Ukraine downs five ballistic missiles as Zelenskyy seeks Europe shield
Ukraine said it intercepted five Russian ballistic missiles as strikes hit Kyiv. The attacks sharpened Zelenskyy's appeal for stronger air defences and a shared European missile shield.
Ukraine said it intercepted five Russian ballistic missiles in overnight attacks, though other missiles and drones struck sites in Kyiv, damaging warehouses and a school. The attacks came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought more help on air defence in France and announced a new plan with European partners to build a shared ballistic missile shield.
The developments also came as both sides kept up long-range strikes. While Russia said it had targeted military manufacturing facilities in Ukraine, Kyiv said it had hit oil-related and naval targets inside Russia, as the war continued with no breakthrough on ceasefire efforts.
Ukraine's air force said it was the first time in almost two weeks that it had shot down Russian ballistic missiles, which are harder to intercept than drones or cruise missiles. Ukrainian air defences likely used the US-made Patriot surface-to-air guided missile system, seen as the most effective way to counter ballistic missiles, though ammunition has been in short supply amid the Iran war despite European efforts to make up for the gap.
In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Tuesday's attack caused fires at two warehouses and damaged a school. Ukraine's air force said one ballistic missile and 25 drones hit 17 locations, while falling debris was reported in 10 places.
The Russian Defence Ministry said it had targeted military manufacturing facilities producing long-range missiles and drones. Moscow is seeking to curb Ukrainian strikes on oil facilities deep inside Russia that have caused fuel shortages and, according to Western analysts, are affecting the Russian army's advance on the front line.
In Paris, crowds cheered Ukrainian troops marching along the Champs-Elysees in the Bastille Day parade, while Zelenskyy received an ovation from European leaders showing solidarity with Kyiv. Ukrainian aviators trained in France flew in two Mirage 2000B fighter jets alongside French air force pilots. The parade included about 500 troops from the coalition of the willing, a group of countries that has pledged to help with Ukraine's post-war security. French President Emmanuel Macron said it was "a great honour to welcome them to the parade".
Zelenskyy, who was in France to seek ways to address Ukraine's air defence shortages, said on Monday that Ukraine was joining nine other countries to form a coalition to build a shared ballistic missile shield for Europe. He said Ukraine and its partners could jointly develop a mass-produced, low-cost system within the next 12 months.
Ukraine is seeking to strengthen its air defences before winter, with much of the country vulnerable to Russian missile attacks that have repeatedly hit the power grid since 2022. President Donald Trump said at last week's NATO summit that the US would give Ukraine a licence to make Patriot systems itself. However, the systems are expensive, in high demand and take a long time to produce, meaning Ukrainian-made units are likely to take years to become operational.
Ukraine also continued its long-range strikes on Russian targets. Authorities in Russia's southern Krasnodar region said an attack caused a fire at the Afipsky Oil Refinery, which was later put out. Zelenskyy said Ukraine had also hit an oil refinery in Salavat in the Bashkortostan region, about 1,400 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Khabirov confirmed an attack on an industrial area in Salavat but did not say what had been hit.
Zelenskyy also said the Ukrainian navy had struck four Russian tankers operating as part of Moscow's so-called shadow fleet of ageing tankers with uncertain ownership and safety practices that evade international oil sanctions, as well as a patrol boat. Ukraine said on Monday it had struck 105 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov beside the Crimean Peninsula between July 6 and 13. The Russian Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 288 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected ceasefire offers made by Zelenskyy. "This war must be brought to an end, and all reasonable diplomatic proposals are on the table," Zelenskyy said on social media. The latest exchanges underlined Ukraine's urgent push for stronger air defences even as both sides continue attacks far from the front line.
With PTI Inputs
Ukraine said it intercepted five Russian ballistic missiles in overnight attacks, though other missiles and drones struck sites in Kyiv, damaging warehouses and a school. The attacks came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought more help on air defence in France and announced a new plan with European partners to build a shared ballistic missile shield.
The developments also came as both sides kept up long-range strikes. While Russia said it had targeted military manufacturing facilities in Ukraine, Kyiv said it had hit oil-related and naval targets inside Russia, as the war continued with no breakthrough on ceasefire efforts.
Ukraine's air force said it was the first time in almost two weeks that it had shot down Russian ballistic missiles, which are harder to intercept than drones or cruise missiles. Ukrainian air defences likely used the US-made Patriot surface-to-air guided missile system, seen as the most effective way to counter ballistic missiles, though ammunition has been in short supply amid the Iran war despite European efforts to make up for the gap.
In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Tuesday's attack caused fires at two warehouses and damaged a school. Ukraine's air force said one ballistic missile and 25 drones hit 17 locations, while falling debris was reported in 10 places.
The Russian Defence Ministry said it had targeted military manufacturing facilities producing long-range missiles and drones. Moscow is seeking to curb Ukrainian strikes on oil facilities deep inside Russia that have caused fuel shortages and, according to Western analysts, are affecting the Russian army's advance on the front line.
In Paris, crowds cheered Ukrainian troops marching along the Champs-Elysees in the Bastille Day parade, while Zelenskyy received an ovation from European leaders showing solidarity with Kyiv. Ukrainian aviators trained in France flew in two Mirage 2000B fighter jets alongside French air force pilots. The parade included about 500 troops from the coalition of the willing, a group of countries that has pledged to help with Ukraine's post-war security. French President Emmanuel Macron said it was "a great honour to welcome them to the parade".
Zelenskyy, who was in France to seek ways to address Ukraine's air defence shortages, said on Monday that Ukraine was joining nine other countries to form a coalition to build a shared ballistic missile shield for Europe. He said Ukraine and its partners could jointly develop a mass-produced, low-cost system within the next 12 months.
Ukraine is seeking to strengthen its air defences before winter, with much of the country vulnerable to Russian missile attacks that have repeatedly hit the power grid since 2022. President Donald Trump said at last week's NATO summit that the US would give Ukraine a licence to make Patriot systems itself. However, the systems are expensive, in high demand and take a long time to produce, meaning Ukrainian-made units are likely to take years to become operational.
Ukraine also continued its long-range strikes on Russian targets. Authorities in Russia's southern Krasnodar region said an attack caused a fire at the Afipsky Oil Refinery, which was later put out. Zelenskyy said Ukraine had also hit an oil refinery in Salavat in the Bashkortostan region, about 1,400 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Khabirov confirmed an attack on an industrial area in Salavat but did not say what had been hit.
Zelenskyy also said the Ukrainian navy had struck four Russian tankers operating as part of Moscow's so-called shadow fleet of ageing tankers with uncertain ownership and safety practices that evade international oil sanctions, as well as a patrol boat. Ukraine said on Monday it had struck 105 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov beside the Crimean Peninsula between July 6 and 13. The Russian Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 288 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected ceasefire offers made by Zelenskyy. "This war must be brought to an end, and all reasonable diplomatic proposals are on the table," Zelenskyy said on social media. The latest exchanges underlined Ukraine's urgent push for stronger air defences even as both sides continue attacks far from the front line.
With PTI Inputs
