Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Russia unleashed another large-scale missile and drone barrage on Ukraine, killing at least 22 people and injuring more than 100, according to reports. The attack exposed gaps in Ukraine’s air defenses, especially its need for more Patriot interceptor missiles.

The assault hit Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight and continued into daylight, with dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones launched in waves. Officials said the main targets included Kyiv and Dnipro, where apartment buildings and civilian infrastructure were damaged and rescue crews pulled bodies from the rubble. Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted or suppressed most of the drones and many missiles, but ballistic weapons still got through in several locations.

The human toll was especially heavy in Dnipro and Kyiv, where families were hit as apartment blocks collapsed and emergency teams raced to recover survivors . Reports say the strike underlined a persistent problem for Ukraine: it can handle many drone attacks, but it remains vulnerable to ballistic missile salvos when interceptor stocks are stretched. The attack also came amid broader escalation, reinforcing concerns that Russia is trying to overwhelm Ukraine’s defenses through repeated, high-volume strikes.

This was one of the deadliest Russian attacks in recent months and another sign that Ukraine’s air defenses are under severe pressure. With civilian areas hit hard and interceptor shortages still a concern, the war’s missile campaign remains a major challenge for Kyiv.