Ukraine has come under one of the largest Russian aerial attacks in recent months, just ahead of the upcoming NATO leaders’ summit. According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 drones in a coordinated overnight strike targeting multiple locations across the country, including the capital, Kyiv.

The assault comes as NATO leaders prepare for a key summit this week, where Ukraine is expected to seek stronger military support and additional air defence systems.

Residential Areas Hit; Casualties Reported

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks struck residential areas, causing widespread destruction. A missile directly hit a high-rise apartment building in Kyiv, reducing much of it to rubble. Rescue teams continued searching for survivors at multiple sites.

Officials said 12 people were killed and around 60 others injured in the latest strikes. Zelenskyy is expected to urge NATO allies to provide more US-made Patriot air defence systems, saying Ukraine urgently needs additional interceptors to defend against ballistic missile attacks.

Air Defence Challenges Intensify

Ukraine has increasingly relied on Patriot missile systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles. However, global demand for air defence equipment, driven by conflicts in multiple regions, has reportedly strained supplies. Analysts say Russia is attempting to exploit these shortages by increasing the scale and intensity of its missile campaigns.

While Ukraine has gained an edge in drone warfare in recent months, Russia continues to maintain significant long-range missile capabilities, posing a major challenge to Ukrainian air defences.

Russia Defends the Operation

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the strikes targeted military-industrial facilities in Kyiv involved in the production of military drones, naval drones, armoured vehicles and missiles. It also claimed to have targeted air defence repair facilities and energy infrastructure linked to Ukraine’s military.

These claims have not been independently verified.

The latest escalation comes days after reports of a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, during which Trump reportedly expressed interest in mediating the conflict. The fresh wave of attacks is expected to dominate discussions at the upcoming NATO summit as the war enters another critical phase.