On Thursday, July 30th, 2026, Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine involving more than 70 missiles, many ballistic, and over 280 attack drones. The strikes killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens, with the heaviest casualties and damage reported in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region and the western region of Lviv.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks as "Russian terror" and emphasized the importance of supporting the protection of life. In a post on X, Zelenskyy stated, “Protection against the Russian missile threat is the most important task when it comes to saving the lives of our people,” adding that this effort cannot be left to Ukraine or any single country alone.

Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian air defenses successfully shot down more than 260 of the incoming drones but noted that delays in the delivery of anti-ballistic missiles and untimely assistance contributed to the scale of destruction and casualties. He called for continued international support to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed its air defenses shot down 258 Ukrainian drones overnight.

In related damage, Penza Governor Oleg Melnichenko reported that a depot belonging to the Wildberries online retailer was set on fire during the attacks, resulting in one injury and the evacuation of about 200 workers.

These overnight strikes are part of a series of intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities throughout the summer, now occurring almost weekly.

Sources