Explosions over Kyiv as Russia launches air attack on Ukraine

On August 21, Russia launched a wave of missile and drone strikes on cities in western Ukraine, far from the front line, killing at least one person and injuring 14. The attack ignited fires at a major electronics plant in Mukachevo and caused damage in several other cities, including Lviv.

On August 21, Russia launched a wave of missile and drone strikes on cities in western Ukraine, far from the front line, killing at least one person and injuring 14. The attack ignited fires at a major electronics plant in Mukachevo and caused damage in several other cities, including Lviv.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the overnight assault was one of the largest so far, involving 614 air targets, including 574 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy UAVs, four Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, two Iskander ballistic missiles, 19 Kh-101 cruise missiles, 14 Kalibr cruise missiles, and one unidentified missile launched from Crimea. By 9 a.m., Ukrainian defences reported downing or jamming 577 targets, including 546 Shahed drones, one Kinzhal, 18 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and 12 Kalibr missiles. Missile and drone strikes were recorded at 11 sites, with falling debris reported at three more.

The strikes come despite recent peace talks between Moscow, Washington, and Kyiv, with U.S. President Donald Trump hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders just six days earlier.

Overnight, explosions were reported in Rivne Oblast as Russian bombers and drones entered Ukrainian airspace, triggering a nationwide air raid alert. Three blasts were heard in the region after MiG-31 fighter jets, capable of firing Kinzhal missiles, took off. Rivne, about 304 kilometres west of Kyiv, lies far from the front line.

In the capital, drones were detected over the outskirts at around 3:48 a.m. local time, with air defences engaging minutes later, the Kyiv City Military Administration said. Ukraine’s Air Force reported dozens of drones heading towards western regions, including Lviv, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi oblasts. Explosions were also heard in Lviv, Lutsk, and Mukachevo.

Lviv Governor Maksym Kozytskyi confirmed that air defences were active in his region after a Shahed drone was spotted over the Zolochiv district. Additional blasts were reported in Lviv shortly before 5 a.m. The combined missile and drone attack killed one person and injured two others in the city, damaging dozens of houses.

In Mukachevo, a commercial facility was hit, sparking a fire. Authorities urged residents to stay indoors and keep windows closed. Local officials said the site appeared to be a plant operated by Flex, which employs about 800 staff during its night shift. Workers evacuated to on-site concrete shelters after the initial air raid alert. According to an employee, the plant does not produce defence-related goods, but several buildings were expected to be destroyed in the blaze. Twelve people were hospitalised in Mukachevo, ten of them taken to St. Martin’s hospital by emergency services.

The escalation follows Trump’s talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House on August 18. After the meeting, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared for unconditional peace talks, stressing that any discussion on territorial issues would be held directly between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump had met Putin in Alaska on August 15 for three hours of discussions. While no agreement was reached, Trump said progress had been made and that the two leaders had “largely agreed” on security guarantees and possible territorial arrangements.

Since the Anchorage meeting, at least 31 civilians have been killed and 145 injured in Russian strikes across Ukraine. Explosions shook Kyiv’s skyline early on August 21 as the latest attacks unfolded. Residents sheltered in metro stations, many with children and pets, while sirens blared. No casualties or damage were reported in the capital.

Copied