"This is the third ballistic missile attack on the capital in August, with a gap of six days between each attack," Kiev military official Serhiy Popko said.

At the same time as the missile attack, the Kiev city military administration reported detecting drones heading towards the capital Kiev. “All enemy drones were destroyed far outside the city,” the report said.

Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said Ukrainian forces destroyed eight Russian attack drones. Five of the eight missiles were launched during the night.

"As a result of the air defense battle, the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Air Force, mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine and electronic warfare units shot down 13 air targets in the Kiev, Sumy and Poltava regions," Oleshchuk said.

He said all the missiles failed to hit their intended targets and no casualties were reported. He said Russia had launched a total of three ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and two guided aircraft missiles.

However, Kiev region Governor Ruslan Kravchenko said two private homes were destroyed and 16 others were damaged by falling debris.

Ukraine has repeatedly called on its Western allies to provide more air defense systems. Kiev has become increasingly concerned after Moscow said it would “react strongly” to Ukraine’s recent military incursion into Russian territory.

On the other side of the front line, the Russian Defense Ministry said Russian air defense forces destroyed five Ukrainian drones in the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions on the night of August 17.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters, AFP)