A Novocherskassk drone strike overnight triggered explosions and fires at key infrastructure in southern Russia’s Rostov Oblast, disrupting transport, internet services, and damaging an energy facility. Despite official claims that only debris fell, local reports and videos suggest direct hits on strategic sites. Novocherkassk is located more than 200 km from the frontline.

Power station, railway, and telecom targeted in drone strike

In the early hours of 23 July, acting head of Rostov Oblast Yurii Slyusar claimed several areas came under drone attack, including Novocherskassk, as well as the Shakhty, Myasnykivskyi, Rodionovo-Nesvitaiskyi, and Aksaiskyi districts. He stated three people were allegedly injured and repeated the usual Russian narrative of “falling debris” causing damage.

The Russian news Telegram channel Astra, citing eyewitnesses, reported that both the railway station area and the Novocherskassk State District Power Station (DRES) were struck. The Ukrainian Telgram channel Exilenova+ shared videos, showing a direct hit reportedly on the station.

Following the blasts, traffic at a local railway crossing was halted, with one driver telling Astra that a jam quickly formed due to the closure.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed 33 drones were intercepted or destroyed overnight across its territory, 11 of them over Rostov Oblast. The ministry did not acknowledge any successful strikes, and made no reference to damage at infrastructure sites.

Ukrainian forces used long-range precision fire to degrade Russia’s ability to monitor and defend Belgorod Oblast’s airspace. The Ukrainian General Staff shared footage of the strike, which reportedly hit three key components of Russia’s air defense grid on 20 July. The targeted equipment included an S-300P surface-to-air missile launcher and two radars.

Ukrainian strike hits missile and radar systems near the border

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says Ukrainians successfully struck a Russian S-300P surface-to-air missile launcher. The report stated that this significantly reduced Russia’s long-range air defense coverage in the region. The General Staff says the attack also hit a Nebo-M radar system. Additionally, the General Staff said that the attack degraded operational capacity of a nearby 5N66M “Big Bird” over-the-horizon radar station.

The General Staff therefore stated that “such coordinated strikes represent a substantial blow to the Russian Federation’s air defense network, diminishing its ability to protect its forces and infrastructure, and enabling continued Ukrainian operations.”

The General Staff did not specify which weapons were used in the attack. A short video clip released with the announcement showed two relatively small explosions, suggesting the use of a GMLRS rockets.

Strike supports Ukrainian military efforts to reduce Russian offensive capability

The General Staff emphasized that weakening these systems directly supports efforts “to reduce Russia’s capacity to wage its war of aggression and its continued targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure inside of Ukraine.”

“The Defense Forces will persist in conducting operations to undermine the critical systems and enablers supporting Russia’s war machine,” the General Staff stated.

A fire at a Russian military-linked refinery broke out overnight on 22 July after Ukrainian drones targeted industrial sites in Russia’s Samara Oblast about 1,000 km from Ukraine. The targeted facility was the Novokuybyshevsk Petrochemical Company, one of Russia’s largest producers in the petrochemical and organic synthesis sectors. The facility plays a role in Russia’s weapons production by supplying raw materials used in artillery shells, aviation bombs, and other munitions.

Ukrainian drones hit explosives-linked chemical plant in Samara

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported that the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces’ attack targeted the Novokuybyshevsk Petrochemical Company, which operates facilities producing chemicals such as benzene, acetone, phenol, and olefins. The Russian news Telegram channel Astra confirmed that drones hit the Novokuybyshevsk refinery, a Rosneft-owned site producing over 20 fuel types, including high-grade jet fuel and automotive oils.

Astra said that following the strike, a fire broke out at the facility and was later extinguished. Samara Oblast authorities acknowledged an attempted attack and claimed that several drones were shot down, while also imposing temporary mobile internet restrictions to assist military efforts in countering UAVs.

Drones target Russian airbase used for Shahed launches

Late on 21 July, Astra reported drone strikes on the Millerovo military airfield in Rostov Oblast. The airbase is frequently used to launch Shahed-type drones toward Ukrainian territory. The Iranian-designed Shahed drones can carry up to 90 kg of explosives, and Russia has been widely using them in its daily attacks against Ukrainian civilians.

All it takes is one FPV drone, and old North Korean iron blows up like fireworks. The outdated multiple rocket launch systems that North Korea has supplied to Russia have proven fatally vulnerable to Ukrainian FPV drones, Business Insider reports. 

Ukrainian drones don’t just hit targets. They target loaded munitions directly in open launch tubes, causing explosions, fires, and catastrophic damage.

According to the military, the 429th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems Achilles launched a drone at a North Korean 107mm Type-75 launcher when it was already loaded. The strike triggered a chain reaction — missile explosions, fire, debris.

The Type-75 is Pyongyang’s version of the Chinese Type-63, equipped with 12 open launch tubes. These old launchers have been spotted on the Russian front for several months now, and they are the ones exploding en masse after drone strikes.

Another case involved the 413th Battalion of Unmanned Systems. In late June, a drone hit one of the munitions in an M1991 launcher. It resulted a premature launch, pierced truck chassis, and a smoke-filled cabin from which soldiers jumped out.

Most Korean weapons are copies of Soviet or Chinese systems that Russia has long used. For example, old BM-21 Grads are also loaded manually and lack drone protection.

In contrast, Western systems like the American M142 HIMARS have protected rocket containers, making the job much harder for kamikaze drones.

While North Korea supplies Russia with outdated systems, militaries around the world are already betting on drones, which are cheap, accurate, and lethally effective.

Russia’s latest attacks left at least three civilians dead and at least 25 injured across Ukraine, with strikes reported in Donetsk, Kherson, Sumy, Odesa, and Kharkiv oblasts. Russian drones targeted Odesa and Kharkiv, their bombs struck Kramatorsk and Sumy, while artillery shelling targeted Kherson and other cities.

Kramatorsk boy killed as Russian bomb hits residential building

Civilian casualties from Russian attacks mounted overnight on 22 July as a Russian guided bomb struck a residential building in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast. According to the head of the city’s military administration, Oleksandr Honcharenko, the strike killed a 9-year-old boy born in 2015. Five more civilians were injured. The explosion caused a fire in the building, which was extinguished by emergency services.

The killed boy was among three civilians killed in Donetsk Oblast over the previous 24 hours, according to the oblast military administration. Russian forces killed one more person in Kostiantynivka with shelling and another in Zarichne. Meanwhile, they injured five civilians in Sloviansk and two more in Dobropillia. Russian attacks also wounded one person each in Rodynske, Lyman, and Shandryholove.

Multiple wounded in Kherson from early-morning shelling

Kherson city and the village of Inzhenerne came under Russian artillery fire early in the morning on 22 July. The Russian attack injured a 62-year-old man while outside in Inzhenerne. Minutes later, at 08:10, Russian shelling hit Kherson, wounding a 54-year-old man. Another victim, a 55-year-old woman, was later reported injured from the same barrage. All three suffered explosive trauma and shrapnel wounds and were hospitalized, according to the Kherson Oblast Military Administration.

Authorities confirmed that seven people had been wounded across Kherson Oblast in the previous 24 hours due to artillery and drone attacks.

Drone swarm strikes Odesa

Odesa was once again targeted by Russian drones launched from the direction of occupied Crimea and the Black Sea. 

In Odesa, a Russian drone injured one person. Debris from intercepted drones sparked a fire in a parking lot. Multiple vehicles were destroyed. The impact also shattered windows in a multi-story residential building and damaged a shop, local authorities reported. The State Emergency Service of Odesa Oblast reported that 62 rescuers and 17 vehicles were deployed to manage the aftermath. Three separate crash sites were confirmed in the city.

