Moscow launched a massive drone attack on four key regions in Ukraine overnight, just as lawmakers in Kyiv approved additional defense spending. The Kremlin unleashed 400 long-range drones and one missile, but Ukrainian forces intercepted or disabled at least 345 of them.
The attacks targeted multiple cities, including parts of the Odesa region, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, and Kryvyi Rih, where Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is from. The strikes caused fires, left areas without electricity or water, and injured at least 15 people.
Zelensky warned that Russia’s strategy remains unchanged and that Ukraine needs to strengthen its defenses. “We need to systematically strengthen our defenses: more air defense systems, more interceptors, and more determination,” he said.
US President Donald Trump announced a new package of US weaponry for Ukraine, including Patriot missile systems, in an effort to counter Russia’s aggression. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that Western sanctions will have negative consequences for the global economy.
The attack marks one of the largest escalations by Russian forces since the 2022 invasion. Ukrainian officials reported three deaths and 38 people wounded over the past 24 hours, with at least two more injured in a strike on a shopping center in Dobropillya.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/16/europe/russia-ukraine-400-drones-attack-intl-hnk