Russian attacks kill at least 10, injure 87 over the past day, heavily damaging residential areas across Ukraine
Russian attacks across seven Ukrainian oblasts killed at least 10 people and injured 87 others over the past day, as Moscow continued to target residential neighborhoods, civilian infrastructure, and commercial sites.
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia launched 58 drones overnight. Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 46 aerial targets, while eight drones struck seven locations.
Sumy came under repeated attacks, highlighting Russia's continued use of double-tap strikes, in which follow-up attacks target the same area, endangering civilians and emergency responders. A drone initially struck near a residential building, injuring four people, including an 8-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy. Two additional strikes followed, igniting a large fire at a shopping center. Rescue crews were unable to extinguish the blaze because of the continued threat of further attacks, and the shopping center was ultimately destroyed. Local authorities said 10 people were injured across Sumy Oblast.
Elsewhere, Donetsk Oblast recorded four deaths and 13 injuries, while a Russian strike on a civilian factory in Odesa Oblast killed three people and wounded eight. In Kharkiv Oblast, two people were killed and 15 others, including a 13-year-old child, were injured. Zaporizhzhia Oblast reported one death and 16 injuries, while Kherson Oblast recorded 23 injured, including a child. Authorities later reported another man wounded with shrapnel injuries, concussion, blast trauma, and a closed head injury.
In Chernihiv Oblast, two people were injured after Russian forces struck a residential area and debris from a downed drone hit a house.
"A house was hit. They miraculously survived — a mother and her 10-year-old child," Governor Viacheslav Chaus said.
Later in the day, Russian forces also struck central Chernihiv, damaging an administrative building and a nearby university.
Poland discusses scenario of Russian provocation using drones disguised as Ukrainian
Poland's Committee on National Security has discussed the possibility that Russia could stage a false flag drone operation by launching drones marked as Ukrainian in an attempt to provoke confusion or escalate tensions on NATO's eastern flank.
According to Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, one scenario considered by the committee involves a swarm of drones appearing over Poland or neighboring NATO countries while bearing Ukrainian military markings.
"We have already encountered provocations involving drones, so we have seen what the Russian Federation is capable of. That is why our vigilance and the information that such actions may occur is crucial," Kosiniak-Kamysz said at a press conference on July 21.
The minister said Poland, the Baltic states, Finland, and Romania could all be potential targets of such an operation. He added that the committee also reviewed other forms of Russian hybrid activity, including GPS signal jamming and sabotage operations aimed at increasing pressure on Western countries.
A significant portion of the meeting was also devoted to the war in Ukraine. Kosiniak-Kamysz argued that Russia's recent military activity underscores the importance of continued support for Kyiv.
"That is 904 clashes, meaning actions directed against the Ukrainian armed forces on the front line or in other areas," he said, referring to the number of combat engagements initiated by Russian forces during the previous week.
The minister also pointed to the recent escalation in Russian aerial attacks, including the use of cruise missiles, guided aerial bombs, and ballistic missiles, saying Russia had employed ballistic missiles on the largest scale since the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelensky discussed possible Russian actions in Chernihiv-Kyiv area with military commanders
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has continued a series of meetings with senior military commanders, with the latest consultations focusing on possible Russian operations along the Chernihiv-Kyiv axis and Ukraine's preparations for various military scenarios.
"We also received a briefing on our preparations for various scenarios on the Chernihiv-Kyiv axis, taking into account intelligence reports and Russia's continued efforts to find new ways to prolong and expand the war. We discussed the need to strengthen frontline air defence and identified the decisions required to continue the corps reform."
According to Zelensky, he is holding the consultations together with acting Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa. The discussions focus on the military's most urgent needs, the defense of Ukraine's border regions, and commanders' assessments of the country's broader defense strategy.
The latest meeting included commanders of the 9th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, and 21st Army Corps, as well as the 30th Marine Corps. They briefed the president on the situation in their areas of responsibility, Russian military activity and intentions, and possible Ukrainian responses.
The participants also reviewed the defense of Kherson and communities in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, including Nikopol.
"The key priorities are countering Russian drones, protecting people, and securing the additional supplies needed," Zelenskyy said.