14 Killed as Russia Launches Fresh Kyiv Strike Before NATO Talks

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone assault on Kyiv and nearby areas overnight, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens ahead of a major NATO summit, Ukrainian authorities confirmed on Monday.

The latest bombardment came days after another deadly Russian strike on the Ukrainian capital that killed more than 30 civilians.

President Volodymyr Zelensky urged NATO allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence capabilities as leaders gathered for talks in Ankara.

“It is critically important that the world – first and foremost the United States and our European partners – come out of the NATO Summit in Ankara with strong decisions in support of our air defense, and thus the protection of ordinary people’s lives,” Zelensky stated.

Officials said Russia fired 68 missiles and 351 drones during the overnight attack, targeting residential buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv.

One apartment block suffered severe damage after a missile blast ripped through its upper floors, leaving a huge crater at the site.

Residents reported hearing multiple explosions throughout the night during ballistic missile alerts.

“At 1:30 am, a powerful hit occurred. A blast wave, all the windows blew out. And then it hit three more times,” Kyiv resident Oleksandr Bakhlukov told AFP.

“Glass was falling down. There wasn’t a single pane of glass left in the apartment,” he added.

Authorities said nearly 30 residential buildings across Kyiv were hit, while emergency workers continued rescue operations in affected areas.

Zelensky said Ukrainian forces managed to intercept many drones and cruise missiles but lacked sufficient interceptor missiles needed to stop ballistic weapons.

The European Union said Ukraine urgently requires additional air defence systems.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the issue would feature prominently at the NATO summit discussions.

Russia’s Defence Ministry described the operation as a “massive strike” aimed at military-industrial and energy facilities in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Moscow authorities reported that Russia intercepted more than 500 Ukrainian drones overnight. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said several drones had been headed toward the Russian capital.

The White House also confirmed that Donald Trump would meet Zelensky during the summit as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war.

“The president’s obviously getting together with him to talk about how we can end the war. That’s been a priority of his for a long time,” a senior US official said.

Despite ongoing international mediation efforts, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine remains unresolved after more than four years of fighting.

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