Russia Launches Third Air Attack on Kyiv in a Week, Kyiv Mayor Klitschko Reports Fires

Russia launched a third air attack on Kyiv in a week, firing ballistic missiles at the Ukrainian capital while Ukraine faces a critical shortage of US-made air-defence interceptors.

“Russia has fired ballistic missiles at Kyiv again, a third attack on the Ukrainian capital in less than a week exploiting Ukraine's critical shortage of US-made air-defence interceptors”

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The attack came as the NATO summit was under way in Ankara, where US President Donald Trump was due to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

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Air defences intercepted 139 of the 169 drones during overnight strikes, but air force data showed they were again unable to down any of the five ballistic missiles used by Russia.

Reuters witnesses reported explosions ripped through Kyiv just before the air raid siren sounded, and authorities said a woman was killed and two people were wounded in the overnight attack.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said the strikes caused fires in a storage area and a non-residential building in two districts on either side of the Dnipro River, as Reuters footage showed two warehouses in flames.

While Russia pressed its air campaign, Zelenskiy announced that Ukraine signed three new “drone deals” with Denmark, Estonia and the Netherlands on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Zelenskiy said the agreements would make available Ukraine’s expertise gained from more than four years of war with Russia, and he said Kyiv had now secured nine such accords.

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In a post on X at the end of the first day of meetings, Zelenskiy said Ukraine “rightfully belongs here” and repeated that Kyiv’s main aim at the gathering was to “secure more air defence and stronger diplomatic positions”.

France 24 reported that in announcing the deal with Denmark, Zelenskiy said the agreement “opens up greater opportunities for joint defence production, the exchange of expertise, and transparency in weapons exports”.

The Kyiv Independent said the deals were signed with Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and the Netherlands’ Prime Minister Rob Jetten, and it quoted Michal saying, “Today we signed a landmark drone agreement,” and that it “strengthens Estonia's defense”.

Zelenskiy tied the latest attacks to Europe’s ability to sustain defence, warning that “the issue of production licenses” and new air-defence systems were priorities as he sought stronger support for Ukraine’s defence of the sky.

“Ukraine, July 08 : Ukraine has signed three new drone agreements with Denmark, Estonia and the Netherlands, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on July 7, in a move aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s defence capabilities and securing additional support for its war effort”

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He said on X that “Decisions are needed now that will provide greater protection for our people, more capabilities for our defense, and even stronger security cooperation between Ukraine, Europe, and the United States,” as Russia’s strikes continued.

The AAPNews report said Zelenskiy has repeatedly pleaded for US-made interceptors, describing them as the only weapon in Ukraine’s arsenal that can shoot down ballistic projectiles.

In the same reporting, it said Moscow demanded that Kyiv cede the rest of its eastern Donetsk region that it has been unable to conquer in more than four years of fighting.

As the NATO summit continued in Ankara, Trump said on Tuesday he believed the war could be “settled, hopefully soon,” while Putin was reported as saying he would press ahead with his war despite mounting difficulties for Russia.