Key events
Ukraine shot down ۹۸ of the ۱۱۵ drones fired by Russia overnight, the country’s air force said. But it was unable to shoot down any of the missiles, preliminary statistics from the air force showed.
Kyiv can intercept the vast majority of drones, but still relies on supplies from allies to counter missiles, AFP noted.
Morning opening: Lives that could have been saved
Jakub Krupa
At least ۱۷ people were killed and more than ۴۰ injured after another horrific night of Russian attacks on Kyiv, with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying that “ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those killed today”.
“It is very important for partners to realise that delays in their deliveries or failure to provide anti-ballistic measures lead to such terrible casualties and destruction,” he said on social media.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko earlier warned that “there may still be people under the rubble”.
Ukraine has for months been warning about its shortages of anti-ballistic measures, urging allies to increase their deliveries after the US president, Donald Trump, backtracked on his promise to let Ukraine manufacture Patriot missiles locally.
“Partners who are not yet ready to play a more active role in supplying interceptors can help by implementing new sanctions. A significant share of Russia’s ballistic missile production is still not under sanctions. Even now. New steps are needed – from the G۷, the European Union, and everyone who supports the protection of life,” Zelenskyy said.
I will keep an eye on this for you.
Elsewhere, large parts of Europe will face another day of extreme temperatures after multiple records were broken in central and eastern part of the continent yesterday.
The Czech city of Plzeň reported the all-time high of ۴۱.۵C yesterday, with the Slovak capital of Bratislava recording an August high of ۴۰.۸C.
Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia will all see temperatures in high ۳۰s and possibly into low ۴۰s today, with the extreme temperatures worsening the already tricky drought and energy crunch situation.
I will bring you all the latest news from across the continent here.
It’s Wednesday, ۵ August ۲۰۲۶, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
