Russia Strikes Distribution Centers in Kyiv with Missiles
In overnight attacks on Ukraine, 28 missiles and 115 drones were launched, and Ukraine's air defense is increasingly powerless due to a chronic shortage of interceptors for Patriot systems.
In overnight attacks on Ukraine, 28 missiles and 115 drones were launched, and Ukraine's air defense is increasingly powerless due to a chronic shortage of interceptors for Patriot systems.
At least 14 people were killed and 27 wounded in Russian air strikes on Kyiv and its surroundings during the night of August 4-5, 2026, according to Dutch broadcaster NOS. Russian forces targeted distribution centers and warehouses in the region, a new focus for Moscow in its escalation of long-range attacks. The South China Morning Post reports 15 dead, with sources disagreeing on the final casualty count.
Ukraine's emergency services confirmed on Telegram that seven locations in and around the capital were hit. Footage from the scene shows firefighters extinguishing blazes at warehouse complexes. Russia claims the facilities were used for "military purposes." Meanwhile, Kyiv emphasizes that attacks on logistics infrastructure aim to paralyze supply lines and sow chaos in the rear.
According to data from Ukraine's Air Force, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda, Russia launched a total of 28 missiles and 115 unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukraine overnight. Air defense forces managed to shoot down 98 drones, but missiles and the remaining 17 aircraft struck targets across as many as 26 different locations, with the main thrust directed at the Kyiv region.
Simultaneously, three cargo ships were attacked near Odesa in the Black Sea, further confirming that Russia is not easing pressure on Ukraine's maritime routes and export infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky increasingly warns of a critical shortage of air defense missiles. "Simply because there are no interceptor missiles for Patriot systems," Zelensky said on Saturday, August 2, commenting on the declining percentage of downed Russian projectiles. Of the 27 ballistic missiles Russia fired, only one was destroyed.
"Our lack of interceptor missiles only encourages Russia to carry out such attacks," Zelensky said, alluding to the increasingly frequent strikes.
In an appeal to Western partners, the Ukrainian leader was blunt: "It is crucial that partners understand that this air defense capability is not needed for hypothetical scenarios, but here and now." He added that "every package of ballistic missile interceptors saves the lives of our people. And every night without them leads to more casualties."
According to information from Reuters, citing sources in Ukraine's military intelligence service, a North Korean missile unit has been deployed in western Russia. This unit could be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers intended for strikes on Ukraine. Since late 2023, Russia has already fired dozens of North Korean ballistic missiles at Ukrainian territory, but the arrival of a ground-based missile unit marks a further deepening of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
