For the second consecutive night, Russia unleashed a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, targeting the capital Kyiv and other regions with a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles.

The attack, which began around 1:15 a.m. local time on July 10, left at least two people dead and 28 injured in Kyiv, according to local authorities.

The Kyiv Independent reported explosions and the unmistakable sound of Shahed-type kamikaze drones over the city’s historic Pechersk neighborhood. The assault continued for hours, with dozens of explosions and ballistic missile strikes shaking the capital. Blast waves triggered car alarms, compounding the chaos caused by drones, missiles, and Ukrainian air defense systems. Air raid alerts in Kyiv Oblast persisted until approximately 7 a.m.

The fatalities included a 68-year-old woman and a 22-year-old female police officer, as confirmed by the Interior Ministry. Among the 28 injured, at least 10 were hospitalized, including two children with shrapnel wounds, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. Fires broke out in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi and Darnytskyi districts, damaging apartment buildings, gas stations, and garages, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported. In the Podilskyi district, a primary healthcare center was nearly destroyed. The studio of Kanal 5, a television channel owned by former President Petro Poroshenko, was also hit, with filming equipment damaged, disrupting broadcasts.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 397 drones, including nearly 200 Shahed-type drones and decoys, alongside eight Iskander-M ballistic missiles, six Kh-101 cruise missiles, and four S-300 guided missiles. Ukrainian defenses downed 164 Shahed drones, eight Iskander-M missiles, and six Kh-101 missiles, with 204 drones and missiles either disappearing from radar or neutralized by electronic warfare.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as a “clear escalation of terror by Russia,” noting the relentless strikes on Ukrainian cities. He announced plans to discuss additional funding for interceptor drones and air defense systems with international partners.

Beyond Kyiv, the assault impacted other regions. In Kherson, two people were injured by drone strikes, and four others were wounded by Russian artillery fire on July 9. The attack follows Russia’s largest-ever missile and drone strike on Ukraine the previous night, which heavily targeted the western city of Lutsk.

As Russia intensifies its aggression with record-breaking strikes throughout 2025, Ukrainian authorities have not disclosed whether military or strategic targets were hit, citing security concerns. The full extent of casualties and damage remains unverified. (ILKHA)