Russian strikes kill 20, exposing Ukraine’s air-defense shortage

Russia hammered Ukraine with missiles and drones early on Monday, killing at least 20 people and exposing Kyiv’s critical shortage of U.S.-made interceptors, officials said, just days after the deadliest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year.

Rescuers were digging bodies from the rubble of a Kyiv high-rise ripped open in the overnight bombardment. The latest attack came on the eve of a NATO summit where U.S. President Donald Trump is due to hold talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a renewed push for peace.

Ukraine’s military was unable to down any of the 23 ballistic missiles fired by Russia, according to air force data, reflecting its increasing vulnerability to Moscow’s strikes as stocks of its prized Patriot missiles run out.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly pleaded for more interceptors — the only weapon in its arsenal that can shoot down ballistic projectiles, whose high velocity and steep flight path make them difficult to stop.

He called for “strong decisions” at the NATO summit in Turkey, which begins on Tuesday, to ensure Ukraine can defend itself. Ukrainian air force data shows air defenses shot down just four of 49 ballistic missiles in July.

“As long as Patriot missiles sit in our allies’ stockpiles, Russia is only encouraged to keep destroying residential buildings,” Zelenskyy said on X. “The U.S. and Europe have the power to stop this terror.”

Ukraine intercepted 37 other missiles and more than 90% of the 351 drones used during Monday’s attack, the air force said.

SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS

At least 14 people were killed in Kyiv and six others in the surrounding region, officials said. Scores more were wounded. Nearly 30 buildings across the city were significantly damaged, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.

A search operation dragged into Monday afternoon as crews combed mountains of rubble and twisted metal in the multi-story building whose top floors had been torn open.

Alyona, 22, was waiting to hear news about her 19-year-old friend Vika, who was missing after the attack.

“We’re sitting here and waiting until they retrieve them ... She’s so kind, only 19 years old. She’s such a kind girl,” Alyona told Reuters, holding back tears, as she watched the rescue operation from a nearby playground.

Reuters television footage showed what appeared to be human remains trapped beneath concrete debris on an upper floor of a building.

The bodies of an entire family — two parents and their child — were pulled from the rubble there, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Monday’s attack came days after this year’s deadliest strike on Kyiv, which killed 31 people last Thursday.

RUSSIA STEPS UP AIR WAR

Russia’s defense ministry said on Monday its forces had conducted a “massive” attack on Kyiv and other locations with long-range, high-precision air-, land-, sea-launched weapons and drones.

The ministry also said military and energy facilities were hit in Kyiv and its surrounding region, as well as military airfields in several other Ukrainian regions.

Moscow has escalated an air war this year as its battlefield progress has slowed to a virtual crawl, hampered by Ukrainian long-range attacks on its military logistics and oil industry.

Ukraine has also retaken territory in some areas along the 1,200-km (746-mile) frontline, despite Russia encroaching on the strategically important eastern city of Kostiantynivka.

Zelenskyy on Saturday denied a Russian claim that the city had been captured.

On Monday, Kyiv’s military said it had struck three Russian oil refineries — including the country’s largest in Omsk, more than 2,414 km (1,500 miles) away — as well as two “shadow fleet” vessels in the Sea of Azov.

官员称，俄罗斯周一清晨用导弹和无人机袭击了乌克兰，造成至少 20 人死亡，并暴露了基辅严重缺乏美国制造的拦截器。而就在几天前，乌克兰首都刚刚遭受了今年最致命的袭击。

救援人员正在基辅一栋高层建筑的废墟中挖掘遇难者遗体，这栋建筑在夜间的轰炸中被炸毁。此次袭击发生在北约峰会前夕，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普原计划在峰会上与乌克兰总统弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基举行会谈，以期重启和平进程。

根据空军数据，乌克兰军队未能击落俄罗斯发射的 23 枚弹道导弹中的任何一枚，这反映出随着其珍贵的“爱国者”导弹库存耗尽，乌克兰越来越容易受到莫斯科的打击。

泽连斯基多次请求增购拦截器——拦截器是其武器库中唯一能够击落弹道导弹的武器，弹道导弹速度快、飞行轨迹陡峭，难以拦截。

他呼吁在周二于土耳其开幕的北约峰会上做出“强有力的决定”，以确保乌克兰能够自卫。乌克兰空军数据显示，7月份乌克兰防空系统仅击落了49枚弹道导弹中的4枚。

泽连斯基在X电视台表示：“只要爱国者导弹还留在我们盟友的库存里，俄罗斯就会更有动力继续摧毁居民楼。美国和欧洲有能力制止这种恐怖主义。”

乌克兰空军表示，乌克兰拦截了另外 37 枚导弹和周一袭击中使用的 351 架无人机中的 90% 以上。

寻找幸存者

官员称，基辅至少有14人死亡，周边地区另有6人遇难。数十人受伤。内政部长伊戈尔·克雷缅科表示，全市近30栋建筑物严重受损。

搜救行动一直持续到周一下午，救援人员在多层建筑的废墟和扭曲的金属中搜寻，该建筑的顶层已被炸开。

22岁的阿廖娜正在等待她19岁的朋友维卡的消息，维卡在袭击事件后失踪了。

“我们坐在这里等着他们把他们救出来……她太善良了，才19岁。她真是个善良的女孩，”阿廖娜在附近的游乐场观看救援行动时，强忍着泪水告诉路透社。

路透社电视画面显示，在一栋建筑物的上层，混凝土废墟下似乎埋着人类遗骸。

乌克兰外交部长安德烈·西比哈表示，从废墟中挖出了一家四口的遗体——一对父母和他们的孩子。

周一的袭击发生在基辅今年最致命的袭击事件几天之后，该袭击事件于上周四造成 31 人死亡。

俄罗斯加强空战

俄罗斯国防部周一表示，其部队使用远程、高精度空射、陆射、海射武器和无人机对基辅和其他地点发动了“大规模”袭击。

该部还表示，基辅及其周边地区的军事和能源设施以及乌克兰其他几个地区的军用机场遭到袭击。

今年，由于乌克兰对莫斯科军事后勤和石油工业的远程攻击阻碍了其战场进展，莫斯科的战事进展几乎停滞不前，因此莫斯科升级了空袭战。

尽管俄罗斯侵占了具有重要战略意义的东部城市科斯蒂安蒂尼夫卡，但乌克兰还是在长达 1200 公里（746 英里）的前线沿线的一些地区收复了部分领土。

泽连斯基周六否认了俄罗斯关于该市已被占领的说法。

周一，基辅军方表示，他们袭击了三座俄罗斯炼油厂——其中包括位于鄂木斯克的俄罗斯最大的炼油厂，该炼油厂距离基辅超过 2414 公里（1500 英里）——以及亚速海中的两艘“影子舰队”船只。