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Russian forces launched 68 missiles and 351 drones at Kyiv early on July 6 in the second major assault on the Ukrainian capital within days, according to the Ukrainian air force. The overnight attack killed at least 12 people and wounded dozens more as residential buildings were damaged across several districts, The New York Times reported. Emergency services continued rescue operations into the morning with some residents trapped in damaged apartment blocks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will use the NATO summit in Ankara to press the alliance for air defence systems after these intense Russian strikes. The Ukrainian leader stated that Moscow continues to target civilian areas while Patriot missiles remain in allies’ stockpiles rather than in Ukrainian units. A NATO assessment found that enhanced interceptor supplies could counter Russia’s increasing use of ballistic weapons ahead of winter.
The latest barrage followed a Thursday assault that killed at least 31 people in Kyiv, bringing the civilian death toll from the two attacks to more than 50, Ukrainian officials told the BBC. Zelensky warned that delays in providing missiles for Patriot systems equate to lost lives and only encourage further Russian aggression. The Ukrainian air force said it intercepted or suppressed 37 missiles and hundreds of drones during the latest wave despite shortages of anti-ballistic capabilities.
Ukraine has intensified its own drone operations against Russian energy infrastructure in response, Reuters reported. Strikes have targeted refineries including one in Moscow that is unlikely to resume production this year after sustaining extensive damage, according to industry sources cited by the news agency. Reuters calculations show Ukrainian attacks have taken nearly 700,000 barrels per day of Russian refining capacity offline between January and May this year, more than double the figure for the same period in 2025, contributing to fuel shortages and price increases across Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on member states to ensure Ukraine receives necessary support as leaders gather in Turkey. The summit comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump held separate calls with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the American leader expressing hopes of resolving the conflict. Zelensky has argued that Ukraine has turned the tide on the battlefield and needs more interceptors to protect civilians before colder months increase vulnerability.
Ukrainian forces have also struck targets in Crimea on a near-daily basis, causing reported shortages of supplies for Russian operations, according to Zelensky’s office. The president noted in a statement that his country is scaling up domestic production of air defence systems with NATO assistance even as it appeals for immediate transfers of existing Patriot missiles from European and U.S. stocks. Russian attacks appear timed to coincide with international meetings, including the recent NATO gathering, several outlets including CNN observed.
