Russia attacks with drones and missiles overnight, air defenses respond
Illustrative photo: Ukrainian air defenses shot down 69 enemy drones (Getty Images)
On the night of July 4, Russia attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M ballistic missile, a Kh-59/69 guided air-launched missile, and 86 drones. Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept most of the enemy targets, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
During the night, Russia launched:
- one Iskander-M ballistic missile from the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea;
- one Kh-59/69 guided air-launched missile from the Black Sea;
- 86 attack drones, including Shahed drones (including jet-powered variants), Gerbera, Italmas, and Parodiya decoy drones, launched from the directions of Bryansk, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Millerovo, Oryol (Russia), and Donetsk.
The aerial assault was repelled by aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
According to preliminary data as of 8:30 a.m., Ukrainian air defenses had shot down or suppressed 69 enemy drones, including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types, over the northern, southern, and eastern parts of the country.
Hits by two missiles and 17 attack drones were recorded at 16 locations. Debris from intercepted targets fell at five additional sites.
"The attack is ongoing. Several enemy drones remain in Ukrainian airspace. Please follow safety guidelines," the Air Force warned.
Russian attacks on Ukraine
As previously reported, Russian forces launched a missile strike on civilian infrastructure in the Odesa region on the evening of July 3.
The strike sparked a fire in a warehouse storing food products, with the flames spreading to nearby warehouse buildings.
Two people were injured in the Russian attack.
Russian forces also carried out a massive strike on Sumy, using a large number of drones and guided aerial bombs. The attack caused destruction, left civilians injured, and also claimed lives.
