Highlighting the ongoing danger, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin noted that air defenses had stopped most of the 430 drones launched by Ukraine at the capital during the night. The extent of any resulting harm remains unclear so far.

Russian online platforms show numerous clips of residents lining up for extended periods to obtain fuel and arguing over limited supplies.

Ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Zelensky expressed optimism that the gathering in Turkey would prove meaningful rather than unproductive.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on alliance members to contribute fully and deliver the support Ukraine requires to safeguard its independence.

He noted that Kyiv is shifting the situation on the ground, particularly in efforts to hinder Russian advances in the east.

This shift also relates to recent drone operations that appear to provide Ukraine with an advantage.

The key expression currently is window of opportunity.

Yet as aerial combat has grown more intense, Russian ballistic missiles continue to pose serious challenges for Kyiv.

Ukraine's air force releases daily reports on the number of weapons launched by Moscow and how many were intercepted.

On Monday nearly all drones were successfully countered, yet the interception rate for missiles proved notably poor.

Ukraine failed to stop any ballistic missiles during that assault.

The task is difficult since these weapons travel at several thousand kilometers per hour and Ukraine lacks sufficient US-made Patriot systems to address them adequately.

It is simply absurd that in today's world production has still not increased to the scale needed to shield people from ballistic terror, Zelensky stated while expressing frustration in a video message on Monday.

He has urged European partners to release their Patriot missile reserves, noting that stored weapons offer no help when civilians face attacks in Ukraine now.

Russia is investing in ballistic weapons, and those seeking peace must invest in defenses against such attacks, Zelensky maintains as he prepares for discussions in Ankara.

However Patriot systems remain limited globally and it is uncertain how many would suffice if Russia intensifies its ballistic strikes.

This is why Zelensky also advocates for Ukraine to manufacture its own versions with NATO assistance.

The Russian assaults nevertheless indicate that Ukraine's long-range operations are affecting the Kremlin.

After years of Russia striking Ukrainian civilian sites including power facilities during winter, Moscow now labels Kyiv's drone hits on its oil refineries as terrorism.

Zelensky describes these actions as an influence campaign and intends to discuss specifics with NATO partners.

The goal is to push Putin toward peace negotiations acceptable to Kyiv, which excludes ceding the entire eastern Donbas area as Moscow continues to demand.

The targets have included prominent sites.

A fuel terminal in St Petersburg faced drone strikes before Putin's major economic forum there in June. Additional hits occurred at a refinery near Moscow, generating widely shared explosion footage.

Now a confirmed strike has hit an oil refinery in Omsk, Siberia, 2500 km from the Ukrainian border. The drone apparently traveled undetected for hours, revealing the strain on Russia's air defenses.

Ukraine's influence efforts also extend to Crimea, the peninsula seized by Putin in 2014 that holds personal significance for him.

Ukrainian drones strike military supply routes, refineries and power facilities there nearly daily, leading to electricity outages, fuel shortages and a declared emergency.

A local resident described the conditions to the BBC as catastrophic, similar to the unstable 1990s following the Soviet collapse.

One of Putin's main assertions is that he rescued the nation from that disorder and raised Russia from its knees.

His full-scale conflict now brings risks even to Moscow through drone attacks and broad fuel restrictions.

Thus Zelensky will inform NATO and seek to convince Trump that Ukraine has reversed the war's momentum and that its pressure efforts can, with support, force Russia into serious peace talks.

Trump has appeared favorably inclined toward Ukraine recently, though he held a 90-minute phone call with Putin this week, allowing the Russian leader to present his account first.

Above all Kyiv aims to conclude the conflict swiftly through strength or diplomacy before another harsh winter arrives.

To achieve any prospect of that outcome Zelensky will contend that Ukraine requires additional interceptor missiles to safeguard its cities and residents.