Russia launched a wave of missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and its surrounding region early Wednesday, killing at least 15 and wounding dozens.

The attacks began after midnight with air raid sirens sounding across the capital for more than an hour. Ukraine’s air force had earlier warned that ballistic missiles were incoming.

What do we know about the Russian strikes?

Kyiv’s military administration said seven sites in the city were hit. The strikes damaged residential buildings and warehouses:

“The enemy is once again deliberately striking civilians and civilian infrastructure,” it said on Telegram.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one warehouse near the city center was destroyed and rescue teams pulled two people from the debris.

“There may still be people under the rubble,” he wrote. “Search and rescue operations are proceeding.”

Klitschko said early reports of a burning 20-story apartment building were inaccurate. But a large fire did break out on the edge of the city. Debris from a downed missile landed near a residential building.

The attack also caused an ammonia leak, which emergency crews worked to contain.

Ukrainian air defense units worked to shoot down the incoming missiles.

Attack comes amid intensified Russian strikes on Kyiv

Russia has struck Kyiv several times in the past month.

On Saturday, Russian strikes on the capital and its suburbs killed 10 people and wounded more than 30. That same day, Ukrainian drones sank a Russian ship in the Black Sea.

Both sides have stepped up long-range strikes in recent weeks. Russia used more than twice as many missiles in July as before, according to an analysis by the French AFP news agency. Ukraine has also increased drone attacks on Russian oil, gas, and supply sites.

On Tuesday, strikes in the Moscow region killed five people and wounded 10 others. The attacks hit warehouses used by the Russian retailer Wildberries. Moscow’s mayor said the city’s air defenses shot down at least 10 drones on Wednesday.

Why does Ukraine want more Patriot interceptors?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked allies for more Patriot missile interceptors, saying the lack of these defenses “only encourages Russia to launch such attacks that take human lives.”

Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump last Tuesday to lobby Washington for licenses to build Patriot systems inside Ukraine.

United Nations human rights monitors have raised concerns over increased civilian deaths in the war, which are now at their highest level since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.

Russia and Ukraine both deny targeting civilians in the war.

Edited by: Rana Taha

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