Russia Bombards Kyiv Before NATO’s Ukraine Weapons Meeting/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Kyiv just hours before NATO allies convened to discuss U.S. plans for new weapons aid to Ukraine. At least two people were killed and 15 injured as missiles and drones targeted residential areas and public infrastructure. The attack intensified calls for immediate delivery of Patriot missile systems and other Western defenses.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict Update: Quick Looks
- Russia launched 426 drones, 24 missiles at Kyiv overnight
- Attack occurred just before NATO’s Ukraine aid coordination meeting
- Two killed, 15 injured, including a 12-year-old child
- French foreign minister visited attack site Monday
- Ukraine requests urgent delivery of Patriot missile systems
- U.S. and EU defense leaders met virtually to discuss aid
- Trump gives Russia 50 days to agree to ceasefire
- Ukraine also struck Moscow with long-range drones
Russia Bombards Kyiv Before NATO’s Ukraine Weapons Meeting
Deep Look
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia unleashed one of its largest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine in recent months, striking Kyiv early Monday morning just hours before a major NATO-backed defense meeting on supporting Ukraine with advanced weaponry. The hours-long bombardment was clearly timed to send a message, as Western leaders gathered to discuss the next phase of military support for Ukraine under U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative.
The overnight barrage killed at least two civilians and wounded 15 others, including a child, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district, one of the drones struck the entrance of a subway station where civilians had taken shelter. Videos circulated online showed the platform thick with smoke and civilians crowded inside. Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said the ventilation systems had to be run at full capacity to clear the air.
The Darnytskyi district of the capital took the brunt of the assault, with a kindergarten, supermarket, and multiple warehouses catching fire. Firefighters battled the blazes as French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in Kyiv and visited the destruction firsthand.
A Direct Strike Before NATO Coordination
The timing of the attack was no coincidence. Just hours later, defense leaders from NATO member countries gathered for a high-level virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Chaired by the U.K.’s Defense Secretary John Healey and Germany’s Boris Pistorius, the meeting was attended by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Alexus Grynkewich.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal used the forum to urgently request accelerated delivery of American air defense systems, especially Patriot missiles, as outlined in Trump’s new military aid strategy.
“I request the U.S. to make these weapons available for purchase, and our European partners to extend all the needed financing,” said Shmyhal.
President Trump announced his Ukraine weapons transfer plan last week, calling for European nations to either donate existing American systems or procure and send new ones through NATO channels. As part of the plan, Trump warned Russia it has 50 days to agree to a ceasefire or face enhanced sanctions.
Air Defense: Patriot Systems in Focus
Germany has agreed to finance two additional Patriot systems and is considering transferring its existing stockpile, with the U.S. backfilling those units. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, however, cautioned that such moves would take time due to the logistics of transporting and setting up the equipment.
Meanwhile, Switzerland has agreed to reprioritize delivery of five Patriot systems previously ordered by the U.S., redirecting them to Ukraine in coordination with the Pentagon.
A senior NATO official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that additional military aid—artillery shells, ammunition, and air defense hardware—is in the pipeline. Much of the aid was delayed in the spring but is now set to resume in waves.
Escalating Conflict: Kyiv and Moscow Under Fire
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched a staggering 426 Shahed drones and decoys, along with 24 missiles. Of these, 200 drones were shot down and 203 were jammed or lost from radar, suggesting advanced electronic countermeasures were employed.
The strikes began shortly after midnight and continued into the morning. Residents reported machine-gun fire, buzzing drones, and explosions throughout the night. It was the first major strike on Kyiv since Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, visited the capital last week.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the attack successfully targeted airfield infrastructure and components of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex. The weaponry used included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, known for their ability to evade most missile defenses.
Ukraine responded by launching long-range drones toward Russian territory. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 74 drones overnight, with 23 shot down in the Moscow region, 15 of them directly over the capital.
Diplomacy Amid Warfare
Amid the violence, Zelenskyy proposed restarting peace talks. Russian state media reported that no date has been finalized, but Istanbul is expected to remain the host city. Kremlin spokespersons stated that while Russia remains open to talks, it won’t abandon its strategic objectives.
Despite calls for diplomacy, the scale and timing of Russia’s assault suggest it is not yet ready to yield. Analysts say Moscow may be attempting to destabilize Western consensus by showing that military aid discussions provoke more aggression.
For Ukraine, the message is clear: without advanced air defense systems and rapid support, its cities remain vulnerable. And for NATO allies, the attack adds urgency to a strategic arms transfer plan still being shaped.
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