Key facts
- Russia is attempting to ramp up production of ballistic missiles.
- Many companies producing components for Russian weapons have not been sanctioned.
- Russia launched nearly 1,900 drones, 1,600 guided bombs, and 144 missiles at Ukraine in the past week.
- A recent ballistic missile attack on Kyiv killed nine people and injured over 30.
- Ukraine's air defenses shot down only one of 27 ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv.
- President Zelensky urged for expanded sanctions on Russia's defense-industrial complex.
Russia is actively seeking to increase its production of ballistic missiles, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He stated on August 2, 2026, that numerous companies involved in manufacturing components for Russian drones, missiles, and guided aerial bombs have yet to face sanctions from Western countries. This situation allows Russia to invest further in its ballistic weapons capabilities.
Zelensky's remarks followed a week of intense Russian attacks, which included approximately 1,900 drones, nearly 1,600 guided aerial bombs, and 144 missiles. A recent ballistic missile strike on Kyiv overnight on August 1 resulted in nine fatalities and over 30 injuries. Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept only one of the 27 ballistic missiles launched at the capital, highlighting a critical shortage of interceptors.
Zelensky emphasized the need for increased pressure on Russia's entire defense-industrial complex, asserting that expanded and effective sanctions are crucial to reducing attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine's capital with ballistic missiles throughout the spring and summer of 2026, employing tactics to overwhelm the nation's air defense systems and cause maximum damage to civilian areas.
The high-speed nature of Russian missiles, such as Zircons and Iskanders, makes them particularly difficult to intercept, with Patriot interceptor missiles being the only consistently effective defense. However, Ukraine's supply of these missiles has been depleted. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly offered Ukraine a license to produce its own Patriot missiles, but later withdrew the offer.