(KYIV, UKRAINE) – At least 16 people were killed and more than 40 injured in the latest Russian attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region, as dwindling interceptor stocks leave the capital increasingly exposed to ballistic missile strikes. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Moscow launched dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles alongside hundreds of drones, with fast-moving ballistic munitions continuing to pose a significant challenge for air defences.
The attack has intensified pressure on Western allies to replenish Ukraine’s Patriot interceptor supplies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed his appeal for additional missiles, stating that without adequate anti-ballistic defence systems, Russia has no incentive to negotiate peace.
In the heavily targeted Lukianivska district of Kyiv, the human cost of the shortage is stark. Residents have begun spending nights in metro stations, preferring the underground platforms to the risk of remaining in their homes. Larissa and her 12-year-old daughter Nastia have been sleeping in the metro since an attack damaged their home a month ago. “It causes a great deal of fear and a racing heart,” Larissa said. “It’s a huge amount of stress because you might not sleep until five in the morning waiting for some ballistic missiles.”
Market traders continue to operate outside Lukianivska metro station despite the constant threat. Tetiana, a vendor who works there twice a week, described the danger. “It’s very scary to come here now. It’s dangerous. They’re bombing all the time,” she said. Another vendor, Victoria, described driving through an active alert. “We drove under some explosions because we were driving right during an alert. We arrived and saw explosions along the way where something was burning.”
Domitilla Sagramoso, a senior lecturer in security and development at King’s College London, explained that the critical shortage is specifically in Patriot PAC-3 interceptors, which are the primary defence against ballistic missiles. Ukraine’s interception rates for drones and cruise missiles remain high, but ballistic missiles present a fundamentally different challenge. European systems such as the German IRIS-T and the Franco-Italian SAMP/T have proven effective against cruise missiles but have not demonstrated reliable capability against ballistic threats.
The international picture compounds the problem. The United States reportedly held over 2,300 Patriot interceptors before the war in Iran but now has approximately 850 remaining. European nations, including Poland and Germany, have provided interceptors to Ukraine but must balance this against their own NATO defence obligations. Pressure is growing on countries such as Greece and Spain to contribute, while South Korea has been discussed as a potential source, though its concerns about North Korean military involvement in the conflict complicate matters.
Russia’s production capacity remains robust. According to analysts, Moscow has been firing roughly 100 ballistic missiles per month, sometimes more, alongside cruise missiles and drones. Combined with North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missile deliveries, Russia appears able to sustain this rate for the foreseeable future. Major General Vadym Skibitskyi of Ukrainian Defence Intelligence previously confirmed Russia is exceeding production targets across major missile categories.
Ukraine is developing its own interceptor system, known as Freya, in cooperation with European partners. However, Ms Sagramoso noted that the programme requires further investment, engineering, and testing. “I don’t think this will be ready before next spring or next summer,” she said. “So I think this winter is going to be very tough for the Ukrainians unfortunately.”
DW correspondent Max Zander, reporting from Kyiv, confirmed that civilian infrastructure has been repeatedly struck. Red Cross facilities have been damaged, and food warehouses belonging to the Fozzy supermarket chain were hit in the Boryspil area. The warehouse had only been operational for a week, having replaced other facilities previously destroyed in Russian attacks. Supermarket shelves across the capital show the strain, with empty refrigerators accompanied by notes citing Russian attacks on logistics.
Russia claims to target military infrastructure, drone production facilities, and military logistics. However, the pattern of strikes on food storage and humanitarian facilities contradicts these assertions.
Mr Zander reported that 38,000 people sought shelter in Kyiv’s metro system during the attack. July was the deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began, with 54 people killed in Kyiv alone.
The strategic implications are clear. Mr Zander noted that Russia has maintained maximalist goals, including the conquest of the entire Donbas and additional regions. “If Russia can produce ballistic missiles faster than partners can give to Ukraine, then this is going to strengthen Russia’s position,” he said.
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