Suspilne reports that air raid sirens were activated at 01:48. Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov issued an early warning to residents of the Arcadia and Fontanka districts. Explosions followed shortly after.

Drone attacks wound civilians in Kharkiv Oblast

Russian forces targeted seven settlements in Kharkiv Oblast over the past 24 hours using a mix of Shahed drones, FPV drones, and another unidentified UAV. The oblast military administration confirmed three civilian injuries.

The Russian strikes injured an 84-year-old woman Kupiansk, a 67-year-old woman in Ivano-Shyichyne, Bohodukhiv community. In the village of Verbivka, Balakliia community, a 29-year-old man was hurt after stepping on an unidentified explosive object.

Guided bombs hit Sumy, injuring civilians including a child

In Sumy, Russia launched a strike on 21 July at approximately 22:30. According to the Sumy City Military Administration, three people were injured, including a child. Acting mayor Artem Kobzar said the Russians used two KAB-type guided bombs. The Sumy Oblast Military Administration added that the attack damaged five apartment buildings, a shopping center, and 18 vehicles. A 60-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man were hospitalized with confirmed injuries.

Serhii Kryvosheienko, head of the Sumy MVA, warned that more casualties were possible and that emergency teams were still working at the scene.

A Ukrainian drone strike on Russian air defenses has disabled multiple radar systems and surface-to-air missile launchers in the Donetsk sector, eastern Ukraine, Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) reported. The latest footage released by HUR shows their elite Prymary (“Ghosts”) unit destroying key Russian military hardware during precision drone attacks in the occupied part of the oblast.

Prymary strikes radar systems and S-300V launchers near occupied Donetsk

HUR released video footage of the operation on its official YouTube channel, showing accurate drone strikes on two S-300V launchers and five radar systems, supporting these launchers and other Russian air defense assets. The S-300V is primarily designed to intercept operational-tactical missiles and serves as a key element of Russia’s anti-missile defense network. However, Russian forces have been also using such launchers in a secondary role — to fire on ground targets, including residential areas in Ukrainian cities.

According to the description accompanying the HUR video, Prymary fighters continue to “systematically weaken Russian air defense — now in the Donetsk direction.” The agency confirmed the destruction of:

• three 48Ya6-K1 Podlyot radar stations, designed to detect targets at low and extremely low altitudes in complex electronic warfare conditions;
• two Niobiy-SV radar stations, used to track aerial targets at medium and high altitudes at distances of up to 200–300 kilometers;
• two S-300V launchers, part of a surface-to-air missile system primarily used to intercept operational-tactical missiles, and also employed by Russian forces in a secondary ground-strike role;
• and one P-18 radar station, a Soviet-era two-coordinate system capable of determining only azimuth and distance, but not altitude.

Official footage shows direct drone hits on Russian systems

The video published by HUR shows direct drone strikes on the listed radar systems and missile launchers. However, the FPV footage cuts off at the moment of impact, and the aftermath is not shown. Still, the accuracy of the strikes indicates that the targeted Russian air defense assets were at least damaged, if not destroyed. 

Explosions erupted across Moscow and Rostov oblasts in the early hours of 19 July. Local reports described drone flyover sounds, fires, damaged infrastructure, and halted train services following a large-scale drone attack. However, no reports confirm any damage to key military or military-industrial infrastructure. 

Drone attack on Moscow

In Moscow Oblast, residents of Dmitrov and Zelenograd heard multiple explosions overnight. Russian news Telegram channel Astra posted footage showing burning debris in a field near Dmitrov. Locals wrote that “something fell in the field and exploded.” Messages in community chats described blasts from several locations within the Dmitrov district.

Astra quoted local officials saying a drone had been shot down, and its wreckage damaged a high-voltage power line in the area. Mikhail Shulavov, acting head of the Dmitrov district, confirmed the fall of debris, noted there were no injuries, and said repair crews were already fixing the line.

Pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Mash also reported explosions in Mozhaisk and Dmitrov. Baza, another Telegram channel, said six explosions occurred in Zelenograd.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobianin claimed Russian air defenses shot down 14 drones targeting the Russian capital. 

Drone attack on Rostov, and railway disruptions

In Rostov Oblast, acting head Yurii Sliusar claimed fires in Kamensk-Shakhtynskyi. Falling drone debris allegedly set multiple detached houses on fire and ostensibly injured one person.

Sliusar added that a transformer caught fire in Kamenskyi Raion, disabling a high-voltage line. As a result, five settlements lost power. According to Sliusar, about 2,000 people live in the blackout zone.

The drone strikes triggered major rail disruptions in Rostov Oblast. Passenger service was halted after the attack disabled power infrastructure on the Lykhaya–Zamchalovo railway segment or the Russian Railway (RZhD).

Astra cited passengers at Rostov station claiming they sat for hours in trains without ventilation or air conditioning. One said that “everything is immobilized” after a strong strike at Lykhaya station.

Russian Railways later confirmed that over 50 long-distance trains were delayed. Several regional electric trains were also canceled. Delays ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 hours. Later reports from RZhD said train service on the damaged line had resumed.

Drone strike reported in occupied Tokmak

Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ posted footage of a fire in Russian-occupied Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The caption reads:

“In Tokmak … after a UAV attack there is a healthy glow.”

Fire at military base in Rostov-on-Don

On the evening of 18 July, a fire broke out at a military facility in central Rostov-on-Don. Astra verified the location as military unit 74330 on Krasnoarmeiska Street, near Sokolova Avenue. 

Local media had earlier reported a fire in the same area.

Russian Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has threatened the West with “preemptive strikes,” but added that Moscow has no intention to attack Europe, the Kremlin agency TASS reports. 

He has accused the West of waging “full-scale war against Russia,” claiming that NATO supplies Ukraine with satellite data and facilitates missile launches.

“The West has not only treachery in its blood but also a sick, outdated belief in its own superiority. Russia must act accordingly, and, if necessary, deliver preemptive strikes,” Medvedev says.

Despite this, he called information about a possible Russian attack on Europe “nonsense,” which is allegedly being deliberately spread.

Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service Head Sergey Naryshkin accused NATO of escalating military activity near Russia’s borders. He warned that Poland and the Baltic states would be the first to suffer in a war between Moscow and the Alliance.

He claimed these countries were displaying particular aggressiveness. As an example, he cited Warsaw’s alleged plan to deploy around two million anti-tank mines along its borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast. 

Ukraine hits four weapons factories in Tula, a regional capital next to Moscow, in a continuing effort to degrade Russia’s defense production capabilities. The drone offensive also struck other military-linked sites across Moscow Oblast, Kursk, Taganrog, Lipetsk, Orsk, and beyond, according to multiple reports. The full extent of damage is currently unknown.

Kamikaze drones strike deep into Tula’s defense industry

Four military-industrial facilities were struck in Tula and Tula Oblast overnight on 11 July, according to reporting by Russian news Telegram channel Astra. 

• Astra confirms that in Tula, drones hit the JSC Design Bureau of Instrument-Making, causing a fire in the administrative building. The same facility was previously attacked in June, when strikes damaged warehouses, a loading hangar, and a power substation — halting operations entirely at the time.
• Also in Tula, drones were shot down directly over the NPO SPLAV plant, which produces multiple launch rocket systems. 
• The fourth site struck was the Aleksinsky Experimental Mechanical Plant in Aleksin, Tula Oblast. Drone debris reportedly fell on the grounds of Workshop No. 4. The plant is involved in producing non-standard equipment for manufacturing explosives and solid propellants, and operates under the state defense-linked Techmash group.
• In addition, Astra reported that a drone hit the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk, also in Tula Oblast. The facility supplies nitric acid used in producing octogen and hexogen — key components of artillery munitions. It had previously been struck in both May and June.

