A series of explosions rocked Kyiv shortly after midnight on Thursday, following a Ukrainian air force alert about the approach of several ballistic missiles. The blasts occurred just hours after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited to strengthen defence ties. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that a warehouse was hit, with missile debris falling on non-residential buildings. Simultaneously, Kharkiv faced an attack by combat drones.
Ongoing Threat
Kyiv has been regularly targeted by Russian strikes using ballistic missiles since last month. These weapons are particularly dangerous due to their speed and difficulty to intercept. The city has been suffering from a shortage of PAC-3 missiles for its US-designed Patriot systems, which are crucial for intercepting ballistic projectiles.
Defensive Measures
In response to these ongoing threats, US President Donald Trump announced last week his intention to authorize Ukraine to produce missiles for Patriot defence systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that production could commence by the end of this year, aiming to bolster the country's defences against Russian ballistic strikes.
