Ukraine War21 July, 20263 min read
Russia Launches Massive Ballistic Missile Attack on Kyiv, Killing at Least Eight
3outlets comparedA wider view of the story
1 Asian1 West Asian1 Western MainstreamThis article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Russia launched one of its largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, killing at least eight. Ukrainian drones carried out their deadliest strikes inside Russia in over two years.
Save coverage image
Kyiv hit, drones strike
Russia launched one of its largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, while Ukrainian drones carried out their deadliest strikes inside Russia in more than two years, stoking fears of wider escalation and further strains on oil supplies. Ukrainian officials said Russia’s wave of ballistic missile and drone strikes killed at least eight people and injured dozens, and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that at least one person was killed and 15 were wounded in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the raid on Kyiv was "one of the most massive ballistic attacks" since Russia launched a full-blown war against the country in 2022.
In the northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukraine’s Air Force said it intercepted 18 missiles and 108 of 126 drones, with the salvo including 25 ballistic missiles, after Ukrainian drone attacks on Saturday destroyed two warehouses belonging to Wildberries and an oil depot in Russia. NATO Military Committee chair Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said the alliance is prepared for any Russian move against its eastern flank, adding that Moscow "would lose a lot, much more than what they could gain, just by touching Poland or the Baltic states."
Protests and leadership
Thousands of people in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities took to the streets for several consecutive days to protest the removal of Mykhailo Fedorov from his post as Minister of Defense and to demand the dismissal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The protests highlighted deep divisions within the defense leadership over how to halt Russia’s advance, as the balance of power seemed to tilt in Kyiv’s favor, with Reuters saying President Zelensky met with generals considered potential candidates to replace Syrskyi.
Among those discussed were the commander of the Joint Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi, the deputy chief of staff Volodymyr Horbatyuk, the commander of the Air Strike Force Oleh Apostol, and corps commanders Andriy Biletsky, Ihor Obolenskyi and Denys Prokopenko.
Kyrylo Budanov, the Ukrainian president’s Chief of Staff, called for unity and restraint and promised a constructive response, saying: 'Public opinion has been heard. Measures are underway. The results will be announced later.'
A poll conducted by the Gradus research firm showed that 61% of Ukrainians surveyed oppose the removal of Defense Minister Fedorov, while Dmytro Koziatynskyi urged supporters to launch a 'general and unlimited protest' unless Syrskyi is dismissed and Fedorov is reinstated as Defense Minister before July 24.
Retaliation and front pressure
Ukraine’s new military chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, appointed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pledged to expand offensive operations against Russia, including missions behind enemy lines. Drapatyi said the military would “continue and intensify offensive operations in all domains,” and he added, “Difficult work lies ahead, so we will proceed without loud promises, with responsibility for our decisions and respect for the people who are holding the front line and helping Ukraine endure,” in a post on Facebook. Al Jazeera reported that Drapatyi’s appointment came as Ukraine gains some momentum on the front lines, with Kyiv claiming to have recaptured 700 square km (270 square miles) of its territory this year.
The same period saw intensified air strikes, with Al Jazeera saying Ukrainian strikes hit warehouses in southern Russia belonging to Wildberries for the second time this week, injuring several people, according to the company’s boss, Tatyana Kim. Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed attacks on Ukraine Wednesday targeted a dry-cargo ship unloading at Chornomorsk port, a military cargo store, and fuel and lubricant storage tanks, while the ministry also claimed Russian forces made new battlefield advances by capturing Artilne in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and Blahodatne in Zaporizhzhia region.