On the night of July 4, Russia carried out its largest airstrike of the summer, launching 550 airstrikes, most of them Shahed suicide drones, over Ukraine. The main blow fell on Kyiv and the Kyiv region.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, a total of 539 strike drones were launched, including more than 330 Shahed. The drones were launched from various regions of Russia: Kursk, Oryol, Bryansk, Lipetsk, Rostov regions, and Krasnodar Territory.
In addition, the enemy used:
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1 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile from the airspace of the Lipetsk region,
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6 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Bryansk region,
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4 Iskander-K cruise missiles from the Kursk and Voronezh regions.
According to preliminary data, Ukraine's air defense destroyed 478 air targets:
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270 – shot down by fire,
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208 – suppressed by electronic warfare (EW) means.
Among the neutralized items were 268 Shahed drones, as well as 2 Iskander-K cruise missiles.
However, hits were recorded in 8 locations (a total of 9 missiles and 63 UAVs). Debris from downed objects fell in 33 more locations.
The main direction of the attack was the capital of Ukraine. Aviation, air defense units, mobile fire groups, electronic warfare units, and unmanned systems operators were operating in the skies over Kyiv.
According to official information as of 08:00, 23 people were injured in Kyiv, including a 10-year-old girl. Fourteen were hospitalized, while others were treated on the spot.
This attack confirms the Russian Federation's ability to accumulate large numbers of Shahed for a single massive strike. Despite Ukraine's attempts to destroy drone production facilities in the Russian Federation, including strikes on the Kupol plant in Izhevsk, the aggressor continues to modify and scale up production.
The Ukrainian defense forces, despite the extremely high load on air defense, were able to neutralize most threats, but the number of casualties and damage reminds us that the enemy has not abandoned its targeted strategy of terror.
