Ukraine suffers deadly Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv, killing at least 17

Russian ballistic missiles, including Iskander-M and air‑launched Kinzhal rockets, hit Kyiv in a coordinated attack that struck a brewery, a warehouse, a mail‑sorting office and a train station. Ukrainian officials said at least 17 civilians were killed and dozens more injured. The steep, high‑speed trajectory of the missiles gives air‑defence systems only seconds to detect and engage them. Ukraine says only a limited number of U.S.-supplied Patriot PAC‑3 interceptors are available, and the shortage hampers its ability to stop the strikes. The United States has delayed a license for additional Patriot production, while European allies have reduced missile deliveries this year, leaving Ukraine with few batteries to protect its cities. Experts note that the physics of the missiles make interception extremely difficult, increasing the vulnerability of Ukrainian urban centres.