 Min read Russia Launches War’s Largest Drone Attack Just Days After Peace Talks, Ukraine Says One person was killed and parts of Ukraine were under an air raid alert for nine hours, with authorities saying Russia launched 273 drones. 2 Min read Russia Launched 'Record' 267 Drones on Ukraine Overnight — Ukrainian Army Among them, 138 were intercepted by air defense while 119 were "lost" without causing damage, according to Ukraine’s air force spokesman. 1 Min read Ukrainian Drone Attacks Kill Seven Warehouse Workers in Russia A wave of Ukrainian drones struck two warehouses belonging to the online retailer Wildberries, as well as an oil refinery in the Moscow region. 1 Min read