A series of Russian missile strikes overnight levelled a residential block in central Kyiv, killing at least 14 civilians and wounding 37 more, according to Ukrainian emergency services. The attack, which hit a nine-storey apartment building in the Pechersk district, has prompted the British Ministry of Defence to initiate an urgent assessment of the performance of UK-supplied air defence systems deployed in the capital.
Witnesses described a sustained barrage of cruise missiles and drones that overwhelmed local defences for a period of approximately 12 minutes. Ukrainian officials confirmed that two of the incoming missiles were not intercepted before impact. The building collapsed in a cascade of concrete and glass, burying residents in the early hours.
Whitehall sources confirmed late this evening that the review, led by the Defence Equipment and Support agency, will examine the operational effectiveness of the Sky Sabre and Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile systems recently transferred to Ukraine. A Ministry statement said the assessment would focus on “coverage gaps, reaction times, and coordination with Ukrainian radar networks.”
The incident has reignited debate in Westminster over the adequacy of current support packages. The Shadow Defence Secretary called for an immediate parliamentary briefing, stating that “British technology is being tested in real time, and we must ensure it meets the threat.”
At the site, rescue teams continued to pick through rubble as daylight broke. The Ukrainian President, in a televised address, described the strike as “a deliberate terror attack against a residential target” and renewed calls for the supply of longer-range interceptors and additional radar data from NATO.
The Kremlin has not commented on the specific strike but maintains that its forces target only military infrastructure. Independent verification of the claim remains impossible due to restricted access to the strike zone.
The review is expected to report within two weeks. Any identified deficiencies are likely to accelerate the delivery of upgraded missile systems or additional counter-battery radars. The incident underscores the escalating cost of defending civilian populations against an adversary that adapts its tactics with each engagement.
For now, Kyiv’s skyline bears a new scar. For London, the question is whether the systems designed to protect it are fit for purpose in the most intense air war Europe has seen since 1945.
