Destruction in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv after Russian strikes, August 5, 2026 (Dan Bashakov/AP/DPA/Picture Alliance)

EA-Ukraine Special: A Sitdown in Dublin to Analyze Russia’s Invasion

Ukraine War, Days 1,621-1,623: Kyiv Strikes More Russian Bases, Refineries and Wildberries Hubs

UPDATE 1749 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says supplies of air defense missiles fell by 2/3rds in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2025.

Zelensky posted after a meeting with senior officials, “Our partners do have the missiles.”

However, a senior official said the failure to intercept any of 24 ballistic missiles fired by Russia overnight was not due to the air defense shortages.

Russia conducted effective drone reconnaissance throughout the day before the strike and then launched a large number of ballistic missiles simultaneously, approaching from multiple directions at once.

UPDATE 1746 GMT:

Eight civilians were murdered as they waited for a delayed train overnight during the Russian ballistic missile and drone attack on and near Kyiv.

The victims were in the suburb of Brovary. The strike landed in a line of trees immediately behind the station, with the blast tearing across the platform.

UPDATE 1233 GMT:

Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s former Ambassador to the US, has been charged with illicit enrichment.

The High Anti-Corruption Court is considering pre-trial restrictions for Stefanishyna.

She was dismissed from her post by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.

UPDATE 1226 GMT:

French President Emmanuel Macron has posted about Russia’s overnight attacks:

In Kyiv and its region, Russia has once again chosen to target civilians. This policy of terror, carried out with missiles and drones, is unacceptable.

Each new attack reinforces an obvious truth: Russia must pay the price for its aggression and answer for its crimes.

Alongside Ukraine, we will not yield to either fatigue or intimidation. The European Union and its partners will continue to increase the pressure on Russia, including through new sanctions, while strengthening military support for Ukraine so that it can defend itself and protect its population.

UPDATE 0851 GMT:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has posted about the latest Russian airstrikes:

Once again we wake up to the news of horrible atrocities by Russia through its aerial attacks on Ukraine. Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused….

[We will] use the proceeds from the immobilized Russian assets to make sure it does. We are making a further €1.4 billion of them available to Ukraine. This will support Ukraine’s continued resistance against Russia’s illegal war.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys added:

Pure terror. Ukraine needs more air defence – now. Every intercepted missile means lives saved. The only language the Kremlin understands is strength.

The world must increase pressure on Russia and force it to the negotiating table.

UPDATE 0839 GMT:

A North Korean missile unit has begun deploying to western Russia and could be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers, claims Andrii Cherniak of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence.

Cherniak said the missile unit of around 90 North Korean personnel will be based in the Voronezh region in western Russia.

Pyongyang has sent a new package of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles and personnel to Russia. The configuration of the deployment and total number of ⁠missiles will be confirmed at top-level talks next month, the official summarized.

UPDATE 0700 GMT:

Ukrainian drones set afire another warehouse of Russia’s leading online retailer Wildberries overnight.

The strike was on the town of Aleksin in the Tula region, around 150 km (93 miles) south of Moscow and 320 km (199 miles) northeast of the Ukraine border.

The facility is the 16th Wildberries site struck within three weeks, causing billions of dollars of damage. The Oleksin center, which opened in 2022, covers about 194,500 square meters.

A massive fire has engulfed a Wildberries logistics center (194,500 sq m) in Aleksin, Russia's Tula region, following a drone attack.

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— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) August 5, 2026 at 4:55 AM

UPDATE 0643 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has revised the toll to 17 murdered and 44 injured by Russia’s overnight attacks.

Zelensky noted:

Ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those killed today. It is very important that our partners understand that delays in supplying them, or an unwillingness to provide anti-ballistic systems, lead directly to such horrific casualties and destruction.

He also called for sanctions to limit Russia’s production of ballistic missiles.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: At least 15 civilians have been murdered and 51 injured by Russia’s overnight ballistic missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and the region.

The Russians launched 24 ballistic and four hypersonic missiles as well as 115 Shahed-type drones. None of the missiles were intercepted, while 98 UAVs were downed.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has been appealing to other countries to provide anti-ballistic missiles as Kyiv seeks joint production agreements for air defense.

Four of the injured in Kyiv city are in critical condition. At least seven locations reported damage, including the Holosiivskyi, Obolonskyi, Desnianskyi, and Sviatoshynskyi districts.

Journalists first heard loud explosions shortly after 12:20 a.m. as ballistic missiles struck. Blasts continued for the next hour while drone alerts were issued from 1:09 a.m.

Trying to break civilian resistance, Russia has been recurrently striking the capital with missiles and drones. Last Saturday’s assault killed at least nine people and injured more than 30.