The Ukrainian Air Force announced that Russia had launched a total of 741 missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into the country's territory on the night of July 8 and early morning of July 9 (local time).
This is considered the largest airstrike since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out. Of these, 728 Shahed and surface-to-air UAVs were launched from several Russian cities, including Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Kursk, Oryol and Millerovo.
The Ukrainian air defense force announced that it had shot down 718 UAVs and 7 missiles, but the debris had fallen on many densely populated areas. The air force mobilized fighter jets, anti-aircraft missiles, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups to counter the attack.
Lutsk city was recorded as the most severely affected. Mayor Ihor Polishchuk said an industrial park and garage were completely destroyed, calling it the largest attack Russia has ever launched on the city. In Kiev, explosions rang out at midnight as Russian drones attacked the city center and were intercepted by air defense systems.
At the same time, Russian UAVs and ballistic missiles also targeted many western cities such as Lviv, Khmelnytskyi and Ternopil. In Volyn region, about 50 UAVs and 5 missiles flew over the airspace, according to Governor Ivan Rudnytskyi. A house in Khmelnytskyi caught fire, and a woman was injured in Brovary, Kiev.
Before the attack, Russia dispatched MiG-31s from Savasleyka airport, putting the entire Ukraine in a state of prolonged alarm. The Polish Air Force has also deployed fighter jets to protect the country's airspace.
The large-scale airstrike comes at the same time that US President Donald Trump pledged to provide Ukraine with 10 more patriot air defense systems. The Pentagon has previously suspended the transfer of air defense weapons, prompting Ukraine to call for US support to deal with attacks from Russia.