Ukraine struck four weapons factories in Tula overnight, targeting Russia’s defense industry deep inside its territory. Drone attacks also hit sites in Moscow Oblast, Kursk, Taganrog, Lipetsk, Orsk, and more.



TG/Exilenova+, Supernova+ – the clips show the Tula attack. pic.twitter.com/R9CKsNg6YS

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 11, 2025

Drone offensive spreads beyond Tula to Moscow Oblast and other regions

According to Astra and Ukrainian Telegram channels, Exilenova+ and Supernova+, drones also targeted several high-value military and industrial targets in other parts of Russia overnight on 11 July.

• In Dubna, Moscow Oblast, explosions were reported near the Kronstadt Group facility — a drone development site previously attacked in May. Exilenova+ claimed the site was hit again and shared video evidence from the location.
• In Lukhovitsy, also Moscow Oblast, Ukrainian Liutyi long-range drones targeted and reportedly hit the Lukhovitsky Aviation Plant, a facility belonging to the MiG aircraft corporation under Rostec. Astra reports that at least two drones impacted the compressor station on the plant’s grounds, partially collapsing one wall. The nearby Lukhovitsy fuel depot was also in the vicinity of the strike zone. 

Lukhovitsy (Moscow Oblast): Ukrainian Liutyi drones reportedly struck the Lukhovitsky Aviation Plant, part of the MiG aircraft corporation. Astra said two drones hit a compressor station, causing partial collapse of one wall.

TG/Exilenova+, Supernova+ pic.twitter.com/Fa2E386F3T

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 11, 2025

More facilities targeted across Russian territory

Further strikes were reported in multiple other oblasts:

• Kursk Oblast — Drones hit industrial sites in Belyovsky and Kurchatovsky districts. The local governor stated that fires broke out in production areas. In one case, a warehouse reportedly burned after a UAV strike. 
• Taganrog, Rostov Oblast — A UAV was allegedly neutralized near the Beriev aircraft plant. The city’s mayor claimed that debris ostensibly fell onto the factory grounds. Such wording from local officials is often a euphemistic way to report a direct hit. Supernova+ shared footage, showing Ukrainian drones flying over the area.

Taganrog, Rostov Oblast — A UAV was allegedly neutralized near the Beriev aircraft plant.

The city’s mayor claimed that debris ostensibly fell onto the factory grounds. Such wording from local officials is often a euphemistic way to report a direct hit.

Supernova+ shared… pic.twitter.com/LzwhxNcQBP

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 11, 2025

• Lipetsk Oblast — The regional head claimed a drone fell on an agricultural enterprise in Khlevensky district, causing a fire and ostensibly resulting in casualties. 
• Orsk, Orenburg Oblast — Astra and Exilenova+ report that the Orsk Mechanical Plant, a key producer of artillery shell casings and rocket system components, experienced a fire inside its paint shop. Exilenova+ says the sabotage is suspected.
• Saint Petersburg — Rosaviatsia claimed that Pulkovo airport suspended flights temporarily due to security concerns overnight on 11 July.
• In Zhukovsky, Moscow Oblast, the Russian aviation agency Rosaviatsia announced temporary flight restrictions during the night. The same agency later claimed the restrictions had been lifted as of the morning of 11 July.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that a total of 155 drones were downed over Russian territory and occupied Crimea during the night. According to their statement, this included 13 over Tula Oblast, 11 over Moscow Oblast, and dozens across Kursk, Bryansk, Belgorod, Smolensk, and other areas. 

Update: Ukrainian military confirms some strikes

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that overnight on 11 July, Ukrainian drone units, together with other defense elements, struck two Russian military-industrial sites.

One target was the Lukhovitsky Aviation Plant in Moscow Oblast, which handles full-cycle MiG fighter jet production. Explosions were recorded at the site.

The second strike, carried out with support from Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces and the SBU, hit the Shipunov Design Bureau in Tula Oblast. The facility produces missiles for Russian air defense systems.

The General Staff said explosions, smoke, and emergency vehicle activity were observed near both targets. Damage is being assessed.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that diplomatic solutions to the Russo-Ukrainian war have reached their limits, while committing to maintain Berlin’s assistance to Ukraine, according to Tagesschau and ZDF heute.

Merz promised continued German support “even against the resistance of the political left and the Russia-friendly right here in the house.”

The Chancellor justified the stance by arguing that traditional diplomatic channels no longer offer viable solutions.

“Diplomatic resources have been exhausted,” he told lawmakers, framing the situation as one where “a criminal regime uses military force to openly challenge the right to exist of an entire country and seeks to destroy the political freedom of the entire European continent.”

On defense spending, Merz framed Germany’s military investment as essential European leadership. “We’re taking on the leadership responsibility that Europe expects from us,” he said. The constitutional amendment enabling increased defense spending wasn’t just about Germany—without it, “NATO would probably have fallen apart in the 70th year of our membership.”

The Chancellor’s remarks come as Germany prepares substantial military assistance for 2025. In June, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans for Berlin to provide €9 billion ($10 billion) in military aid to Ukraine next year, with portions allocated specifically for long-range weapons production financing.

However, contradictions have emerged in Germany’s weapons policy. While Pistorius rejected any current consideration of transferring long-range TAURUS cruise missiles to Ukraine, Chancellor Merz had described such weapons deliveries as possible just one month earlier.

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Ukraine’s military carried out 115 “Deep Strike” long-range drone missions against Russian forces last month, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported. The campaign is a core part of Ukraine’s strategy to disrupt enemy logistics and production far from the frontlines.

115 Deep Strike drone missions targeted Russian forces and supply chains

Syrskyi said in the update after a meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief: 

“[D]uring June, Ukraine’s defenders carried out 115 fire tasks in the Deep Strike direction. Our artillery struck 2,864 enemy targets,” Syrskyi posted on his official channels.

Militarnyi notes he did not specify whether this included only targets inside Russia or also in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

The Commander-in-Chief stated that Ukrainian troops are using both symmetric and asymmetric tactics to resist Russia, while striking military and logistical targets. He said Ukrainian forces are striking Russian military and logistics targets deep inside Russia, weakening its production potential.

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Massive radar gap in Crimea creates Ukrainian drone corridor, expert says

Drone attacks hit Russian airfields, factories, and supply hubs in June

Last month, Ukraine’s Deep Strike campaign included several major incidents.

Ukrainian drones targeted the Marinovka airfield in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast, reportedly destroying three Su-34 fighter-bombers and two more partially damaged.

Ukrainian drones hit two chemical plants named Azot, both producing materials used in explosives and rocket fuel—one in Tula Oblast, another in Stavropol.

Russian sources also published evidence of Ukraine’s use of the jet-powered Peklo drones, which destroyed a vehicle bridge across the Aidar River in occupied Luhansk Oblast.

Other targets in June included the Alabuga drone factory in Tatarstan, the Buturlinivka airbase in Voronezh Oblast, an airbase’s fuel depot in Engels.

Ukraine responds to Russia’s escalation with deep-strike counterattacks. As Russia tries to stretch the front and break Ukrainian defenses, Ukrainian forces are hitting back hard: in June alone, Ukrainian artillery completed 115 fire missions, striking 2,864 targets, says Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The priority for June was stabilizing the frontline and holding off Russian offensives in Donetsk and Sumy oblasts, where Moscow has concentrated its main strike forces.

“Unfortunately, the enemy holds a significant advantage in manpower and equipment,” Syrskyi admits.

He notes that Russia has increased its use of drones and missiles by 1.6 times. In response, Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck around 4,000 targets, including inside Russian territory.

“We are forced to seek new tactical and technological solutions,” the general emphasizes.

Key Ukrainian priorities now include developing air defense, expanding drone strike capabilities, modernizing equipment, and reforming mobilization and recruitment.

