Why Russia’s ballistic missiles are breaking through in Ukraine

Russian planes dropped eight glide bombs on residential areas of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, killing one person and wounding 31 others. The attack, which occurred Sunday evening, damaged 22 apartment buildings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his plea for more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, citing their necessity to counter Russian ballistic missiles, which Ukraine lacks effective defenses against. In separate incidents, Russia reported intercepting 131 Ukrainian drones over its regions and Crimea, while Ukraine launched drones that damaged a Wildberries warehouse in Russia, injuring three people. Russia also claimed to have struck four bulk carriers carrying cargo for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Following a deadly Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his request for U.S.-made Patriot missile interceptors. This appeal coincides with a widening probe into Ukraine's bomb shelter system, which a former official described as having significant deficiencies despite substantial spending. Investigations have revealed that many shelters are unusable, inaccessible, or lack basic standards, leaving civilians with inadequate protection. While Ukraine has sought international aid for shelter construction, a significant portion of the population reportedly lacks safe and accessible places to take cover during attacks. The situation highlights concerns about Ukraine's overall civilian protection strategy, extending beyond the need for air defense systems.

Heavy attacks between Russia and Ukraine have resulted in at least twelve fatalities. In Russia's Krasnodar region, six people died and 40 were injured by drone debris following a Ukrainian attack on Gelendzhik. Additionally, three people were killed in Crimea due to a Ukrainian strike. In Ukraine, three individuals were killed in a Russian attack on a gas station in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Both countries continue to exchange fire, with civilian deaths increasing in recent months, though both sides deny targeting civilians. Russia also reported capturing two settlements in the Kharkiv region, while Ukraine conducted a drone attack on a Wildberries warehouse in Russia's Vladimir region.

An explosion at a Moscow restaurant on August 1 killed five people and injured nineteen, with Russian media reporting it may have targeted Colonel General Alexander Chaiko. An analyst suggested that President Putin's efforts to project normalcy in Moscow may create security vulnerabilities, allowing adversaries like Ukraine to target Russian military elites. The Russian Embassy in Rome accused Kyiv of the attack. Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee stated an unidentified woman carried an improvised explosive device, which was detonated remotely after she was stopped by security. The attack's method is consistent with other assassinations inside Russia attributed to Ukraine. Ukraine has not commented on the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility.

Ukraine launched drone attacks targeting Russian oil hubs and high-rise buildings, resulting in at least eight deaths across multiple regions. The strikes, which occurred overnight, hit targets in Udmurtia, Saratov, Engels, and Belgorod. In Udmurtia, three people died when a drone struck a car. In Engels, two people were killed by a strike on a residential building. Ukraine's military stated it attacked the Saratov refinery and the Engels airbase, causing fires, and also struck an oil depot in Kaluga. The attacks come as Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warned of critical shortages of Patriot interceptors. Russia reported shooting down 635 drones.

Ukrainian drone strikes killed at least five people across Russia, targeting industrial sites and a Wildberries e-commerce warehouse. This is part of Kyiv's ongoing aerial campaign to impact Moscow's war effort and economy. In the Samara region, a Wildberries warehouse was hit, causing a fire but no casualties. Other strikes in the Saratov region killed two civilians and damaged infrastructure. In the Udmurt Republic, three civilians died and two were wounded in a drone strike. Meanwhile, Russia attacked Ukraine with 133 drones, with 24 hitting targets. Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv killed at least two people.

Ukrainian drone strikes resulted in at least two fatalities in Russian regions along the Volga River overnight. One target of the attacks was a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, located in the Samara region. Regional officials confirmed the incidents on Sunday. Russia's Defence Ministry reported intercepting 635 Ukrainian drones during the night. The drone attack on the Wildberries warehouse occurred approximately 800 kilometers from Ukraine's most advanced military positions within Ukrainian territory. Information regarding potential casualties at the warehouse was still being clarified.

An explosive device detonated at an Italian restaurant in Moscow, resulting in three fatalities and 21 injuries. Russian media reported the incident. The article provides no further details regarding the timing of the blast, the specific location within Moscow, or the cause or perpetrator of the explosion. The focus of the report is on the immediate aftermath and the casualties sustained.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has declared a bomb attack on a restaurant on Saturday evening a "brutal terrorist act." The explosion in central Moscow killed three people, including the woman bomber, and wounded at least 21 others. Russian state media reported that the woman attempted to bring the bomb into the restaurant, but a security guard refused her entry before it detonated. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee confirmed the casualties, and the Moscow Investigative Committee is investigating the incident. As of Sunday afternoon, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack.

An explosion occurred at a restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday, August 1, 2026. Russian state media reported that at least three people were killed and 15 others were injured. Emergency services, investigators, and forensic experts were on the scene at Kudrinskaya Square. The Moscow Investigative Committee stated that the exact number of casualties and the circumstances of the incident are still being determined.

An explosion at a Moscow restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square, near the city center, has resulted in three fatalities and 15 injuries. The blast occurred around 8:00 PM local time. While the cause remains unclear, reports suggest it originated in the establishment's kitchen. A witness stated the venue was hosting a wedding reception with approximately 50 guests. Following the incident, roads around the square were temporarily closed, and a planned cycling event was canceled. Law enforcement officers were present at the cordoned-off scene.

An explosion occurred near a cafe in Moscow's Kudrinskaya Square on Saturday evening, resulting in at least three fatalities and fifteen injuries. The blast happened around 8:10 PM local time near the summer terrace of a restaurant located in one of the city's Stalin-era skyscrapers. Authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of the explosion, though Russian state TV suggested it may have been a gas canister detonation, with some reports indicating a gas blast in the cafe's kitchens. Emergency services responded to the scene, and access to the area was sealed off. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, and traffic and public transport near the square were temporarily affected.

A massive explosion at a restaurant terrace in central Moscow on Saturday evening killed three people and injured at least 21 others. Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee stated that a homemade explosive device caused the blast. The victims included a woman who reportedly attempted to bring the device into the restaurant, a security guard, and a patron. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. at the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square. Heavily armed law enforcement was present at the scene.