Four dead in Russian attacks in Ukraine ahead of meeting in Paris

Kyiv – 12.07.2026: At least four people were killed overnight in Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities reported this on Sunday. Three fatalities were reported from the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk, and another from the southern city of Kherson. The figures relate to the overnight wave of attacks and may still change as rescue operations continue.

In Kryvyi Rih, a major city in the Dnipropetrovsk region, two people were killed in an attack on an industrial enterprise, according to regional authorities. No further details were initially released about the third fatality in the region. Local authorities assessed the damage and provided assistance to those affected. In the first scattered reports, information on possible additional injuries was not fully available.

In Kherson, a 48-year-old man was killed in a drone attack, according to Mayor Yaroslav Shanko. The city is located near the front line on the Dnipro and has repeatedly been targeted by Russian attacks since its liberation in November 2022. Ukrainian authorities urged the population to take air raid alerts seriously and seek shelter.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia had again deployed missiles and drones overnight against targets in various parts of the country. Information on the scale of the attack and intercepted projectiles was initially being verified by the responsible military authorities. Russia initially did not respond directly to the reported fatalities. Independently verifiable information about all affected targets was not yet fully available on Sunday.

The attack comes one day before a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris. Representatives of more than 30 countries are due to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, further military and political support, and paths to lasting peace on 13 July. According to the German government, Chancellor Friedrich Merz will also attend the meeting.

According to previous announcements, strengthening Ukraine’s air defense is also a key focus of the discussions. Defense against Russian ballistic missiles is particularly important for Kyiv, as these weapons are difficult to intercept and have repeatedly struck cities and civilian infrastructure. The United States had given Ukraine permission this week to have Patriot air defense systems of American design manufactured in the country. However, it will likely still take months before any production can begin.

France and the United Kingdom are among the main initiators of the Coalition of the Willing. In the event of a ceasefire, the group aims to contribute to credible security commitments for Ukraine. However, the renewed attacks underscore that the situation is continuing to escalate ahead of the talks in Paris. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has now been ongoing for more than four years.