Amid unstable international support, Ukraine is pursuing alternative arms supply routes, expanding repair capacities, and embracing asymmetric tactics to disrupt Russia’s summer offensive.

Earlier, Euromaidan Press reported that Kyiv started producing 200,000 drones per month, a tenfold increase compared to 2024. 

Ukrainian forces have created a corridor for drones and missiles into Crimea by recently disabling key Russian radar systems near Cape Tarhankut, a military expert says. The destruction of the Nebo-M system has left the western part of the Russian-occupied peninsula uncovered, opening a clear path for future strikes.

Ukrainian drone corridor to Crimea now active

A recent Ukrainian drone attack destroyed valuable Russian radars and a command center for the advanced Nebo-M system.

As reported by RFE/RL’s Krym.Realii project, a former Ukrainian officer from Crimea stated that recent radar strikes created not just a gap but a fully functional route into the peninsula. The expert emphasized that the radar modules destroyed were part of Russia’s Nebo-M complex—systems capable of detecting aerial and ballistic targets at long distances.

These stations once covered areas “from Cape Tarhankut to Kyiv and Kharkiv in the north, Kamianets-Podilskyi in the northwest is about 590 km, to Sievierodonetsk in the northeast — 600 km.” With them now neutralized, the expert confirmed that a large swath of airspace has been left unprotected.

“A real corridor now exists for Ukrainian drones and missiles,” he said.

Sea-launched drones hit precise targets

Video of the attack analyzed by Krym.Realii shows a hexacopter drone taking off from an unmanned surface vessel close to the shore of Cape Tarhankut. While its exact type remains unidentified, the drone closely resembles Ukraine’s Baba Yaga strike drones—a term used by Russian forces for the Vampire model developed by SkyFall.

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First-of-its-kind strike: Ukraine destroys prized Nebo-M radar system in Crimea using sea-launched bomb drones (video)

These drones, commonly used for nighttime missions, carry thermal imagers and payloads up to 15 kg. Their loadout includes mortar rounds, anti-personnel grenades, and thermite devices.

He also noted that the drones were controlled on frequencies between 700 and 900 MHz—outside the range of local Russian jamming systems operating at 1200 to 1600 MHz. This allowed them to bypass electronic warfare defenses in the area.

Ukraine’s evolving naval drone tactics

This and other recent drone operations in Crimea also highlighted a shift in Ukraine’s drone warfare tactics. Previously, Ukraine showcased Magura sea drones—specifically the V5 strike model, the W6P multifunctional platform, and the V7 drone armed with either missiles or machine guns.

In a military documentary, two new drone boat variants appeared. One vessel carried four launch-ready FPV drone containers and used a traditional propeller engine instead of waterjets. These unmanned boats likely transported the hexacopter drones used in the attack on Tarhankut.

Why Ukraine must bet it all on Putin’s greatest weakness—Crimea

Western Crimea left exposed

With radar systems in both Saky and Tarhankut eliminated, experts now consider the Ukrainian drone corridor to Crimea active. The expert noted that the absence of coverage from the west and northwest leaves the peninsula vulnerable to repeated precision strikes.

“The radar strike opened a window of opportunity,” he said. “From the sea or the air, that entire sector is now blind.”

Ukraine hits a Russian ammunition supply-chain plant near Moscow in a deep drone strike inside Russia on 7 July. Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed it downed 91 drones, including eight over Moscow Oblast. Despite those claims, residents of Krasnozavodsk and Sergiev Posad in the region reported about ten loud explosions.

Strategic ammo supply plant targeted

The locals told the Russian pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Shot that drones flew low before the blasts. Locals believe the Krasnozavodsky Chemical Plant was the target. Another Russian Telegram channel, Astra, confirmed reports from local chats in Krasnozavodsk, where users described an attack on the chemical plant. Russian authorities have not officially confirmed any damage.

Ukrainian channel Exilenova+ shared footage of the attack and also confirmed that Ukrainian drones hit the Krasnozavodsky Chemical Plant. The channel geolocated multiple impact points within the facility and concluded that the strike targeted several areas of the plant.

Ukraine hits Russian ammunition supply plant near Moscow in deep drone strike

Locals heard about 10 blasts. The Krasnozavodsk chemical plant is linked to Grad, Uragan, and Tornado-G rocket systems.

Read more: https://t.co/zYhmeFmMAx pic.twitter.com/xbvJ11EnqC

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 7, 2025

Andrii Kovalenko from Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council also confirmed the same target, saying the plant produces explosive materials, powder, and components for missiles and munitions.

Exilenova+ added that the plant supplies Russia’s Ministry of Defense with munitions like signal cartridges, anti-tank missile igniters, detonators, thermite blocks, and explosive charges.

Facility linked to rocket launcher systems

According to the same source, the plant repairs and modernizes Russia’s multiple rocket launchers, including Uragan, Grad, and Tornado-G. As of 2023–2024, it had assembled and upgraded full systems and their parts.

One of the drone strikes likely hit a newer workshop, Exilenova+ reported, noting that the factory plays a critical role in maintaining Russia’s artillery capabilities.

FP-1 drone used in deep-strike mission

Exilenova+ stated that Ukraine used FP-1 drones in the strike. The drone reportedly carries a larger warhead—than Liutyi, usually used in such attacks—and may now be in serial production. The channel called the attack “great news,” highlighting the FP-1 as a powerful addition to Ukraine’s long-range strike capability.

Russia’s claims

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed drones were also shot down not only in Moscow Oblast, but also over many other oblasts. According to their data, 20 drones flew over Belgorod Oblast, 14 over Kursk, and 9 over Lipetsk. Eight were reported over both Bryansk and Voronezh oblasts, and seven over the Black Sea. Three drones each appeared over Novgorod, Tver, Tambov, and Leningrad oblasts. Two more were intercepted over Oryol Oblast, and one each over Vladimir Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, and occupied Crimea.

Today, there is big news from eastern Ukraine.   

Here, as Russians are on the brink of kicking off their multi-front summer offensive, Ukrainians are launching a summer campaign of their own, targeting key Russian military and logistical assets. By using missiles and long-range drones, Ukraine aims to deal as much damage as possible at the most important moment, right before the Russians accumulate enough forces and equipment to overwhelm the Ukrainian army.

Colonel confirmed killed in devastating headquarters strike

In one of the most significant recent operations, Ukrainian forces successfully targeted the headquarters of Russia’s 8th Combined Arms Army in Russian controlled Donetsk city. Using Storm Shadow missiles combined with drones, Ukrainians drained Russian air defenses before wreaking utter destruction on the massive Russian headquarters. 

According to reports by local media and residents, the headquarters building was razed down to the basement, whole groups of killed Russian personnel being carried out continuously. Among those confirmed killed was one of the main targets, Colonel Ruslan Goryachkin, commander of the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army, who has absolute control of all Russian forces operating from Velyka Novosilka to Pokrovsk, and is credited with the only significant gains Russians have made since the start of 2024.

His elimination will have a massive effect on Russian preparations and later offensive operations, as the Russians stand before the largest operation they have launched since the start of the invasion over 3 years ago. 

Simultaneously, Ukraine conducted an extensive drone operation in occupied Luhansk, highlighting their multi-layered strike approach. More than 20 drones struck Russian logistics facilities overnight, causing extensive fires throughout the city. Although Russian officials claimed 35 out of 40 drones were intercepted, footage contradicts this, showing massive fires at a critical oil depot and far more than 5 drones striking Russian targets. 

Head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, Andrii Kovalenko, emphasized that Russian logistics in temporarily occupied Luhansk are burning, underscoring Ukraine’s intent to systematically dismantle the infrastructure supporting Russian frontline operations.

