Intensified Assault: Ukraine Faces Strike with 400 Drones and 18 Missiles, According to Zelenskyy's Statements - Intense Russian Aerial Offensive: Over 400 Drones and 18 Missiles Launched Against Ukraine, According to President Selensky
Overnight on July 9-10, 2025, Russia carried out the heaviest air strikes on Ukraine since the start of the war in February 2022. The attacks involved a staggering **728 Shahed and decoy drones** and **13 missiles**, primarily targeting the west of the country[1][2][4].
The assault was met with a robust response from Ukraine’s air defenses, which managed to intercept **711 drones** and at least **7 missiles**. However, some weapons penetrated, causing damage and casualties in various cities, including Kyiv, Lutsk, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv[2][4].
In terms of civilian casualties, Ukrainian prosecutors reported that at least **8 people were killed** in the drone strikes, with five in the town of Rodynske when drones hit private vehicles, and three more near Kostiantynivka, a region under active Russian pressure. Additionally, in Kyiv, there were at least **2 deaths and 16 injuries** due to the missile and drone bombardment[1][3].
The attack notably disrupted the capital Kyiv, especially the historical Pechersk district, where dozens of drone incursions and multiple missile explosions occurred over the course of an hour or more. This came amid a period of increased aggression by Russia, with mass strikes launched on consecutive nights[3].
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that the assault was a clear signal from Russia rejecting ongoing peace and ceasefire efforts, calling on Western allies to intensify sanctions, particularly targeting Russia’s energy sector to pressure Moscow to end the war rather than escalate it[1][2][4].
Meanwhile, a two-day conference for the reconstruction of Ukraine begins in Rome on Thursday, with Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) among the participants. The conference is focused on reconstruction efforts, not expected to result in immediate changes on the ground in Ukraine[5].
| Aspect | Details | |-----------------------|------------------------------------------------| | **Number of drones** | 728 Shahed and decoy drones | | **Number of missiles** | 13 long-range and precision missiles | | **Drones intercepted** | 711 | | **Missiles intercepted**| At least 7 | | **Civilian casualties**| 8 killed in eastern towns, 2 killed + 16 injured in Kyiv | | **Main target regions**| Lutsk, Kyiv, and multiple other western/central regions | | **Impact on Kyiv** | Explosions, ballistic missile strikes, multiple casualties, and significant alarm and disruption, especially in Pechersk district |
This attack represents the highest number of aerial targets launched by Russia in a single day during the conflict, underscoring Moscow's continued military escalation despite diplomatic efforts for peace[1][2][4].
- The attack on Ukraine on July 9-10, 2025, involved a total of 400 drones and 18 missiles, with the majority of the drones being Shahed and decoy drones.
- President Volodymyr Selensky described the Russian attack as a rejection of peace initiatives, urging Western allies to intensify sanctions on Russia's energy sector to force an end to the conflict.
