24 ballistic missiles overnight: a shortage of anti-ballistic defenses has once again cost Ukraine lives

On the night of 5 August 2026, Russian occupying forces attacked Ukraine with 28 missiles and 115 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types. The main direction of the massive combined strike was the Kyiv region. According to preliminary data as of the morning, air defense forces shot down or suppressed 98 enemy UAVs.

The results of the combat operations were reported by the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The air attack began at 18:00 on 4 August and continued into the morning of 5 August. Russian forces used:

• 4 anti-ship missiles “Zircon”/”Onyx”, launched from the Kursk and Rostov regions of the Russian Federation;
• 24 ballistic missiles “Iskander-M”/S-400 from the Bryansk and Kursk regions of the Russian Federation;
• 115 UAVs of types “Shahed”, “Gerbera”, “Italmas”, as well as imitation drones “Parodiya”.

The Air Forces of the AFU emphasized that most of the strike drones used by the enemy were jet-powered. The UAVs were launched from directions of the Russian cities Kursk, Millerovo and Oryol, as well as from temporarily occupied Donetsk and the settlement of Hvardiyske in Crimea.

The main direction of the Russian strike was the Kyiv region, where numerous impacts were recorded, destruction of civilian enterprises, logistics and railway infrastructure, and casualties and injuries among civilians.

The air attack was repelled by Ukrainian aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, as well as mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

According to preliminary combat results, air defense shot down or suppressed 98 out of 115 enemy UAVs of types “Shahed”, “Gerbera”, “Italmas” and other models. Aerial targets were neutralized in the north, south and east of Ukraine.

At the same time, the Air Forces recorded missile strikes and 17 strike UAV impacts at 26 locations. Debris from downed aerial targets fell at another 6 locations.

Earlier we wrote:

• 17 dead and 44 injured: Russia fired 24 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and the region
• A ballistic interceptor for €1 million instead of the very expensive Patriot missiles: how ready is FREYJA?
• There are no missiles for the Patriot: while partners hesitate, Russia strikes ports and residential buildings
• New PAC-3 are already on the way: Ukraine agreed with the USA on a package for Patriot
• Air defense neutralized 132 enemy targets: in Kyiv the warhead of a missile fell near a building