Russia Fired Record 376 Missiles at Ukraine in July

Russia fired a record 376 missiles at Ukraine in July, more than twice the number launched in June, according to an AFP analysis of daily reports from the Ukrainian Air Force.

Many of the attacks targeted Kyiv, which suffered some of its deadliest strikes since the start of the war. At least 30 people were killed in an attack on the night of 2 July, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Russia also launched 4,956 long-range attack drones during the month, 14% fewer than in June. Ukraine can intercept the vast majority of drones but remains dependent on air defense systems supplied by its Western allies to counter missiles.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned of critical shortages in the air defenses needed to counter ballistic missiles, which Russia is using with increasing frequency. Military analysts estimate that Moscow launched between 200 and 300 such missiles throughout 2024, compared with 126 in July 2026 alone. Ukraine intercepted fewer than a third of them, according to AFP’s analysis of official data.

During a visit to Washington in late July, Zelenskyy pressed for deliveries of US-made Patriot interceptors, one of the few means of reliably destroying Russian ballistic missiles. President Donald Trump initially said he would allow Ukraine to produce the interceptors but said on Friday that Washington had to be “very careful” about the decision.

(themoscowtimes, lud)