Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Russia launched another major attack on Kyiv early Monday, striking the capital with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones just ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey. Ukrainian officials said the barrage killed at least 11 people in Kyiv and injured dozens more across the city and surrounding areas.

The assault hit Kyiv in the early hours, with explosions reported across the city and fires breaking out in residential areas and other districts. Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones, although many were intercepted or neutralized by air defenses. Kyiv officials said the strike caused damage in multiple neighborhoods and followed warnings that Russia was preparing a large new attack.

The timing of the strike has added political weight because it came on the eve of a NATO summit in Turkey, where Ukraine’s war effort and Western support are expected to be major issues. It was also the second major attack on Kyiv in less than a week, underscoring the intensity of Russia’s campaign and the strain on Ukrainian air defenses. Ukrainian leaders have said such attacks are meant to pressure the country militarily and politically ahead of key international meetings.

The latest strike shows that Russia is continuing to escalate pressure on Ukraine even as allied leaders prepare to discuss the war at NATO. For Kyiv, the attack is both a battlefield удар and a reminder that diplomacy is unfolding under fire.