In the early hours of Friday, July 4th, Russia unleashed its most extensive overnight aerial strike of the war against Ukraine, deploying an unprecedented barrage of 550 missiles and drones.
Targeting multiple Ukrainian cities, Kyiv bore the brunt of the assault. Ukrainian Air Force reports indicate that 478 of the incoming aerial weapons were intercepted—270 shot down, with 208 lost from radar, likely rendered harmless by electronic warfare.
Nonetheless, nine missiles and 63 drones impacted eight sites, damaging infrastructure in at least five districts.
At least 23 people were wounded during the offensive, 14 of whom were hospitalized. Fires ignited in residential towers, railway facilities, medical centres, and garages. Debris from intercepted drones also caused widespread structural damage.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.
The strike came amid reports of the U.S. pausing shipments of key air-defence systems.
