On the night of July 4, Russian forces launched a massive assault on Ukraine involving 539 drones and 11 missiles, according to Ukrainian Air Force reports.
Ukrainian military officials stated their forces intercepted or neutralized 476 drones along with two cruise missiles launched from Iskander-K systems.
Kyiv bore the brunt of the attack, with authorities confirming 23 casualties, among them a 10-year-old child. The strikes caused significant damage to residential areas—a 14-story apartment block in Svyatoshinsky district was struck, sparking a fire, while in Solomensky district, a five-story building was partially destroyed and a seven-story structure suffered a roof fire spanning 2,000 square meters. Educational facilities, medical centers, and transport networks were also impacted.
Beyond Kyiv, the offensive targeted Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault as "among the most severe since the invasion began." Notably, air raid alerts sounded nationwide shortly after media reports emerged about former U.S. President Trump's phone conversation with Putin. Zelensky emphasized, "This proves Russia won't alter its aggressive stance without substantial pressure. Each attack on civilians must be met with proportional sanctions and economic consequences—targeting their finances, infrastructure, and revenue streams."