Ukrainian Defense Failed to Stop Any Russian Missile
Massive Russian military bombardment killed 17 people and wounded dozens more. Kyiv admitted that its air defense did not shoot down any of the 28 missiles launched.
Massive Russian military bombardment killed 17 people and wounded dozens more. Kyiv admitted that its air defense did not shoot down any of the 28 missiles launched.
Russian armed forces carried out a massive missile attack on Kyiv and other targets in Ukraine on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, during which Ukrainian air defense forces suffered a complete failure in intercepting the missiles. According to a statement by the Ukrainian Air Force published on Telegram, 98 out of 115 attack drones were shot down, but none of the 28 Russian missiles were neutralized.
During the night, Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M and S-400 types, as well as four anti-ship missiles, Zircon and Oniks. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that none of these missiles were intercepted. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the attack was carried out using ground-based precision weapons and long-range combat drones, targeting transport, logistics, and distribution centers in Kyiv and its surroundings that were involved in delivering military cargo.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia used more than 140 missiles and drones in the attack. The bombardment killed 17 people and wounded dozens more. Photographer Vladyslav Sodel captured thick columns of smoke rising over Kyiv after the strikes.
In addition to the capital, the port of Odesa in southern Ukraine was also targeted. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that three dry cargo ships near the port city were hit. Details on damage and possible casualties in Odesa have not yet been released.
A day before the attack, on August 4, President Zelensky posted updated figures on Russian battlefield losses on the social media platform X. "In total, in July, all our units at the front eliminated 30,272 Russians, specifically using drones," he wrote. He emphasized that this number includes both killed and severely wounded, but only those cases for which there is clear video evidence.
Zelensky added that the trend on the battlefield remains unchanged, with Russians losing about 30,000 soldiers every month. In the same post, he reiterated his appeal to allies: "Air defense is the top priority. It is important that our partners hear Ukraine and know that every package for our air defense truly protects lives."
The complete failure to intercept ballistic and hypersonic missiles further underscores the urgency of Kyiv's requests for the delivery of more advanced air defense systems. While Ukrainian forces show relatively high effectiveness against slower drones, advanced Russian missiles like the Zircon and Iskander pose an almost insurmountable challenge to the existing Ukrainian defenses.
