Kathmandu— Kyiv is reeling from a dramatic increase in Russian missile attacks throughout July – the deadliest month for Ukraine since May 2022 – as Moscow launches hundreds of missiles and thousands of drones. The escalation has resulted in significant civilian casualties, including the death of Valentyna Savitska, a mother of two, during a strike on a Kyiv sports center. The situation is compounded by what Ukrainian officials describe as insufficient Western aid, particularly US-made missile interceptors needed for Patriot air defense systems, leaving the country vulnerable to increasingly devastating attacks.

Deadliest Month in Years

July saw Russia launch 376 missiles at Ukraine, surpassing previous months and marking a significant escalation in its aerial campaign. These strikes have been accompanied by nearly 5,000 drones and hundreds of guided bombs targeting front-line areas, causing widespread destruction and displacement. One particularly devastating attack on July 2nd left 31 dead and over 100 wounded in Kyiv after a missile exploded near a residential apartment building. Kateryna Babych described the scene as her apartment was engulfed in fire and shockwaves tore through the structure, injuring her son.

US Aid Concerns

Observers attribute the surge in attacks and casualties to the United States’ reluctance to supply vital PAC 2 and PAC 3 missile interceptors for Patriot air defense systems. With limited monthly production capacity at Lockheed Martin's Arkansas facility, Washington has reportedly redirected supplies to its Middle East allies and bolstered its own strategic reserves. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that receiving just five or ten percent of the current US missile stockpile would be enough to protect civilians and counter Russian ballistic missiles.

Retaliatory Strikes and Blockades

Russia’s intensified attacks are, in part, a response to Ukraine's campaign targeting Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, and transport hubs. Both sides have engaged in reciprocal strikes impacting critical infrastructure, including Ukraine’s key port of Odesa, which has been severely damaged and is struggling to maintain exports of grain, vegetable oil, and steel. This mutual blockade, combined with global weather patterns, has driven up wheat prices by 30 percent in early August, threatening food security in nations reliant on Ukrainian supplies.

Putin’s ‘Illusion of Victory’

Analysts suggest that Russia's aggressive tactics are aimed at creating an “illusion” of victory for President Vladimir Putin. Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Kyiv-based Penta think tank, explained that Russia is exploiting Ukraine’s air defense shortages to gain a strategic advantage and undermine prospects for peace negotiations. He noted that Moscow plans to further increase the intensity of its attacks, potentially launching 200 missiles per strike. “Russia has an advantage, and Russia is using this advantage, using it cynically, violently,” Fesenko said.

Despite appeals from Kyiv for increased interceptor supplies, a resolution remains elusive as both sides continue to pursue military objectives and block each other’s exports, exacerbating the humanitarian and economic consequences of the ongoing conflict.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.