Russia's ballistic missile, jet-propelled drone blitz keeps Kyiv on edge
Russia has intensified its bombardment of Kyiv using a combination of ballistic missiles and high-speed jet-powered drones, challenging Ukraine's air defense capabilities. Ukraine is struggling with a shortage of interceptor missiles while attempting to innovate its own drone technology to counter the persistent attacks on its infrastructure.
Why it matters
The escalation of aerial warfare and the depletion of air defense resources significantly impact the humanitarian situation and the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine.
Russia fired ballistic missiles and dozens of jet-powered drones at Kyiv, Ukraine's air force said Tuesday (September 29, 2026), as Moscow seeks to make Ukraine buckle under the pressure of day-and-night bombardment of its capital and other cities.
The Russian onslaught has used new jet-powered drones that fly too fast and too high for Ukrainian ground-based air defences to shoot down.
Ukraine is scrambling to keep pace by developing faster interceptor drones, in the latest example of how the war has driven military innovation, but making and deploying new weapons takes months.
Russia's ballistic missiles have also got through as Ukraine is desperately short of US-made Patriot air defence interceptor missiles, which are the only reliable way of stopping Moscow's ballistic attacks.
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