Russia has launched a concentrated missile and drone attack on logistics facilities in Kyiv, resulting in at least 17 deaths. The Ukrainian military reported that it failed to intercept any of the 28 missiles fired by Russia, prompting calls for increased air defense support from allies.
According to Reuters and AP, overnight on August 5, Russia fired 24 ballistic missiles, four hypersonic Zircon missiles, and 115 drones at Kyiv and surrounding areas.
The attack left at least 17 people dead and more than 40 injured, damaging logistics warehouses, production facilities, residential buildings, and railway infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, “The main targets were the warehouse facilities of civilian companies unrelated to the war.”
In contrast, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed it targeted logistics hubs and supply centers in Kyiv and the surrounding area, asserting that these facilities were being used for military purposes. These claims have not been independently verified.
Both Russia and Ukraine have recently intensified attacks on each other's logistics networks. Since mid-July, Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the logistics facilities of Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, citing their use in supplying Russian military resources.
On the same day, a Wildberries warehouse in the Tula region was set ablaze following a drone attack. Reports indicate that nearly 20 Wildberries-related facilities have been attacked since July 18.
While Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down most of the drones during the recent airstrike, they did not intercept any missiles. The lack of sufficient U.S.-made Patriot systems and interceptors capable of countering Russian ballistic missiles has been identified as a key issue.
President Zelenskyy noted that air defense missile support received from allies in the first half of this year was only one-third of what was provided during the same period last year.
He emphasized, “If we had a ballistic missile interception system, we could have saved those who died today,” urging for additional support in air defense systems and interceptors.
The U.S. and Ukraine are also discussing joint production of Patriot missiles. Options being considered include producing components in Ukraine and final assembly in Germany, or integrating Ukraine into existing U.S.-European joint production efforts.
However, significant time is required for technology transfer and the establishment of production facilities, making it unlikely that joint production will address immediate gaps in air defense.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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