Major Attack on Multiple Ukrainian Cities
On the night of July 18 and into the morning of July 19, Russia launched a large-scale attack on several cities in Ukraine using hundreds of drones and missiles. The assault targeted key locations including Pavlohrad, Odesa, and Shostka in the Sumy region. The attacks were reported to be among the most intense in recent months, with significant damage caused across various areas.
Key Details of the Attack
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian forces used over 300 attack drones and more than 30 missiles of different types. The affected regions included Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zhytomyr. The Ukrainian Air Force later confirmed that the attack involved 344 drones and 35 missiles. Of these, 185 drones and 23 missiles were neutralized by air defense systems. Additionally, 7 cruise missiles and 129 drone imitators failed to reach their intended targets.
The attack resulted in confirmed hits from 5 missiles and 30 attack drones across 12 locations, with debris from downed targets falling in seven areas. The scale of the attack was described as one of the largest since the start of the conflict.
Impact on Odesa
Odesa was hit hard during the attack, with a massive drone raid causing damage to buildings and starting a fire in a nine-story apartment building. The fire affected floors six through nine, leading to the rescue of five people from the burning apartments. Tragically, one woman who was rescued later died. As of the morning, six people had been injured, including a child.
Photos from the scene showed the extent of the destruction, with emergency services working quickly to control the situation. The city’s emergency service reported ongoing efforts to manage the aftermath of the attack.
Devastation in Pavlohrad
Pavlohrad experienced what was described as a “hellish night and morning” due to the heavy bombardment. Serhiy Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, noted that this was the heaviest attack on the city in recent times. Explosions were heard repeatedly, with the enemy targeting the city with missiles and drones.
The attack damaged a fire station, industrial enterprises, and a five-story building. Fires broke out in multiple locations, and the city remained under threat as explosions continued into the morning. Photos from the area showed the extensive damage caused by the strikes.
Shostka Under Heavy Attack
Shostka, located in the Sumy region, also faced a major drone attack that lasted nearly four hours. Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, reported the assault, which led to the destruction of civilian infrastructure and damage to residential areas. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
Explosions were heard again in the morning, following warnings from the Ukrainian Air Force about potential missile launches toward the Sumy region. The head of the Shostka community later confirmed that Russia carried out an airstrike on the city using a KAB missile. Emergency teams were deployed to respond to the incident.
Damage to Critical Infrastructure
The attack also affected critical infrastructure in the Sumy region, leaving several thousand families without power. The impact of the strikes was felt across multiple sectors, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by communities in the area.
Additional Attacks in Kyiv
Earlier on the evening of July 18, Russian drones were shot down over Kyiv. Explosions were heard in the city as part of air defense operations. According to the Kyiv City State Administration, a part of an enemy drone fell onto the roof of a residential building in the Darnytskyi district. This event added to the growing concerns about the increasing frequency and intensity of attacks on urban centers.
