Russian ballistic attack on Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast killed 4, including a 3-year-old child
Russia launched another large-scale overnight attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region on August 8, killing four people, including a three-year-old child, and injuring eight others, Ukrainian authorities reported. Russian forces used Iskander-M ballistic missiles, S-400 surface-to-air missiles and drones of various types. By 9 a.m., Ukrainian air defenses had destroyed or jammed 135 drones, while missile and drone strikes were recorded at 12 locations. Debris from intercepted aerial targets fell at seven other sites, and several missiles reportedly failed to reach their targets. The attack was still ongoing at the time of the report.
Three of those killed were a grandmother, grandfather and their three-year-old grandson in the village of Pukhivka, in Kyiv Oblast's Brovary district, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The child's parents, his 15-year-old brother and a neighbor were among those injured and hospitalized. The attack damaged a residential building, cars and outbuildings, while fires broke out at non-residential sites. In Kyiv, another person was killed and four others were injured. Fires were reported at garages and commercial facilities in several parts of the capital.
The assault began shortly after midnight, with waves of drones approaching Kyiv and the surrounding region. Explosions were first reported at around 12:45 a.m., followed by further blasts and, around 3 a.m., reports of ballistic missile attacks. Russian drones and guided aerial bombs also targeted other parts of Ukraine, with explosions reported in Dnipro. The strike came just 48 hours after Russia's Aug. 5 attack on Kyiv, which killed 17 people and injured nearly 30. Ukraine's Air Force said none of the 24 ballistic and four hypersonic missiles launched during that attack were intercepted.
Ukraine's air defense shortage remains a major factor behind the increasingly severe attacks. The Defense Ministry reported on August 7 that Ukrainian forces intercepted only 29 of the 195 Russian ballistic missiles launched against Ukraine in July. Zelensky has repeatedly called for additional Patriot interceptors, warning that without sufficient supplies, Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities remain highly vulnerable to Russia's ballistic missile campaign.
The Chinese state oil company has increased purchases of Russian oil to a record
Chinese state oil company Sinopec has significantly increased its purchases of Russian oil to record levels, according to Reuters. The company raised acquisitions of Far Eastern ESPO crude to between 241,000 and 320,000 barrels per day. This move aims to offset reduced supplies from the Middle East caused by the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
In July, Sinopec bought approximately 7.4 million barrels of ESPO oil and continued purchasing for August and September deliveries. Russian oil was sold at a discount of $1–2 per barrel to Brent and about $10 cheaper than competing Middle Eastern and Brazilian grades, making it an attractive option for Chinese refiners seeking cost-effective alternatives amid global supply disruptions.
Russians ordered to conduct "free hunt" for vehicles in Kherson Oblast
Russian forces have reportedly been ordered to intensify drone attacks on vehicles in Kherson Oblast, according to the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, citing Ukrainian defense forces.
The administration said Russian troops have increased the number of drone crews in the region as part of a so-called "free hunt" targeting vehicles, including with fiber-optic-guided drones. Vehicles that resemble military transport may be given particular attention, while areas with large concentrations of vehicles — such as supermarkets, markets, and gas stations — are also considered at elevated risk.
Authorities urged residents to remain especially vigilant in the coming weeks amid the reported increase in drone activity.