Ukraine Strikes Moscow Region With Over 600 Drones as Russian Attacks Kill 12
Ukraine strikes on Russian territory formed part of one of the largest assaults in two years, coinciding with Russian attacks that killed 12 people in Ukraine. Russian forces carried out a missile strike on the Kharkiv region that killed 10 people and a drone attack on Zaporizhzhia that killed two more and started a fire. [1] Ukrainian drone attacks injured three people in the Moscow region while Russian air defenses claimed to destroy 791 Ukrainian drones across multiple areas. [5]
Russian Strikes Kill 12 in Ukraine
Russian missile strikes killed 10 people in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine during an attack on Monday night. [1] A separate Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia killed two people and ignited a fire, according to Ukraine’s emergency services. [1] The strikes formed part of intensified Russian operations that included missiles, drones and guided bombs. One victim was Valentyna Savitska, a 32-year-old border security officer and mother of two, who died when three Russian missiles struck a sports centre in Kyiv on July 24. [2] Her husband Ihor Solovey described how their children lost their mother, with their 15-year-old son now determined to join the military in revenge and their 11-year-old daughter experiencing delayed stress. [2] Another attack on July 2 in central Kyiv killed 31 people and wounded more than 100 when a missile struck near Kateryna Babych’s apartment, leaving her son with a concussion and torn meniscus. [2]
Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Assault on Moscow
Ukraine launches massive drone operations against Russian regions including the Moscow area. Russian air defenses claimed to destroy 791 Ukrainian drones over Belgorod, Bryansk, Vladimir, Moscow, Crimea and waters of the Sea of Azov and Black Sea. [1] At least 620 drones were directed at the Moscow region, with 180 shot down there between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. [1] Ukrainian forces staged one of their biggest drone attacks on Russia since the invasion more than four years ago, firing almost 800 drones just two days after a similar salvo. [3] Early this morning Ukraine launched over 600 drones at the Moscow region in one of its biggest air assaults on the Russian capital. [5]
Russian missile strike on a sports centre in Kyiv killed mother Valentyna Savitska and others. — Source: aljazeera
Injuries and Damage from Ukrainian Drones
Three people were injured in the Moscow region during the Ukrainian drone attacks, including one person hit in an assault on a Wildberries warehouse. [1] A 10-year-old girl was among those injured. [5] The Moscow region had faced a similar attack of about 600 drones the previous night that killed one person. [1] Such Ukrainian drone operations have become nearly daily occurrences. [1]
Russia Warns Britain Over Drone Supplies
Russia warned Britain it would pay a heavy price after reports that Ukraine used British-made drones for deep strikes inside Russia. [1] The Russian embassy in Britain accused London of becoming a partner and accomplice in the attacks and choosing to escalate the conflict deliberately. [1] Britain has provided Ukraine with support worth about 25 billion pounds sterling, including 16 billion pounds in military aid, since the war began in February 2022. [1]
Escalating Attacks and Rising Civilian Toll
July became the deadliest month for Ukraine since May 2022, with Russia launching 376 missiles, nearly 5,000 drones and hundreds of guided bombs. [2] Observers attribute the record number of attacks partly to a shortage of Western interceptors for air defence systems. [2] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv has only a tenth of the interceptors it needs. [2] Russian plants are producing up to 300 missiles a month, and Moscow plans to increase the number of missiles to 200 per attack. [2]
Broader Impact on Peace Efforts
Mutual long-range strikes are increasing civilian casualties and complicating diplomatic efforts. [1] The situation has kept the sides far from any real peace talks, as Russia gains an advantage from Ukraine’s interceptor shortage. [2] Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a proposed moratorium on hostilities in the Black Sea. [2] Both sides have blocked each other’s grain exports, raising year-to-year wheat prices 30 percent in early August and affecting nations such as Egypt, Lebanon and Sudan. [2]
What to watch next: Continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports and residential areas alongside Ukrainian drone operations targeting Russian infrastructure may further raise civilian tolls and sustain the deadlock in peace efforts.
