At least two people were killed in Russian attacks on Kyiv overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, Russia launched a ‘complex’ assault using cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and drones, according to ABC News. Zelenskyy said the attack was deliberately planned to cause maximum damage to civilians. Ukraine’s air force reported 166 drones, 32 cruise missiles, and an unspecified number of anti-ship and ballistic missiles were launched, with 142 drones, 31 cruise missiles, and two ballistic missiles intercepted.

Attack details and casualties

According to Zelenskyy, the attack caused significant damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv — As of now, 10 people were injured, with 13 rescued by the State Emergency Service. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed at least 10 people were injured in the city, with five hospitalized and two in serious condition, the attacks targeted Kyiv and the southern port city of Odessa, with missiles and drones striking 29 locations across Ukraine, according to the air force.

Patterns of escalation

According to BBC Verify, Kyiv is experiencing more daily air raid alerts than at any time since Russia’s invasion in 2022, the BBC reported that Zelenskyy stated officials from Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S. would meet in the near future to continue discussions. Zelenskyy also called for a trilateral meeting with Russia and the U.S; Ukraine has escalated the war into Russian territory with long-range drone strikes on oil facilities, causing fuel shortages in Russia. In addition, drone attacks on warehouses of Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, have unsettled the Russian public, according to La Nación.

International context and casualties

The United Nations reported last week that Kyiv was one of the hardest-hit cities in July, with at least 54 civilians killed and 202 injured. In recent weeks, the capital has faced repeated strikes: 17 people were killed in a strike on Kyiv and its surrounding region just over two weeks ago, and nine died in another attack two days before that. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the ‘massive strike’ targeted defense industrial facilities, military transport and logistical hubs, and port facilities in Odesa, as the ministry shared a graphic showing what appeared to be cruise missiles, with the caption ‘Targeting day and night.’