Date: July 29, 2026
By Kimberly Wilson
KYIV, Ukraine — Russia launched a large-scale overnight missile attack on multiple Ukrainian cities, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens more in one of the deadliest assaults in recent weeks. The strikes targeted Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Lviv, prompting neighbouring Poland to scramble fighter jets and place its air defence systems on high alert as missiles approached NATO territory.
In the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Russian forces fired ballistic missiles, triggering explosions across the city during the early hours of Thursday. Authorities confirmed that one person was killed and two others were injured, while emergency crews battled fires caused by falling debris and damaged infrastructure.
The deadliest strike occurred in Kryvyi Rih, where Russian missiles hit residential areas, killing six people, including two young girls. Several others were wounded, and rescue workers searched through damaged buildings for additional victims.
In the western city of Lviv, at least 15 people were injured after missile strikes damaged apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure. Local authorities urged residents to remain in shelters as emergency responders worked to extinguish fires and assist those affected.
The attacks came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned from a visit to the United States, where he met with President Donald Trump and appealed for additional Patriot air defence systems and interceptor missiles. Zelenskyy has warned that Ukraine urgently needs stronger air defences to protect its cities from increasingly frequent Russian missile attacks.
The intensity of the Russian barrage prompted Poland to activate fighter aircraft and reinforce its air defence network along the country's eastern border. Polish military officials said the measures were taken because of the proximity of the attacks to NATO territory and to ensure the security of Polish airspace.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continued its long-range campaign against Russian infrastructure. Russian authorities reported that Ukrainian drones struck a Wildberries warehouse in the Penza region, causing a fire and disrupting operations. Reuters reported that similar attacks have damaged around 10% of the retailer's storage capacity, affecting supply chains inside Russia.
Both Russia and Ukraine continue to deny deliberately targeting civilians. However, civilian casualties have mounted on both sides of the conflict, with most reported deaths occurring in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Military analysts say the latest missile barrage reflects Russia's continued reliance on ballistic missiles and drones to pressure Ukraine's air defence network while targeting major cities and infrastructure. At the same time, Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones to strike strategic facilities inside Russia in an effort to disrupt logistics and military operations.
As rescue operations continued across the affected cities, Ukrainian officials renewed calls for additional international military assistance, particularly advanced air defence systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. The latest attacks underscore the continuing intensity of the war and the growing security concerns for neighbouring NATO countries as the conflict persists.