Russia Launches Massive Aerial Assault on Ukraine, Striking Kyiv and Multiple Cities

On July 3-4, 2025, Ukraine experienced one of the largest-scale airstrikes launched by Russia since the conflict began. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on the social media platform X that during the night of July 3 and into the early hours of July 4, Russia attacked Ukraine with approximately 550 airborne weapons, including over 330 attack drones, marking the highest number of drones used in a single assault by Russian forces. The attacks targeted numerous Ukrainian cities and regions, with major focus on the capital Kyiv. Air raid sirens sounded for the first time on July 3 during the period when U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were reported to be in communication, underlining Russia’s disregard for peace efforts.

Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian air defense forces successfully shot down 270 aerial targets and electronically disrupted 208 additional drones. The extensive air raid lasted over eight hours, involving multiple waves of missiles and drones launched from various Russian regions such as Kursk, Bryansk, Rostov, and Krasnodar. Besides Kyiv, other cities hit included Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Kyiv Oblast. The attacks resulted in at least 23 injuries in Kyiv, damage to railway infrastructure causing train delays, and numerous fires across the city. Ukrainian National Security official Andriy Kovalenko stated that Russian key military-industrial facilities in Moscow and Rostov regions, including the Azov Optical and Mechanical Plant, were targeted.

In response, Ukrainian forces intensified their defense, actively intercepting and shooting down incoming missiles and drones, including Iskander-K cruise missiles. Zelenskyy emphasized the critical importance of advancing Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, specifically mentioning Patriot missile systems as vital for saving lives. He also called for international partners, particularly the United States, to provide support in missile defense to counter ongoing Russian aggression.

Meanwhile, fighting along the frontlines remains intense. On July 3, Russian troops gained control of Melovoye and Krasinovka in the Kharkiv region, while Ukrainian forces repelled attacks on multiple fronts and destroyed Russian military hardware. The conflict continues to evolve with both sides experiencing significant tactical movements.

This large-scale air strike represents a significant escalation in the Russian military campaign, highlighting the ongoing severe threat to Ukraine’s civilian population and infrastructure. Zelenskyy’s call for greater international defense cooperation underscores Ukraine’s reliance on foreign military aid to withstand Russia’s intensified offensive operations.

Russia launched its largest aerial assault of the war, deploying over 800 drones and striking Kyiv for the first time, including a government building. The attack on the capital, which lasted 11 hours under an air-raid siren, resulted in at least two deaths, including an infant, from strikes on residential buildings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that a total of four people were killed and 44 injured across Ukraine. Despite Ukrainian air defenses shooting down most of the projectiles, 54 drones and nine missiles struck targets across the country. The attack also hit a bridge in Kremenchuk over the Dnipro River and damaged the building housing the prime minister's office and some government ministries in Kyiv.