Kyiv: Ukraine's air force said on Tuesday it intercepted five ballistic missiles launched by Russia in a wave of overnight attacks, although other missiles and drones got through and struck warehouses and a school in the capital, Kyiv.
It was the first time in almost two weeks that Ukraine reported downing Russian ballistic missiles, which are harder to intercept than drones or cruise missiles and have pummelled the country during Moscow's four-year-old full-scale invasion.
Ukraine's air defences likely used the US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile system, considered the most effective defence against ballistic missiles. However, ammunition for the system has been in short supply amid the Iran war, despite European efforts to bridge the gap.
Paris backs Ukraine on Bastille Day
Along the cobblestoned Champs-Élysées in Paris, crowds cheered Ukrainian troops marching in the annual Bastille Day parade, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received an ovation from European leaders in a show of solidarity with Kyiv. Ukrainian aviators trained in France flew two Mirage 2000B fighter jets alongside French Air Force pilots.
Zelenskyy was in France seeking to strengthen Ukraine's air defence capabilities. On Monday, he announced that Ukraine had joined nine other nations to form a coalition to build a shared ballistic missile shield for Europe. He said Ukraine and its partners could jointly develop a mass-produced, low-cost system within the next 12 months.
The Bastille Day parade featured about 500 troops from the "coalition of the willing" — countries that have pledged to help ensure Ukraine's post-war security. French President Emmanuel Macron called it a great honour to welcome them to the parade.
Tuesday's attack in Kyiv caused fires at two warehouses and also damaged a school, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement that it had targeted military manufacturing facilities producing long-range missiles and drones.
Moscow is seeking to curb Ukrainian strikes on oil facilities deep inside Russia that have caused critical fuel shortages, frustrating the public and, according to Western analysts, hindering the Russian army's advance on the front line.
Ukraine's air force said one ballistic missile and 25 drones struck 17 locations, while falling debris was reported at 10 sites.
Ukraine seeks stronger air defences before winter
Ukraine urgently needs to strengthen its air defence shield before winter. Much of the country remains vulnerable to Russian missile attacks that have repeatedly targeted its power grid since 2022, making winters extremely difficult.
President Donald Trump said at the NATO summit last week that the United States would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot systems under licence. However, the systems are expensive, in high demand and take a long time to produce, meaning it could be years before any Ukrainian-made systems are ready for deployment.
Ukraine strikes Russian oil facilities
Meanwhile, Ukraine continued its long-range attacks on Russian targets, particularly oil facilities.
An attack in Russia's southern Krasnodar region caused a fire at the Afipsky Oil Refinery, which was later extinguished, local authorities said.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine also struck an oil refinery in the city of Salavat in the Bashkortostan region, around 1,400 kilometres (900 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Khabirov confirmed an attack on an industrial area in Salavat but did not specify the target.
In addition, the Ukrainian Navy struck four Russian tankers operating as part of Moscow's so-called "shadow fleet" of ageing vessels with opaque ownership that have been used to circumvent international oil sanctions. A Russian patrol boat was also hit, Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine claimed on Monday that it had struck 105 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov, near the Crimean Peninsula, between July 6 and July 13.
The Russian Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 288 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected ceasefire proposals put forward by Zelenskyy.
"This war must be brought to an end, and all reasonable diplomatic proposals are on the table," Zelenskyy said on social media.