Ukraine aims to delay Russian offensive launch

These operations come as Russia gears up for an extensive offensive spanning multiple fronts, from Sumy to Kherson, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia. Recognizing its numerical disadvantage in frontline personnel, Ukraine must rely on precisely dismantling Russian combat capabilities before its offensive can gain momentum. 

By targeting logistics hubs, command centers, and ammunition depots, Ukraine aims to introduce critical delays and attritional losses to Russian preparations. Each delay significantly benefits Ukraine, allowing additional time to fortify defenses and shortening Russia’s viable window for success due to the limited timeframe with favorable weather conditions. 

Moreover, forcing Russia into launching premature assaults with insufficient preparation substantially weakens its operational effectiveness, making those sent on the attack vulnerable to Ukraine’s experienced drone operators and artillery units and unable to breach the defense lines.

Railway sabotages cripple Russian resupply efforts 

Ukraine’s strike campaign also continues to disrupt Russian rail logistics, vital to sustaining offensive operations. As you remember, Ukrainian drone operators have repeatedly hit critical railway supply points in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, significantly hampering Russian resupply efforts. 

Additionally, Ukraine’s cyber specialists temporarily disabled key Russian Railways services in Voronezh, crippling logistics management in the north. Complementing this, Ukrainian security services have coordinated several direct sabotage operations, igniting a freight locomotive in Saratov and blowing up a railway in Voronezh, demonstrating Ukrainian sabotage operations within Russian territory.

Ukrainians have also targeted a key Russian military ammunition depot in Zabaykalsky Krai, near Velikaya Tura, causing large explosions to go off for hours. While Russian officials attempted to downplay the event, eyewitness accounts report dozens of secondary detonations, pointing toward another successful Ukrainian sabotage operation. 

In Rostov oblast, Ukrainian drones targeted the strategically important Atlas depot facility, part of Russia’s state reserve system, responsible for stockpiling and distributing fuel, lubricants, food, and technological equipment essential for sustained combat operations, with satellite data further confirming large-scale fires that raged at the site. 

Overall, Ukraine’s approach lies in offsetting Russia’s numerical advantage by identifying, tracking, and targeting critical Russian military logistical assets. These precise operations maximize damage to enemy capabilities while effectively committing Ukraine’s limited high precision weaponry.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to advance its drone technologies, enhancing long-range capabilities and increasing monthly production rates. This systematic approach allows Ukraine to sustain and amplify pressure, effectively undermine Russian preparations, and critically weaken their ability to launch a coordinated large-scale summer offensive. This means that Ukrainian soldiers can more effectively counter Russian assaults, shifting the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine’s favor.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Russian forces launched coordinated strikes across multiple Ukrainian regions on the night of 4-5 July, hitting civilian targets with drones and artillery. The attacks wounded at least 16 people, with children among the casualties.

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russian forces launched 322 strike drones during the night, with Ukrainian air defense forces neutralizing 292 of them.

Kharkiv Oblast: Russian attack injures 13 people

The heaviest damage occurred in Chuhuiv, a city in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv Oblast near the frontline, where what officials called a massive drone barrage wounded 11 people, including a 10-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl.

The attack set off a major fire at one unspecified city facility that rescue teams were still fighting hours later, according to the State Emergency Service. Another drone hit the local post office and an abandoned building nearby.

How extensive was the damage? The postal strike sparked a second fire that spread to nearby homes and cars before firefighters contained it. Regional military administration head Oleh Syniehubov confirmed the casualty figures.

But Chuhuiv wasn’t the only target in Kharkiv Oblast. Russian forces also shelled Kupiansk the same day, wounding two more people who are now receiving medical treatment.

Kupiansk saw two apartment buildings hit, along with a school, two private homes, and a store.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: Russian attack injures three people 

Overnight, Russian forces also targeted Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, located close to the frontline, with kamikaze drones and artillery, according to regional head Serhii Lysak.

Air defenses shot down five drones, but falling debris still wounded three people in Dnipro district—two women and one man. The debris destroyed five country houses entirely. A 43-year-old man was treated as an outpatient for his injuries.

The strikes damaged an agricultural enterprise, private home, outbuilding, hair salon, and car across the region.

Donetsk Oblast that is largely occupied by Russia faced its own barrage. Russian shelling sparked four separate fires that rescue teams had to extinguish while under constant threat. The strikes damaged a store, an administrative building, and an enterprise facility, while also igniting a fire at a wheat field.

A Ukrainian attack on 4 July targeted a key Russian defense facility in the city of Azov, Rostov Oblast, about 200 km from the frontline. The Azov Optic-Mechanical Plant, which manufactures critical electronic components for Russian missiles and armored vehicles, was hit by multiple drones in a bold daylight assault. The extent of the damage is currently unknown.

Morning drone strike hits Azov military facility

According to Militarnyi, the attack occurred on the morning of 4 July when Ukrainian strike drones launched an assault on the Azov Optic-Mechanical Plant, part of Russia’s Tactical Missile Armament Corporation.

Social media footage showed fixed-wing UAVs diving toward the site, followed by explosions and visible smoke. One of the drones bore a delta-wing “Shahed-like” structure, suggesting the use of an unknown new UAV model.

The original Shaheds are Iranian-designed long-range explosive drones that Russia uses in its daily attacks on Ukrainian cities. They are easily recognizable by their rounded nose and triangular, delta-shaped wings.

Witness footage and drone type

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ posted an image, showing a delta-wing drone with the caption:

“Rostov. Likely a new UAV from Ukraine’s Defense Forces.”

Later, the same channel shared videos capturing different UAV types, including a well-known Ukrainian drone and a delta-wing aircraft believed to be a new model.

“Azov was attacked by several types of birds,” Exilenova+ commented. “We see an FP-1 pass over, and then, probably, the strike of that same ‘new’ drone.”

Militarnyi noted that “Delta-wing drones are fairly common, but they are rarely used by those attacking the aggressor country. What specific model was used remains unknown at this time.”

At least 10 drones

Russian authorities initially claimed their air defense forces intercepted the drones. Russian Telegram channel Astra reported that at least ten UAVs or their debris “fell” on the factory grounds. The local emergency services confirmed the site was impacted on 4 July.

Yury Slyusar, acting governor of Rostov Oblast, stated that evacuation efforts were underway due to widespread damage from UAV debris, claiming that the attack damaged residential buildings. While initial reports suggested no injuries, Slyusar had also stated that one woman killed in the overnight attack.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed  that air defenses downed 26 drones over Rostov Oblast overnight on 4 July. In Shakhty, a UAV strike allegedly caused a transformer substation to shut down, leaving around 2,000 homes — with more than 6,000 residents — without power. Buildings near the substation also suffered window damage.

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Ukrainian drones strike Russian plant making Shahed warheads near Moscow

Targeted facility and its military role

The Azov Optic-Mechanical Plant is a core producer of high-precision electronics, optical, and thermal imaging equipment for Russia’s military. As detailed by Exilenova+, it manufactures lenses, prisms, radar homing heads, and control systems used in tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, naval systems, and aircraft.

Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, under the National Security and Defense Council, confirmed the strike. Its head, Andrii Kovalenko, emphasized that the plant produces “eyes” for Russian military hardware, including fire control systems and rangefinders. He stated,

“Despite a difficult night (a reference to Russia’s massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv, – Ed.), there is good news. In Russia, targets were hit in Moscow and Rostov oblasts. The Azov Optic-Mechanical Plant was struck.”

The facility has been under US sanctions since March 2022 due to its role in the Russian war effort. It is also sanctioned by Canada, Switzerland, the European Union, New Zealand, and Ukraine. The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence’s War & Sanctions project has identified foreign-origin components at the site, including machinery from Taiwan, South Korea, and Switzerland.

