Russia launched the 2nd major attack on Ukraine in 48 hours
Russia launched 35 missiles and 185 drones against Ukraine overnight on July 31–Aug. 1, with Kyiv Oblast as the primary target, according to Ukraine's Air Force.
The attack included four Zircon and Oniks anti-ship missiles, 27 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and S-400 missiles, two Kh-31 anti-radiation missiles, two Kh-59/69 air-launched missiles, and 185 drones. As of 9:30 a.m., Ukrainian air defenses had shot down or electronically jammed 156 aerial targets, including two missiles and 154 drones. However, four anti-ship missiles, 26 ballistic missiles, and 23 drones struck 21 locations. Debris from intercepted targets fell at two additional sites, while three missiles failed to reach their targets. The Air Force said the attack was still ongoing at the time of its report. Besides Kyiv Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Poltava oblasts also came under attack.
In Kyiv, at least nine people were killed and more than 30 injured after Russian ballistic missiles struck multiple areas of the capital.
The deadliest strike hit a densely populated residential area on the eastern side of the city, where seven people were killed and 14 injured, including two children. Fires damaged residential buildings, an office building, non-residential facilities, and vehicles, while a missile crater was found in a nearby public park. Another strike hit a densely populated central district, killing two people and injuring eight others, including two children. Part of a five-story apartment building collapsed and caught fire, while another impact ignited parked vehicles. Emergency crews evacuated 35 residents from the upper floors.
The State Emergency Service later reported that the number of injured had risen to 27, including four children. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko subsequently said the total had exceeded 30, with 17 people hospitalized. Search and rescue operations continued across the city.
Former defence minister Fedorov pledged not to oppose Zelenskyy until war ends
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said he will not become a political opponent of President Volodymyr Zelensky during the war and will return to the government only if he is reinstated as defense minister.
In an interview with The New York Times, Fedorov said he has no plans to meet protesters calling for his return and does not view his dismissal as part of a political struggle. He added that he does not want the situation to "artificially drag" him into politics.
Fedorov also claimed that lobbyists representing defense companies affected by procurement reforms actively pushed for his removal. He said the share of drones and other advanced technologies in Ukraine's defense procurement budget increased from 60% to 90% during his tenure and estimated that drones now account for about 95% of Russian troop losses on the battlefield. Looking ahead, he said the war is evolving toward the "robotization of the front line," where autonomous AI-powered drones will increasingly fight one another.
Ukraine sank a sanctioned Russian ship in Black Sea
Ukrainian forces sank the Russian-flagged container ship Yanina in the Black Sea overnight on Aug. 1, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, describing the vessel as a sanctioned cargo ship with a capacity of more than 100,000 metric tons.
Zelensky said the strike was carried out during Ukrainian operations against Russian targets in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov using domestically produced medium-range strike weapons. He said the operation targeted infrastructure and assets that support Russia's war effort, emphasizing that maritime shipping remains important for sustaining Russia's military logistics and economy despite international sanctions.
Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom also confirmed the vessel had sunk after being hit by two Ukrainian naval drones, according to the Russian newspaper Kommersant. Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev said the attack took place in international waters about 130 nautical miles from the Russian port of Novorossiysk and that all 17 crew members were rescued.