France to send interceptor missiles to Ukraine after Russian strikes

The announcement came after a Russian drone strike on a shopping centre in eastern Ukraine on Friday killed at least 16 people and injured more than 100.

Posting on X, Macron expressed his "horror" at the attack on Kryvyi Rig, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"By systematically targeting civilians, and by choosing intimidation and escalation, Russia is probably seeking to project strength but is above all signalling an admission of weakness," Macron's post said.

"In this context, it is crucial to provide Ukraine with all necessary means to defend its airspace and repel this aggression."

The French president said he had informed Zelensky that France would step up its support to Ukraine, including by deploying interceptor missiles.

In a separate post, Zelensky said he and Macron had spoken for two hours by phone on Saturday, notably about Ukraine's need for air defence.

"We agreed to accelerate the delivery of the latest French equipment and missiles," the Ukrainian president said, thanking Macron for "confirming your readiness to provide licences for the production of missiles". 

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The attack on Kryvyi Rig prompted condemnation from across Europe, with Kaja Kallas, the European Union's top diplomat, calling it "terror by design".

It comes as Russia intensifies its bombardments of Ukrainian cities, exploiting Ukraine's shortage of US-made Patriot air defence interceptors – the only weapon in its arsenal capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.

According to the United Nations, the civilian death toll in Ukraine in 2026 has risen to its highest level since the first months of the war, with the increase driven largely by long-range Russian attacks on urban centres far from the frontline.

Ukraine has also escalated retaliatory strikes on Russia in recent months, in part to try to pressure Moscow into coming to the negotiating table. Residents in front of an apartment building in Kyiv destroyed by a Russian missile strike, 20 August 2026.

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Kyiv has repeatedly appealed to its allies for additional support as Russia steps up its strikes.

Macron, alongside British Prime Minister ‌Andy Burnham and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, will co-chair a meeting of the so-called "coalition ​of the willing" group of ​pro-Ukrainian countries on Monday.

"The leaders ​will ⁠reiterate their determination to strengthen their support for Ukraine so that it can ⁠defend ​itself against Russian aggression," ​Macron's office said in a statement announcing the summit, which follows the allies' latest talks in Paris in July.

(with newswires)