Early in the morning on July 19, Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, experienced a severe attack. Residents heard loud explosions as Russian forces launched many missiles and drones. The attack lasted until morning. Viktoria Shejko, a mother of 32, described the frightening experience of hiding with her family while missiles exploded.
Reports from news agencies like Al Jazeera and the BBC stated that Russia used about 125 drones and 41 ballistic missiles. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was one of the worst ballistic attacks on Kyiv since the war began in February 2022.
When daylight came, the damage was clear. One person died, and at least 15 people were injured. The attack damaged buildings in five areas of the city, including Shevchenkivskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts. Fires broke out in apartment buildings and other structures. Rescue workers saved people trapped in burning buildings. Even the Lukianivska metro station was damaged by the explosions.
Russia said it targeted military factories, but the damage showed that civilian areas were also hit. Ukraine's air defense tried to stop the weapons, shooting down many drones and missiles. However, the large number of incoming weapons made it difficult to defend the city completely. Officials confirmed that some missiles and drones hit their targets.
Ukraine is facing a shortage of interceptor missiles for its Patriot air defense systems, which are important for protection against fast missiles. President Zelenskyy emphasized the need for more interceptors. This attack was part of a week of intense attacks across Ukraine, with thousands of drones, bombs, and missiles launched by Russia. There is hope for more support, as the U.S. may allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles, but details are still unclear. For now, Kyiv continues to face danger.