Russia launched a deadly missile and drone attack on Kyiv on Monday, killing at least seven people and hitting apartment buildings, according to Reuters. A separate ballistic missile strike on the broader Kyiv region killed at least ten more, France 24 reported. The assault came just hours before U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a pivotal NATO summit in Turkey.
The barrage marks the second major attack on the capital and its surroundings in less than a week, underscoring the escalating intensity of long-range strikes by both sides. The timing is stark: the strikes land on the eve of a summit where Ukraine's security guarantees and NATO's role in the war are expected to dominate discussions.
Reuters put the Kyiv death toll at seven, while NBC News and The New York Times reported a figure of at least seven killed. France 24 cited ten dead in the region. Dozens more were wounded, authorities said. The discrepancies in casualty counts reflect the chaos of ongoing strikes and the challenge of confirming numbers amid active attacks.
The attack is seen as a deliberate signal from Moscow ahead of the diplomatic gathering. Trump is set to meet Zelensky in Turkey, with Kyiv warning of further strikes and pressing for stronger air-defense commitments. The summit itself faces internal divisions over how far NATO should expand its support.
Some analysts suggest the timing may be aimed at testing the alliance's resolve. "This is clearly a message," one European diplomat told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The Kremlin wants to show it can strike at will, even as the West meets."