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Firefighters put out a fire after Russian missiles hit a warehouse in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.
Dan Bashakov/AP
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Dan Bashakov/AP
KYIV, Ukraine — Overnight missile and drone attacks by Russia on Kyiv and its surrounding areas resulted in 17 fatalities and 44 injuries, according to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
This attack is part of a series of large-scale Russian ballistic missile strikes that have become almost routine during the summer. These intensified attacks take advantage of Ukraine’s dwindling supply of interceptor missiles for the U.S.-made Patriot systems, the only air defense capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy has urged other nations to supply ammunition that has become scarce due to the conflict in Iran.
“Ballistic interceptors could have saved the lives lost today,” Zelenskyy expressed on social media. “Our partners must understand that delays in providing them or hesitations in supplying anti-ballistic systems lead directly to such tragic casualties and destruction.”
Ukraine hits back with long-range drones
As U.S.-led peace efforts appear to have stalled, Ukraine has increased its deep strikes on significant Russian targets, such as oil refineries, to push Russian President Vladimir Putin towards negotiations. Zelenskyy has agreed to an unconditional ceasefire demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump, but Putin has not complied.
In its latest strike, Ukrainian drones targeted a warehouse in the Tula region, south of Moscow, belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, the company and the region’s governor reported on Wednesday.
According to a Ukrainian tally, this marks the 14th Wildberries warehouse to catch fire in under three weeks. Ukraine claims the company supplies goods that can be used by the military. Additionally, Kyiv aims to unsettle the Russian public through high-profile attacks.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that its forces shot down 475 Ukrainian drones overnight across 16 Russian regions, including illegally annexed Crimea, and the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
Russia says it struck war-related targets in the Kyiv region
Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles, along with four missiles identified as either hypersonic Zircons or supersonic Oniks, and 115 drones, many of which were jet-powered, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Zelenskyy stated that the strikes mainly targeted civilian business warehouses, infrastructure, and a railway station—locations he claims have “no connection to the war,” including a brewing company, building materials warehouses, and civilian logistics facilities.
However, the Russian Defense Ministry asserted that it struck transport, logistics, and distribution centers involved in military activities, listing four targets in Kyiv allegedly linked to war-related operations.
Reconciling these differing accounts immediately was challenging.
Ukraine’s largest private postal operator, Nova Poshta, reported that a Russian cluster munition had destroyed one of its sorting centers in Kyiv.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the center was “storing and distributing dual-use goods, including those used in producing long- and medium-range uncrewed aerial vehicles, as well as robotic systems and electronic warfare systems.” They also alleged that two other logistics centers in the Kyiv region stored drones or components for drones.
Additionally, the ministry claimed its forces targeted three bulk carriers on the Black Sea, south of Odesa, which they asserted were transporting weapons and military equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces. Ukrainian officials did not comment on this claim.
Truck drivers make a narrow escape
Ivan Braga, a 46-year-old truck driver from Moldova, recounted how he and a colleague fled their vehicle when it was hit by shrapnel from a blast wave in Kyiv during the attack.
“We didn’t even have time to grab our documents or anything else,” Braga told The Associated Press. “I couldn’t believe it. I’d already been in Kyiv and had heard explosions before, but nothing like today.”
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Zelenskyy on defense technology development, expressed that the war of attrition has entered a new phase. “The enemy is attacking everything indiscriminately—retail warehouses, food storage facilities, logistics hubs, enterprises, building materials warehouses,” he noted on Facebook.
Among the companies that faced intense fire was Epicentr, a major Ukrainian retail and construction chain. In a Facebook statement, the company stated, “In minutes, Russian missiles destroyed what the company had built over decades.” One employee was killed, and three others were injured.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the Epicenter logistics center handled order processing, sorting, storing, and delivery of dual-use goods and components for drone production.
