Zelensky says lack of US Patriot missiles left Kyiv wide open to Russian blitz

| Senior science and technology reporter Published August 1, 2026 9:43am Updated August 1, 2026 9:44am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video ⁠Russia ⁠pounded Kyiv with ballistic missiles this morning, killing at least nine people and wounding 28 others, including four children. The Ukrainian Air Force raised the alarm over the missiles at around 1.30am local time. Kyiv military officials asked civilians to duck into their nearest shelter only a minute later, with Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reporting ‘explosions’. Images posted by photographer Yan Dobronosov show wounded people lying on the streets, with cars gutted by the explosions and fires. ‘Some residents of Kyiv did not even have time to reach the shelter,’ Dobronosov said. One of the blasts caused a fire in a six-story building in the Solomyanskyi district, Volodymyr Zelensky said on the social media network X. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. Since last night, response efforts have been underway in Kyiv and the surrounding region following Russia’s strike. There were numerous fires across the city. Seven districts were affected, and, as usual, the Russians struck ordinary residential buildings. Eighteen residential… pic.twitter.com/Fr8Jb4AEys— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 1, 2026 ‘There were many fires in the city – seven districts were affected. And, as usual, the Russians hit ordinary residential buildings,’ he added. ‘Eighteen houses, a school, the Lithuanian embassy and infrastructure facilities were damaged.’ Two people died in the Solomianskyi blaze that also injured eight, including two children. People were also trapped in a burning building in Shevchenko and debris flattened non-residential buildings in Holosiivske and Darnytske. Some five years since Russia’s war against Ukraine began, Zelensky warned the country’s air defence system is dwindling. And Moscow knows this, the president added, with Russia launching dozens of aerial assaults this summer. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A residential building was engulfed in flames (Picture: AFP) Several ‘explosions’ rang out, the mayor said (Picture: Reuters) Zelensky said that as the country has only a few Patriot interceptors – the only kind that can deal with Kremlin-built missiles – it is ‘encouraging Russia to launch attacks that take human lives’. ‘It is critical that partners hear that these capabilities are needed not somewhere in stockpiles for hypothetical scenarios, but here and now, to contain and stop the Russian war in Ukraine.’ ‘Every package of ballistic missile interceptors saves the lives of our people. And every night without them results in more casualties. I thank everyone who is working to strengthen our defences.’ This is the second major attack on Kyiv this week after missiles killed nine people, including six members of one family, on ​Thursday. During the attack, a Russian cruise missile also entered the airspace of Nato member Poland. Polish officials described it as an ‘unidentified object’ that caused a 9-metre-wide crater in a field in the country’s southeast. Nine people died in the blasts (Picture: EPA) Kyiv has asked Washington to let it make its own interceptors (Picture: Reuters) Only the US can make Patriot interceptor missiles, so Ukraine has asked Washington to grant it a licence to make its own. US President Donald Trump, who vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war ‘on day one’ of his re-election, said talks for this are still ‘ongoing’ on Friday. Washington, he cautioned, had to be ‘very careful about letting somebody build them’. He added: ‘ We’re talking about it, but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology. And I don’t think this would ever happen, but, you know, there’s people that you give that technology, they can someday turn on you.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Putin’s ‘doomsday radio’ crackles into life after Russian missile hits Poland Arrow MORE: Donald Trump dealt major blow in $10,000,000,000 BBC lawsuit Arrow MORE: ‘Russian missile’ leaves 33ft crater in Nato territory after hitting Polish field News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.