![Iklan](https://elskynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Altimet-RidhuanTee-LaguRaya-LaguRayaModen-HiburanMalaysia-SelebritiMalaysia-TrendingMalaysia-ViralMalaysia-MusicMalaysia-EntertainmentNews-1.png")
KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – A fresh wave of Russian missile and drone attacks struck Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, early Monday (6/7/2026), killing at least eight people and injuring dozens more. The assault came just before the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where the war in Ukraine is expected to become one of the main topics of discussion.
Explosions were heard across central Kyiv as the combined attack involving ballistic missiles and drones damaged residential buildings and triggered fires in several districts. Rescue teams were deployed to search for residents trapped inside damaged apartment blocks, including in the Podilskyi district.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said emergency teams were evacuating residents, including children, from the upper floors of a damaged building. Air raid sirens were activated across the city, forcing many civilians to take shelter as the attack continued through the morning.
The latest strike came only days after another major Russian attack on Kyiv killed at least 30 people, making it one of the deadliest attacks on the Ukrainian capital this year. That earlier assault damaged residential areas, medical facilities and other buildings, intensifying calls from Kyiv for stronger air defence support.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned hours before the latest attack that Moscow was preparing another large-scale assault. He also urged the United States and European countries to speed up the delivery of Patriot air defence missiles, saying any delay would cost more Ukrainian lives.
The timing of the attack has drawn additional attention because it took place ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara. Zelenskyy described the assault as a typical move by Russian President Vladimir Putin, linking it to the period after the United States’ Independence Day and before the NATO meeting.
The NATO summit is expected to place the Russia-Ukraine war at the centre of diplomatic discussions. U.S. President Donald Trump is also expected to attend the meeting in Ankara, while Washington has continued to offer assistance in efforts to end the war.
The conflict has also intensified beyond Kyiv. Russian forces have been increasing pressure in eastern Ukraine, especially in the Donetsk region, while Ukrainian forces have stepped up drone and missile attacks on Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries, ports and military facilities.
Military analysts say Russia’s evolving drone tactics have made Ukraine’s air defence challenge more complex. Reports noted that Moscow has increasingly used faster jet-powered drones, including Geran-type UAVs, which are harder for mobile air defence units to intercept without surface-to-air missiles or fighter aircraft.
For Ukraine, the attack reinforces the urgency of securing more advanced air defence systems. Zelenskyy has repeatedly described Patriot systems as crucial for intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones before they reach populated areas.
