On Wednesday night into Thursday morning, Russia launched a large-scale wave of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, resulting in at least eight deaths and dozens of injuries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on July 30, 2026. The attacks targeted Kyiv and nine other regions, spanning from Lviv near the Polish border in the west to Sumy and Kharkiv near the Russian border in the northeast.

The Ukrainian air force stated that Russia deployed 284 drones and 70 missiles, including nine ballistic missiles. Ukrainian defenses intercepted or suppressed 265 drones and 55 missiles, with preliminary reports indicating that 11 missiles and 17 drones struck 20 locations.

Zelenskyy blamed "insufficient or delayed" air defense supplies from international partners for the casualties, while praising the professionalism of Ukrainian soldiers in downing numerous missiles.

Local officials reported significant damage and injuries. Sadovyi noted that over 20 residential buildings, a school, and two kindergartens were damaged, with at least 20 people injured.

Additionally, a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile crossed into Poland, where a helicopter located its probable crash site near the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia in the Lublin Voivodeship. A ground search and rescue team was deployed to investigate. Poland's Operational Command responded by scrambling fighters and putting air defense systems on alert.

Smoke was observed rising over Kyiv during the missile strikes, underscoring the ongoing intensity of the conflict.

Sources