France accelerates missile delivery to Ukraine after deadly Russian strikes

France announced on August 22, 2026, that it will deliver new interceptor missiles to Ukraine following a deadly Russian drone attack on a shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, which killed 16 people and injured over 130. French President Emmanuel Macron discussed Ukraine's urgent air defense needs with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a nearly two-hour phone call. Macron's commitment to accelerate military support comes amid a surge in Russian strikes, prompting increased cooperation among European nations to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities.