Russia launches ballistic missiles at Kyiv

Key facts

• Russia launched ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv early Sunday.
• Falling debris from the attack caused fires in at least three districts.
• Ukraine's air force had warned of incoming ballistic missiles.
• The attack followed President Zelensky's warning of a potential large-scale Russian strike.

Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with ballistic missiles early Sunday, July 26, causing falling debris to trigger fires in at least three districts. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that one blaze broke out on the seventh and eighth floors of a multi-storey apartment block in a central district. Unofficial online channels showed fires in different parts of the city. Ukraine's air force stated that Russian forces had targeted the capital with ballistic missiles, though an air alert was lifted after approximately 50 minutes. Reuters witnesses reported hearing repeated explosions. The attack occurred shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned on Friday that new Russian attacks were likely over the next 48 hours. This incident follows a previous Russian ballistic missile strike on July 24 that killed 10 people and injured over 100 others at an arms exhibition in the capital.