Russia Launches Major Aerial Attack on Ukraine Ahead of NATO Meeting
Russia carried out one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, striking just hours before a meeting chaired by the UK and Germany focused on military support for Ukraine. The attack resulted in the deaths of two people and left 15 others injured, a development that has caught the attention of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv, drones targeted a metro station that was sheltering civilians. Social media videos captured the chaos, showing a platform filled with smoke and people inside. Kyiv’s Mayor, Vitalii Klitschko, indicated that the station would require ventilation, describing the situation as needing to be managed in “enhanced mode.”
The most intense strikes occurred in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district, impacting a kindergarten, supermarket, and various warehouses. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in Kyiv that same Monday to assess the damage firsthand.
The ongoing drone and missile attacks on Kyiv highlighted the urgent need for enhanced Western military support, especially in air defense. This comes just a week after discussions that suggested additional U.S. military aid could soon arrive.
A virtual meeting will be led by British Secretary of Defense John Healy and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius. Healy mentioned that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, NATO leader Mark Milley, and General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s supreme commander in Europe, would be attending a session of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group.
Moscow has increased its long-range assaults on Ukrainian urban areas, and experts believe that these attacks may intensify as Russia boosts its drone production capabilities.
In a recent tone shift, former President Trump gave Moscow a 50-day ultimatum to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher sanctions. At the meeting on Monday, Healy was expected to call on Ukraine’s Western allies to engage in a robust “50-day drive” to counteract Russia’s larger military force, thereby equipping Kyiv with the necessary weaponry to pressure President Putin into negotiations.
Trump’s plan, which was unveiled last week, involves European partners sending U.S. weapons to Ukraine through NATO or purchasing from existing stockpiles. He mentioned that they were particularly focused on delivering an advanced Patriot air defense system within a few days.
However, various officials have hinted that such deliveries may not be imminent. NATO’s Grynkewich said preparations were in progress for the transfer of weapons, but U.S. Ambassador Matthew Whitaker stated that he couldn’t provide a specific timeline.
Germany has proposed funding two additional Patriot systems for Ukraine and is contemplating supplying a system from its existing inventory to be replaced by the U.S. Nevertheless, German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz indicated that actual delivery might take time, estimating “not hours, but perhaps weeks.”
Switzerland is also involved, notifying that it has dispatched five previously ordered systems to support Ukraine.
While Ukraine waits for the Patriots, senior NATO officials have confirmed they are still working on providing other military supplies, including ammunition and artillery support. These discussions are reportedly sensitive, hence the anonymity of the officials involved.
Zelenskyy expressed interest in new peace talks, but Russian state media reported that no date has been confirmed, though Istanbul may be considered as a possible venue. A Kremlin spokesperson on Sunday reiterated that Russia remains open to negotiations with Ukraine, emphasizing their importance.
The recent barrage on Kyiv began shortly after midnight and persisted until around 6 a.m., waking residents with the sounds of gunfire, drone engines, and significant explosions. This marked the first substantial attack on Kyiv since last Monday, when Ukraine’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, was in the city. Notably, there had been a lull during his visit.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that its assault utilized drones and Kinzhal missiles, aimed at targeting military infrastructure. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 426 drones and 24 missiles on Monday; however, they claim to have intercepted about 200 of those. The Romanian Ministry of Defense reported a brief incursion of four Ukrainian planes into its airspace, which posed no threat to national security or civilians.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to deploy domestically-produced long-range drones. The Russian Ministry claimed to have shot down 74 Ukrainian drones in a single night, with a notable portion destroyed near Moscow.
