Russia launches ballistic and cruise missile attack on Kyiv after Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns of "massive attack"

Russia launched a fresh wave of ballistic and cruise missile strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities early Thursday hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was preparing a massive attackAt least one person was killed in Kyiv according to the citys military administration while the strikes also targeted Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih Ukraines Air Force confirmed ballistic missile attacks on the capital and warned that additional missiles were incoming according to CNNKyiv and other cities come under missile attackUkraines Air Force said Russia launched several waves of cruise missiles from strategic aircraft and also detected cruise missile launches originating from the Novorossiysk area in southern RussiaFollowing the initial barrage the Air Force warned that more ballistic missiles were heading towards Kyiv raising concerns over continued attacksThe threat of further attacks remains Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said urging residents to stay inside bomb shelters until the danger had passedAccording to CNN videos circulating on social media showed families taking shelter inside crowded Kyiv metro stations where many people were seen sitting or sleeping on platforms under blankets and inside makeshift tentsStrike follows Zelenskyys warningThe missile attack came just hours after Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence had warned of an imminent largescale Russian assaultIn a post on X the Ukrainian President wrote I received a report from Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko The Russians prepared a massive attack several days ago and there is a high probability that the strike will be carried out tonightI received a report from Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko The Russians prepared a massive attack several days ago and there is a high probability that the strike will be carried out tonight It is important that our partners fully understand what is happening and thathellipmdash Volodymyr Zelenskyy ZelenskyyUa July 29 2026There is a high probability that the strike will be carried out tonight he addedThe warning was followed by the overnight missile strikes across multiple Ukrainian citiesAttack comes after White House meetingThe latest assault occurred a day after Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump at the White House where he requested additional air defence systems to strengthen Ukraines ability to counter Russian missile and drone attacksThe meeting came amid continued efforts by Ukraine to secure military and diplomatic support from its international partners as the conflict enters its fifth yearZelenskyy accuses Russia of rejecting ceasefireEarlier this week Zelenskyy said Ukraine the United States and European allies were seeking an end to the war but accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of refusing even a temporary ceasefireIn an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity Zelenskyy said diplomatic efforts had repeatedly been rejected by MoscowWe want to stop this war President Trump wants to stop this war and the Europeans want to stop it Putin doesnt We are asking every day to negotiate at least a ceasefire for some period of time and give diplomats the opportunity to negotiate But Putin doesnt want that Thats the problem Thats why we need to respond We need to be tough We need to be strong And were counting on sanctions By the way Lindseys bill was very important Zelenskyy saidUkraine highlights defence capabilitiesZelenskyy also said Ukraine had significantly expanded its domestic defence industry since the start of the conflictSince the beginning of the war when Putin said he would occupy us in two or three days we have built a great military technology industry We now have 500 companies with very strong technologies supporting our soldiers on the front lines he saidClaiming that Russian forces continue to suffer heavy losses Zelenskyy added Putin is now losing 30000 soldiers a month Those are enormous losses As President Trump says there have been many losses But Putin still doesnt want to stop this warHe further asserted that Ukraine had gained strategic momentum in the conflictNow the initiative is no longer in Putins hands and that is the biggest change Zelenskyy saidWith inputs from ANI