Russia launches major attack on western Ukraine with Shahed drones and missiles
Photo: rescuers extinguish a fire in Lutsk (photo: State Emergency Service)
On the night of July 12, Russia attacked Ukraine with Shahed-type attack drones and cruise missiles, targeting Western Ukraine, according to the Air Force of Ukraine, as well as statements from mayors and heads of local regional military administrations.
The Shahed drones moved chaotically across the country before zeroing in on cities in the west. In addition, missiles were launched from Russian tactical aviation.
Chernivtsi and the region
As of 8:20 a.m., according to the head of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration, Ruslan Zaparanyuk, Russian forces attacked the region overnight with four Shahed drones and one missile. In Chernivtsi, the attack killed a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man. Four more people were seriously injured, and ten others sustained minor injuries.
In Chernivtsi, several residential buildings, stores, administrative facilities, and vehicles were damaged. The Storozhynets community was also targeted. As a result of intercepting a Shahed drone, a residential building and a vehicle were damaged there.
As of 8:28 a.m., the death toll in Chernivtsi has risen to four. A woman, approximately 45 years old, and a man, approximately 65, died in the hospital from their injuries, the head of the regional administration reported.
Lviv and the region
Last night, Lviv endured a large-scale attack involving both Shahed drones and missiles. Mayor Andrii Sadovyi reported that a fire broke out on the roof of a non-residential building in the Zaliznychnyi district. Additionally, a residential building was damaged on Myropolyta Andriya Street.
Head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, reported damage to a two-story building. As a result of the enemy attack, there was partial destruction of the entrance, along with gas and water leaks. "Preliminarily, there are no casualties or injuries. There is no fire. About 20 rescuers and other services are working at the site," he said.
As of 8:00 a.m., all fires in Lviv have been extinguished. It was also reported that four people were injured in the attack.
Lutsk
In the Volyn region, an air raid alert was declared at 2:21 a.m. Kyiv time. Lutsk also faced a massive attack. Air defense systems were active, and explosions were heard throughout the city.
"We have an almost completely destroyed private residential house. In some houses, windows were blown out by the blast wave and shrapnel. A private car caught fire," said the head of the regional administration.
Photo of the aftermath in Lutsk (t.me/mayorpolishchuk)
Bukovina
In the Chernivtsi region, an air raid alert was also declared at 2:35 a.m. The regional military administration reported activity of enemy drones. Missiles were also detected in the region.
“We are holding on. Details to follow,” briefly commented the head of the regional military administration, Ruslan Zaparyuk, regarding the attack.
Kropyvnytskyi and Cherkasy
Air defense systems were also active in these cities. In Kropyvnytskyi, local channels report a fire caused by a Shahed drone attack. Authorities have not yet commented on the situation.
In Cherkasy, explosions were also heard. The Air Forces reported that a missile was launched toward the city.
Kharkiv
Not only western cities of Ukraine attacked. The enemy launched guided bombs and Shahed drones at Kharkiv. Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, wrote that one strike on residential buildings in the Kyivskyi district has been confirmed. There is information about one injured person.
Purpose of Russia’s combined strikes
Earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha explained that Russia’s large-scale shelling of Ukraine expresses complete disrespect toward the US and other partners who called for an end to the killings.
He explained that Russia wants to portray the G7 leaders as weak through these actions.
