Reporting by Al Jazeera Staff and AFP.

The attack followed a high-profile EU-Ukraine agreement to scale up drone production.

Published On 16 Jul 202616 Jul 2026

Ukrainian authorities reported that Kyiv came under a heavy Russian attack, with ballistic missiles hitting several districts and causing explosions.

Writing on Telegram early on Thursday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that emergency services were battling blazes across the capital after a warehouse in the Sviatoshynskyi district and a non-residential building in the Darnytskyi district were hit.

He added that falling missile debris had also struck a non-residential development area in Darnytsia, triggering additional fires.

Ukraine’s Air Force Command later confirmed that the immediate threat was lifted after approximately one hour.

The attack came hours after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv and announced a new “drone deal” between Ukraine and the European Union. The agreement aims to combine Kyiv’s battlefield expertise with the EU’s industrial capacity to establish joint projects and rapidly scale up production.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark Ukraine’s Statehood Day, von der Leyen emphasised the need to “combine our strengths”, stating that the deal would “bring together Ukrainian ingenuity and Europe’s industrial scale”.

She added that the EU could offer Kyiv significant advantages, including “huge technological and industrial capacity” alongside “safe and secure production sites” to support the initiative.

This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on July 15, 2026, shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shaking hands as they hold signed bilateral documents following their meeting in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Handout / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shake hands as they hold signed bilateral documents on July 15 [Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/AFP]

Over four years into the war, intensifying attacks from both Russia and Ukraine in recent months have led to an increasing number of civilian deaths.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian regional officials reported that a series of Russian bombardments across the country killed 13 people and left approximately 50 others injured.

The Russian daylight attacks specifically struck industrial plants and healthcare facilities, targeting both the Black Sea port city of Odesa and the northeastern city of Sumy, located near the Russian border.

The conflict, now in its fifth year, continues to inflict heavy civilian casualties. The EU's drone deal represents a strategic push to leverage Ukraine's combat experience and Europe's industrial base.