Ukrainian drones struck a critical military-linked facility in Russia’s Moscow Oblast that produces thermobaric warheads for Shahed drones, the Ukrainian General Staff reported on 4 July. The strike ignited a fire and caused visible black smoke, while Russian local authorities acknowledged drone-related damage in the area.

Ukrainian drones target war-linked facility

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, units from the Unmanned Systems Forces, together with other Defense Forces, hit the JSC “Scientific Research Institute of Applied Chemistry” in Sergiev Posad, Moscow Oblast.

The report emphasized that the facility is currently involved in the production of thermobaric warheads for Shahed-type UAVs and plays a vital role in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

“It is confirmed that our strike assets reached the target directly. A fire and heavy smoke were recorded in the area of the facility,” the Ukrainian military stated.

The effects of the strike are still being assessed, according to the report.

Fires and explosions in Sergiev Posad

On the morning of 4 July, Oksana Yerokhanova, head of the Sergiev Posad city district, confirmed that drones had attacked the town. She reported that a fire broke out at an electrical substation, leaving six neighborhoods without power.Yerokhanova also reported that two men were allegedly injured during the incident.

Geolocation confirms strike on key industrial site

Ukrainian Telegram channel ExileNova+ geolocated the black smoke column to Substation No. 94 “Zagorsk” (110/35/6 kV), believed to be part of the “Scientific Research Institute of Applied Chemistry.”

Additional footage shared by Exilenova+ shows Liutyi drones flying past the smoke column and striking separate locations.

Despite claiming the destruction of 48 drones overnight, the Russian Ministry of Defense did not mention any incidents in Moscow Oblast in its public statements.

Ukrainian forces launched a successful maritime drone strike overnight on 2 July, destroying a high-value Russian Nebo-M radar complex near the village of Mayak on northwestern Crimea’s Tarkhankut Cape. The assault, captured on video and confirmed through satellite imagery, further highlights Ukraine’s evolving drone capabilities and further depletes Russian air defense systems on the occupied peninsula.

Footage reveals advanced maritime drone tactics

According to Krymsky Veter, a Ukrainian military-linked Telegram channel, Ukrainian naval drones carried out the attack, striking two Nebo-M radars and their command cabin. Footage, shared by the Krymskyi Veter and X account @bayraktar_1love, shows a quadcopter launch from a maritime drone platform and dropping munitions directly on their targets — a capability that had not been publicly demonstrated before.

The channel did not mention the unit responsible for the operation, but the video footage features the emblem of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, along with insignia that may belong to the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center or the Special Operations Center South — Ukraine’s naval spetsnaz unit within its Special Operations Forces (SSO). 

The @bayraktar_1love’s version of the footage includes drone launches:

Russian milbloggers express frustration

Krymsky Veter shared a screenshot from a Russian milblogger channels reacting to the incident on 2 July, reading:“We don’t want to comment on today’s attack on Tarkhankut, because we’d have to swear,” indicating clear frustration among Russian sources.

The source did not specify the target or results but stated that Ukrainian drones were reportedly launched from a maritime drone, and that a relay transmitter over the sea was extending the signal. It also noted the drones allegedly operated on 700–900 MHz frequencies, and hinted on the incompetence of Russian electronic warfare system operators who failed to jam the incoming drones, asking:

“Turns out (or didn’t turn out) that EW systems with frequencies of 1200–1600 MHz don’t neutralize them? Maybe because it’s 5 watts per band? Or maybe it has another purpose?”

Nebo-M system destroyed near Mayak village

Krymsky Veter provided further detail the next day, 3 July, confirming the destruction of the Nebo-M complex near Mayak village. The Nebo-M is a mobile radar system capable of detecting aerodynamic and ballistic objects at medium and high altitudes. The complex includes the meter-band radar module Nebo-SVU, the decimeter-band module Protivnik-GE, and a command cabin — all reportedly eliminated in the strike. Additionally, the system may also include a centimeter-band radar.

According to later update by Krymsky Veter, Ukrainian forces employed naval drones and strike UAVs “Lazar”. A 55Zh6M “Nebo-M” radar system was destroyed, consisting of three components:

• a meter-band radar module 55Zh6M “Nebo-M”;
• a decimeter-band radar module 55Zh6M “Nebo-M”;
• the command and control cabin of the 55Zh6M “Nebo-M” system.

The equipment is estimated to cost around $100 million, underlining the significance of the target. The detection radius of the Nebo-M complex spans up to 600 km, with the ability to track up to 200 targets simultaneously.

A later update from Krymsky Veter, citing satellite imagery, confirmed burn marks on the eastern outskirts of Mayak village, matching the location of the destroyed radar complex.

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Ukrainian defense forces have destroyed or damaged nearly half of the Russian drone pilot positions identified along the Zaporizhzhia frontline, according to the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense.

Dronocide operation targets Russian drone pilots

HUR stated that Ukrainian units located 90 positions and residential locations used by Russian operators of strike and reconnaissance drones along the Zaporizhzhia front. Of those, 42 sites have been destroyed or damaged, according to the report.

The effort is part of a comprehensive counter-drone operation code-named Dronocide, focused on targeting and eliminating Russian UAV operator infrastructure.

The campaign is being executed by the Department of Active Operations of HUR, the Air Force Command, the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Zakarpattia Brigade, the 128th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, the Flight Skull unit from the Drone Systems Forces, and the Operational-Tactical Grouping of Forces Zaporizhzhia along with the Operational-Strategic Grouping Tavria.

Month-long campaign shows results

The Dronocide operation has evolved into what HUR described as a “month of annihilation” for Russian drone pilots. Coordinated Ukrainian forces have launched precision strikes on positions housing enemy drone crews, eliminating threats to Ukrainian front-line troops and infrastructure.

HUR released dramatic video footage showing the moments Russian positions were “turned into molecules” during some of the targeted bomb and drone strikes.

In the early hours of 3 July, Ukrainian drones targeted multiple sites across four Russian oblasts and occupied Crimea, including a confirmed strike on the Energiya defense battery factory in Yelets and an attempt to strike the military airfield in Lipetsk. Local officials and eyewitness footage confirm explosions and fires, while Moscow claims to have downed 69 UAVs in total.

Drone strike hits defense battery manufacturer in Yelets

According to eyewitness footage published news Telegram channels, Ukrainian drones hit the Energiya plant in Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast. The factory is the largest producer of sealed lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, and lithium-ion batteries for Russia’s military, including systems ranging from UAVs to intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Russian Telegram channel Astra reports that a drone struck the factory’s parking area, igniting several vehicles and damaging nearby infrastructure. Explosions and heavy smoke were seen in the area. The Lipetsk Oblast Governor Igor Artamonov confirmed a drone fell near an enterprise parking lot, causing a fire and triggering the evacuation of nearby plant workers. Footage of this fire also shows that windows were shattered in the nearby building of the plant.

One of the clips, featuring the black smoke rising from the parking lot, captured an additional strike on the plant. 

Drones target Russia's military-grade batteries maker and airbase

Energiya factory in Yelets was last hit in May. In Lipetsk, drones seem to have been intercepted before reaching the airfield.https://t.co/q8IyqvZFCL
TG/Exilenova+ pic.twitter.com/GANUZnyEFs

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 3, 2025

Airfield in Lipetsk targeted

Local authorities did not provide specifics on the airfield impact, but explosions were reported in Lipetsk city and across the oblast.

Artamonov claimed that drone fragments allegedly hit a detached house, killing one civilian and injuring two more. Another UAV ostensibly hit a section of an under-construction apartment building in Yelets.

Explore further

Videos show Russian ammo stockpile spectacularly destroyed in occupied Donetsk Oblast’s Khartsyzk

Voronezh Oblast also targeted

Voronezh Oblast Governor Alexander Gusev stated via Telegram that drone fragments damaged the roofs of two detached houses in Voronezh. The strike also knocked down a power line, leaving a local village without electricity. 

