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Russian attack on Kyiv kills at least 12, exposes widening gap in Ukraine air defenses
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv early Monday, killing at least 12 people and wounding 60, exposing significant gaps in Ukraine's air defenses, particularly against ballistic missiles.
- All 29 Russian ballistic missiles struck their targets, highlighting Ukraine's urgent need for more Patriot interceptor missiles, a point President Zelenskyy is expected to emphasize at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
- Ukraine's air defenses remain heavily reliant on limited U.S.-supplied Patriot systems, with global shortages exacerbated by conflicts in the Middle East, allowing Russia to exploit vulnerabilities despite Ukraine's advances in drone warfare.
- Russia claimed the strikes targeted weapons factories, air defense repair facilities, and energy infrastructure in Kyiv, while Ukrainian officials reported significant damage to residential buildings and ongoing rescue efforts.
- Concurrently, Ukraine conducted attacks on Russian oil refineries and infrastructure, including in Crimea and Russia's Yaroslavl region, causing power outages and fires, while Russian air defenses reported downing hundreds of Ukrainian drones overnight.
