Russia launched over 740 drones and missiles on Ukraine

Russia carried out a massive aerial attack on Ukraine during the night of July 8–9, launching a total of 741 aerial assets, according to Ukraine's Air Force. Ukrainian air defense forces managed to neutralize 718 of them, but four targets struck their locations directly and debris fell in 14 areas.

The attack began around 8 p.m. on July 8 and included 728 Shahed-type loitering munitions and decoy drones launched from Russian cities including Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Millerovo. In addition, seven Kh-101 or Iskander-K cruise missiles were launched from Engels in Saratov Oblast and Kursk Oblast. Six Kinzhal (Kh-47M2) aeroballistic missiles were also fired from Russian airspace over Lipetsk Oblast.

Lutsk, located in Volyn Oblast, appeared to be the primary target of the assault.

As of 8 a.m., Ukraine’s air defense systems had downed 718 aerial objects. These included 296 Shahed drones shot down with direct firepower and 415 that disappeared from radar, likely neutralized through electronic warfare. All seven cruise missiles were intercepted.

Despite the high interception rate, four locations were hit, and debris from intercepted drones and missiles caused damage in 14 additional sites. Ukraine’s defense relied on coordinated efforts from aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups to repel the attack.

The survey shows that Ukrainians believe that the US will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine

A poll conducted by the Rating sociological group on July 4–5 shows that 64% of Ukrainians believe the United States will continue providing weapons to Ukraine, either fully or partially.

Only 11% of respondents expect full-scale support, while 53% anticipate partial aid. Another 25% believe the assistance will be minimal, and 8% expect no military aid at all.

The survey was conducted among 1,000 adult Ukrainians using the CATI (computer-assisted telephone interview) method. Respondents were selected randomly from across all Ukrainian-controlled regions, excluding Crimea, occupied parts of Donbas, and areas without mobile coverage. The sample was representative by age, gender, and settlement type. The margin of error does not exceed 3.1% with a 95% confidence level.

It is official, Trump ordered the resumption of the military aid shipments for Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the resumption of military aid shipments to Ukraine after a brief pause earlier this month, the White House and State Department confirmed on July 8.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said during a press briefing that the shipments are continuing and emphasized that the temporary pause should not be interpreted as a change in U.S. policy. She stressed that the U.S. remains committed to supporting Ukraine.

The pause in deliveries, which reportedly began on July 2, was authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth without notifying the White House, State Department, or key allies. The halt led to confusion and criticism in Washington and abroad.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN that the pause was part of a Pentagon review to ensure all military support aligns with American interests. She added that Trump retains full confidence in Hegseth and has since ordered the continuation of the aid.

CNN reported that Trump directed the Pentagon to resume sending specific weapons, including Patriot interceptor missiles, shortly after learning about the situation.

The Pentagon confirmed the renewed support on July 7, stating that additional defensive weapons would be delivered to help Ukraine defend itself and work toward peace.

The temporary suspension affected a significant aid package, including Patriot interceptors, 155 mm artillery shells, Hellfire missiles, and other critical munitions. Much of the equipment was already in Poland en route to Ukraine when the pause took effect.

The renewed aid comes as Russian forces have intensified aerial assaults on Ukraine, launching one of their largest attacks on July 9 with more than 740 drones and missiles.

By fall, Russia will begin regularly launching over 1,000 Shahed drones into Ukraine each day

According to a New York Times article, military analysts predict that by fall 2025, Russia could escalate its drone warfare against Ukraine, launching over 1,000 Shahed drones in a single wave daily. This projection reflects Russia’s accelerated production of these Iranian-designed, domestically produced Geran-2 drones, with factories like the Alabuga plant in Tatarstan churning out thousands. The article highlights that Russia’s industrial capacity has surged, breaking records for nighttime swarm attacks, with a recent assault involving 539 drones and 11 missiles, the largest of the war. These drones, costing as little as $20,000 each, are part of an attritional strategy to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses, which rely on costly interceptors like Patriot missiles, creating a significant cost imbalance that strains Ukraine’s resources.

Russia’s intensified drone campaign, with weekly launches rising from 200 to over 1,000 since March 2025, targets civilian infrastructure to exhaust Ukraine’s air defenses. Upgraded Shahed drones with AI guidance and radar-evading features are harder to intercept, with Ukraine downing about 81% in a recent 472-drone attack. Without more Western air defense support or actions to disrupt Russia’s drone production, this escalation could favor Moscow.