Ballistic missiles and jet drones strike Kyiv in new Russian barrage
Ukraine reported a new wave of Russian ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones over Kyiv early Tuesday, after Monday’s strike on the National Academy of Sciences building killed two people. The faster drones add pressure to air defences as Ukraine tests interceptors and seeks Patriot missiles. The consecutive attacks have brought the contest between faster airborne weapons and Kyiv’s limited defences into sharper focus.
Geopolitics··Evening
A new Tuesday attack wave
Ukraine's air force said Russia fired ballistic missiles and dozens of jet-powered drones at Kyiv early Tuesday. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in the capital and missile debris falling into a building courtyard. Officials said apartment buildings, houses and public transport were damaged, and one person was wounded. Air defences reportedly intercepted two ballistic missiles, but that count does not establish that the entire wave was stopped. Tuesday's assault followed Monday's strike on Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences and was reported as a separate wave of attacks.[1], [2]
Faster drones strain defences
Newer Russian jet-powered drones fly too fast and too high for some Ukrainian ground defences to bring down. Ukraine is developing faster interceptor drones, but design, production and fielding can take months. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 90 of 120 drones fired across Ukraine on Monday were jet-powered and that 57 percent of this type had been intercepted. Those figures describe the wider attacks the previous day, not a separate toll for Tuesday's Kyiv strike. Monday's attack also set the National Academy of Sciences building in central Kyiv on fire. Former security official Volodymyr Horbulin said he had been working there, that his assistant was killed and that he was slightly wounded. Emergency officials reported two deaths at the academy; those deaths must not be added to Tuesday's injury count.[1], [2]
Ballistic defence faces stock pressure
Stocks of US-made Patriot interceptor missiles used against ballistic weapons are also limited. Ukraine received only small quantities this year, while the Iran war has increased demand elsewhere. Intercepting two ballistic missiles on Tuesday does not establish how many Patriot missiles may recently have arrived. Russia's Defence Ministry said it struck data-processing centres, an electrical facility and drone-production sites in Kyiv as military targets. Those are Russian target claims and do not erase the civilian damage reported by Ukrainian officials. Overnight attacks in Odesa reportedly wounded eight people and damaged homes, a school, an animal shelter and port infrastructure. Those casualties are separate from the person wounded in Kyiv. Russia's description of port facilities as military targets does not change Ukrainian officials' account of damage to the school and homes.[1]