Russia claims mass drone interception

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated in the morning that air defense systems allegedly shot down 69 Ukrainian drones: 27 over Belgorod Oblast, 22 over Voronezh, 10 over Lipetsk, 8 over Kursk, and 2 over occupied Crimea.

Despite the scale of the incident, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov and acting Kursk Governor Alexander Khinshtein made no public comment on the attacks.

Flight restrictions and fire in Tambov

Astra reported that Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency temporarily restricted flights at airports in Tambov, and Samara amid the drone threat.

Separately, acting Tambov Oblast Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov reported a fire at an unspecified enterprise in the city of Kotovsk overnight on 3 July. He said the blaze, believed to have been caused by a technological malfunction, killed three employees and injured three others.

Kotovsk hosts several industrial plants, including facilities for plastics, equipment, and a gunpowder factory.

Pervyshov did not connect the incident to any drone activity.

Powerful explosions and detonation erupted in the Russian-occupied city of Khartsyzk, Donetsk Oblast, late on 2 July. Multiple reports and videos from local sources point to a possible Ukrainian strike targeting an ammunition depot deep behind Russian lines.

Nighttime blast and detonation captured on video

Loud explosions occurred in Khartsyzk, accompanied by a strong detonation. Local residents shared videos showing the moment of impact and the subsequent fire. The footage, widely circulated on Telegram, depicted a large blast, followed by intense flames and a heavy smoke column.

The town has been under Russian control since 2014. 

Possible Ukrainian strike on Russian ammunition depot

OSINT Telegram channel KiberBoroshno believes that the strike hit a former industrial storage facility. They stated,

“The area was marked as an ‘abandoned industrial warehouse for explosives,’ covered by a Tor air defense system, but it didn’t help.”

More footage of the last night's attack.

Occupied since 2014, Khartsyzk is a key logistics hub for Russian forces and has seen previous attacks in 2022 and January 2025.
TG/Supernova+ pic.twitter.com/kGPWb726BY

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 3, 2025

Although the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has not issued an official confirmation, the nature of the explosion strongly suggests a successful strike on a key Russian military site.

The head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, Andrii Kovalenko, also indicated that the location likely housed a Russian ammunition depot. The Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ echoed that claim, captioning the shared clips as “Strike on an ammo storage in Khartsyzk.”

More footage of the last night's attack.

Occupied since 2014, Khartsyzk is a key logistics hub for Russian forces and has seen previous attacks in 2022 and January 2025.
TG/Supernova+ pic.twitter.com/kGPWb726BY

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 3, 2025

Quisling official’s claims

Victoria Zhukova, a representative of Russia’s occupation administration in the Khartsyzk district, acknowledged that many residents reported shattered windows in apartment buildings. She also noted complaints about heavy smoke in the aftermath of the explosion.

This incident is not the first strike on Russian targets in Khartsyzk. In January 2025, Ukrainian forces reported hitting a Russian army command post in the city. Earlier, in 2022, another ammunition warehouse in the occupied city exploded.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he understands the US administration’s desire to prioritize its own interests, but at the same time calls for continued military support for Ukraine.

The statement, delivered after the White House confirmed the suspension of systems approved under President Biden, a move that raises alarm as Ukraine fights against ever-increasing Russian missile and drone attacks.

Speaking on Fox News, Rutte said he “fully understands” the US desire to ensure American security interests are met first.

“But when it comes to Ukraine, in the short term, Ukraine cannot do without all the support it can get when it comes to ammunition and air defense systems,” Rutte said.

The NATO secretary general referenced discussions between Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump during last week’s NATO summit, describing “a very good discussion, in particular focusing on air defense systems.”

The White House confirmed Wednesday that the Pentagon suspended deliveries of air defense missiles and precision-guided munitions to Ukraine due to concerns that US weapons stocks had been depleted.

“Yes, I understand that the US has to take care of its own weapons stockpiles. At the same time, we must allow for some flexibility,” Rutte said.

Ukrainian officials said they had not received official notification of the suspension or revision of delivery schedules for agreed defense assistance.

European limitations acknowledged

Rutte said European countries are increasing defense spending and aid to Ukraine, “but we cannot do without practical support from the US.”

“It is also in the interests of the US for Ukraine not to lose this war… And a secure Europe also means a secure US. This all is completely connected,” the NATO secretary general said.

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Politico: US cuts critical air defense shipments to Ukraine needed to protect civilians from Russian terror

Ukraine’s long-range strike drone UJ-26 Bober (“Beaver”) has been upgraded with a manual operator control system similar to that of first-person-view (FPV) drones, along with thermal imaging and a high-quality data transmission channel—marking a major advancement in the country’s drone warfare capabilities.

Bober drone gets FPV-like manual guidance and thermal vision

Militarnyi reports that Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) has received a modified version of the Ukrainian-made UJ-26 drone developed by Ukrjet. This upgraded strike UAV features an FPV-style manual control system, allowing operators to guide it in real-time. The drone is now equipped with a thermal imaging camera and an unspecified communication system that ensures high-quality video transmission all the way to impact.

Read more on this particular attack in our previous report:

Ukrainian drones just lit up Russian-occupied Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk — here’s how (video)

The enhanced imagery from these drones was previously observed during missions conducted by the Prymary unit. At the time, Russian milbloggers claimed that fixed-wing drones used in those operations might have included built-in Starlink satellite communication terminals.

Control delays hint at satellite link usage

Despite the improved image quality from the thermal camera, Militarnyi notes that the drone’s control remains relatively sluggish. This could indicate a high signal transmission delay between the UAV and the operator’s console, lending credibility to the theory of a satellite communication link, possibly Starlink, being used.

Possibly increased payload potential shown in Crimea strike

The latest attack on the Saky airfield in occupied Crimea highlighted the drone’s operational capability. The required flight distance was under half the Bober’s maximum combat radius, suggesting it may have carried a heavier warhead. The standard payload is estimated to be just 20 kilograms, Militarnyi notes.

Catapult launch boosts range, raises deployment questions

The launch footage released shows a Bober drone being catapulted rather than taking off from a runway. This launch method requires a large launching platform but eliminates the need for landing gear. As a result, it improves the drone’s aerodynamics and extends its range. However, this approach may limit the rapid deployment of multiple UAVs, since each unit needs time-consuming setup on its launcher. A possible solution could involve pre-positioning drones already airborne, though that strategy introduces its own challenges.

From strategic to tactical: the shifting nature of drone warfare

Militarnyi notes that the introduction of upgraded UJ-26 Bober drones—alongside the Russian modifications of the Iranian Shahed-236 UAVs—marks a new phase in the drone warfare. 

“The ‘drone war,’ with the increase in production of heavy long-range drones, is shifting from the strategic to the tactical level—they are increasingly being used to strike individual combat units in the rear,” Militarnyi says.

On 1 July 2025, Ukrainian strike drones carried out a major long-range attack on Russian military infrastructure, striking the Kupol Electromechanical Plant in Izhevsk, about 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine. The facility is a major site for the production of Tor air defense systems and combat UAVs.

Ukrainian Liutyi drones target Kupol

Multiple clips from Izhevsk, shared by local residents, confirm that Ukrainian Liutyi drones struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant in the early morning of 1 July.

Eyewitness footage captured explosions and subsequent fires at the site. Ukrainian Telegram channels Exilenova+ and CyberBoroshno geolocated the strike site based on available videos. Their analysis confirmed that the main facility of Kupol had been hit.

Exilenova+ and Ukraine Context Telegram channels shared videos from Izhevsk showing a Liutyi flyover, strikes, and the aftermath, including fires at the facility.

