Russian missile, drone strikes kill 20 in Ukraine as air defence shortage deepens

At least 20 people were killed after Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine early Monday, with officials saying the strikes exposed the country's growing shortage of air defence interceptors.

The attack came just days after the deadliest assault on Kyiv this year and ahead of a Nato summit where Ukraine is expected to seek additional military support.

According to a Reuters report, Russia fired a combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and hundreds of drones at targets across the country.

Kyiv was among the worst-hit areas, where rescue workers continued searching through the rubble of a heavily damaged residential building hours after the strikes.

The latest attack comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Turkey, where Ukraine is expected to once again press its allies for more advanced air defence systems.

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Ukraine highlights shortage of Patriot missiles

According to the report, Ukraine was unable to intercept any of the 23 ballistic missiles launched by Russia during the attack, reflecting a critical shortage of US-made Patriot missile interceptors.

Patriot systems remain Ukraine's only reliable defence against high-speed ballistic missiles, which are far more difficult to shoot down than drones or cruise missiles.

While Ukrainian air defences intercepted 37 other missiles and more than 90 per cent of the 351 drones launched by Russia, officials said the lack of Patriot interceptors has left cities increasingly vulnerable.

Zelenskyy urged Ukraine's Western partners to take "strong decisions" at the Nato summit, saying more Patriot missiles were urgently needed to protect civilians.

Rescue operations continue in Kyiv

Officials said at least 14 people were killed in Kyiv and another six in the surrounding region. Dozens more were injured, while nearly 30 buildings across the capital sustained significant damage.

Emergency teams continued searching through the debris of a high-rise apartment building whose upper floors were destroyed in the attack.

The attack followed another major Russian strike on Kyiv last week that killed 31 people, making it the deadliest assault on the capital this year.

Russia and Ukraine continue long-range strikes

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had carried out a "massive" strike using long-range precision weapons launched from air, land and sea, along with drones. It claimed the attacks targeted military facilities, energy infrastructure and airfields across Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine said it had launched long-range strikes of its own, targeting three Russian oil refineries, including the country's largest refinery in Omsk, as well as two vessels linked to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" in the Sea of Azov.

With the conflict continuing to intensify, Ukraine is expected to make air defence one of its top priorities during discussions with Nato allies in the coming days.