Russian missile strikes hit Ukraine’s capital Kyiv for third time in a week

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkA Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv [File: Eugene Kotenko / AFP]By AFP and ReutersPublished On 7 Jul 20267 Jul 2026Russian missile attacks have struck Kyiv in the third large-scale assault on the Ukrainian capital in less than a week.Early on Wednesday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a statement on Telegram that the Russian strikes had triggered fires in two districts of the city. It is not clear if there have been any casualties or damage.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3How conflict minerals fuel war in eastern DR Congo amid US sanctionslist 2 of 3Russian attacks on Ukraine kill 20 on eve of NATO summit, authorities saylist 3 of 3Large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine before NATO summitend of listMoscow also launched a large-scale attack on Kyiv on Monday, killing at least 14 people and damaging at least a dozen buildings.Both Russia and Ukraine have recently expanded their use of long-range weapons, including missiles, marking a new front in Moscow’s four-year war.Ukraine has focused its attacks on Russian energy facilities to weaken its war efforts.On Tuesday, Ukrainian drones attacked a dozen tankers from Russia’s “shadow fleet” that were delivering fuel to Moscow-occupied Crimea. Kyiv’s military said they had struck eight vessels subject to sanctions in the Sea of Azov, each with a deadweight of about 7,000 metric tonnes. Two more tankers were hit later in the day.The Sea of Azov is a key supply route for Russian forces in Crimea and other occupied parts of southern Ukraine.Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 – in a move that has been unrecognised internationally – eight years before launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has not publicly commented on this week’s attacks, which also included strikes on electrical substations, radar systems, and missile installations. Attacks amid NATO SummitThe latest exchange of fire between Russia and Ukraine also comes amid NATO’s annual summit, which began on Tuesday. The military alliance’s leaders have gathered in Turkey’s capital Ankara for the two-day summit, where defence spending and the Russia-Ukraine war is under discussion.NATO is expected to pledge further military support for Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges the alliance to step up aid for the country’s air defences following a deadly escalation of Russian attacks on Kyiv.Zelenskyy – who has renewed his call for Ukraine to be allowed to join the alliance – wrote on social media on Tuesday that he had signed new agreements with Estonia, the Netherlands, and Denmark in Ankara.The deals create “new opportunities for joint production, the development of innovative defense technologies, systematic exchange of expertise, and the export of Ukrainian battlefield-proven solutions”, he said.Further agreements are expected with Germany, Norway, Finland, and Canada.US President Donald Trump is also expected to meet Zelenskyy on the summit sidelines on Wednesday, having spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the NATO gathering.Asked about Russia’s war in Ukraine, Trump said he hoped it would be settled “soon”.“I think they both want to make a deal,” Trump said.“It’s too bad it took so long, but I think something’s going to come out.”