Based on footage, Telegram channels Exilenova+ and CyberBoroshno confirmed that the Kupol plant was the target of the attack. pic.twitter.com/sC1xOAgUiw

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 1, 2025

Videos reveal that Russian personnel attempted to shoot down incoming UAVs using small arms fire.

This long-range attack inside Russia occurred simultaneously with Ukrainian strikes in occupied Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea:

Explore further

Ukrainian drones just lit up Russian-occupied Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk — here’s how (video)

Astra confirms strike and location

According to the Russian news Telegram channel Astra, at least two drones attacked the Kupol factory five minutes apart. The videos showed a high chimney characteristic of the plant’s premises and a tall residential building at 7A 30 Let Pobedy Street, located one block away from the facility.

Telegram channel Ukraine Context shared footage showing a flyover of the Ukrainian Liutyi drones in Izhevsk, and the strikes on the military plant.

One of the clips features the sounds of secondary detonations before a larger explosion. pic.twitter.com/VnU7yk61UM

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 1, 2025

Kupol’s strategic role and sanctions

Founded in 1957, Kupol is one of Russia’s key defense enterprises. According to its director Fanil Ziyatdinov, as cited by Rossiyskaya Gazeta in 2023, the factory also produces Samam-M1 and Adjutant training complexes and services them. In July 2023, Reuters reported that Kupol began manufacturing Garpiya-A1 strike drones using Chinese-made components.

Due to its role in supporting Russia’s war effort, the European Union added Kupol to its sanctions list on 16 December 2022. The US, Canada, Ukraine, and Switzerland have imposed similar sanctions, citing its role in supplying weapons to the Russian military.

This was the second drone strike on Kupol since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The first attack occurred in November 2024, as Euromaidan Press reported.

Simultaneous drone attacks across Russia

In the same early hours of 1 July, other parts of Russia came under drone attack. According to regional governors and Russian propagandist media, drones hit Rostov and Saratov oblasts.

Astra reported explosions in Saratov and Engels, and a temporary suspension of airport operations in Saratov.

Rosaviatsia spokesperson Artem Korenyako stated that airports in Ulyanovsk, Kazan, and Nizhnekamsk were also closed.

Acting governor of Rostov Oblast Yurii Sliusar claimed air defense downed drones over several areas, including Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog, Novoshakhtinsk, and multiple districts.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed air defenses had shot down 60 drones overnight. Reportedly, 17 were downed over Crimea, 16 over Rostov Oblast, 11 over the Azov Sea, 5 over Kursk Oblast, 4 over Saratov Oblast, and others over Voronezh and Oryol oblasts.

Missile threat declared deep inside Russia

According to RIA Novosti, Astrakhan airport imposed temporary flight restrictions.

A Russian military airfield is located just two kilometers from Akhtubinsk. The site was last attacked in June 2024, when Ukrainian intelligence reported strikes on two Su-57 fighter jets — the first ever confirmed hit on these aircraft.

The missile alert was lifted at 00:18 local time, though authorities warned of a continued threat of “provocations by the enemy.”

Ukrainian forces launched massive strikes on Russian military infrastructure and logistical hubs in Russian-occupied Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea overnight on 30 June into 1 July, using drones and missiles to hit high-value targets.

Oil depot in Luhansk hit during drone barrage

Loud explosions rocked occupied Luhansk overnight on 1 July, triggering large fires reportedly caused by Ukrainian drone strikes. According to Russian occupation authorities and Russian propaganda media cited by Liga, around 20 drones were spotted over Luhansk, prompting the introduction of a “caution regime” in several cities in the region, including Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch), Lutuhyne, Dovzhanask (formerly Sverdlovsk), Sukodolsk, and Bilokurakyne.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, stated that Ukrainian forces struck Russian logistics facilities in Luhansk.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ published video footage of the strike, showing night-time explosions and flames rising from what they identified as the city’s only major oil depot, located in its southern outskirts.

In one video, locals filming the strike mention that four drones directly hit the facility. Another video shared on the channel shows two distinct clusters of fires and the sound of a drone flyby, with sounds of small arms fire as the Russian forces attempted to shoot it down.

Missile strike levels Russian military HQ in Donetsk

Earlier on the evening of 30 June, Ukrainian missiles hit a Russian military target in occupied Donetsk. Kovalenko referred to the strike as “jewelry work” and described the site as “very juicy.”

Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ shared footage of the attack, with one of the clips showing two consecutive explosions, and others a large fire. The channel claimed that Ukraine used Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles to strike the headquarters of Russia’s 8th Combined Arms Army, located at the Donetsk Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals (DonIsSM). The Dnipro-based outlet Harbuz also attributed the attack to Storm Shadow missiles.

Some Ukrainian sources, including the Telegram page Kiberboroshno, alleged that the facility was involved in Russian drone and electronic warfare systems development. Russian channels attempted to downplay the strike by claiming no military personnel had been stationed in the building recently.

One video captured the immediate aftermath, showing several floors collapsed down to the basement. On-site rescuers speaking to people filming — presumed to be from Russia’s FSB security agency — described the scene using Russian military casualty codes — “300” for wounded and “200” for dead — confirming the presence of both.

Supernova+ commented that “the building was hit down to the basement… they’re carrying out ‘200s’ in packs.”

Meanwhile, local propaganda outlets confirmed the city had been targeted by Storm Shadow missiles and reported additional fires at the Sokol market. Unconfirmed reports suggested hits also occurred at a metallurgical plant and in the railway zone.

One of the Supernova-shared videos shows multiple strikes in Yasynuvata, Donetsk’s northern suburb, hosting a railway hub and multiple industrial facilities.

Drone strikes in Crimea knock out air defense and fighter jet

Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) released exclusive footage showing its UJ-26 Bober drones targeting Russian military systems in occupied Crimea. The video captures strikes on several key air defense assets, including the Pantsir-S1 SAM system, Niobiy-SV radar, Pechora-3 coastal radar, and Protivnik-GE radar. A Russian Su-30 fighter jet was also damaged or destroyed on the runway at the Saky airbase.

HUR commented:

“Reliable weapons in the hands of Ukrainian special forces are turning the enemy’s critical military assets into worthless junk.”

The attacks reflect a broader Ukrainian strategy of targeting critical Russian military and logistical infrastructure in occupied territories amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

Over 9,300 Russians were knocked out of combat in a single month. Ukraine’s General Staff reports that this number of soldiers Russia lost on the Slobozhanskyi and Kursk axes in June 2025 alone.

Of these, over 4,470 are irreversible losses. Another 4,800 were wounded, and 42 Russian troops were captured.

Ukrainian forces also destroyed 423 units of Russian equipment, including six tanks, 20 armored vehicles, 89 artillery systems and MLRS, as well as three air defense systems.

The General Staff notes that Ukrainian units conducted deep strikes up to 100 kilometers behind enemy lines, including on Russian territory. These strikes hit 16 command posts, six manpower concentration areas, three ammunition depots, and even a logistics hub and an oil depot.

Since the start of the Kursk operation in August 2024, Russia has lost over 75,860 troops in this sector, with 1,037 captured. Additionally, Ukrainian forces have destroyed 2,848 pieces of equipment, including 99 tanks, 709 armored vehicles, and 322 artillery systems and MLRS.

Norway will send F-35 fighters to Poland to protect NATO’s strategic logistics hub in Rzeszów from potential sabotage and missile strikes. The Norwegian Ministry of Defense has announced that the jets will be deployed over this important center for international military aid to Ukraine as early as this fall. 

Earlier, the US announced plans to redeploy some of its military equipment and personnel from the Polish military airport Jasionka, near Rzeszów, to other locations within Poland. US aircraft and troops began arriving in Jasionka shortly before Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine in February 2022.

Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik has emphasized the importance of this assistance to the defense of Ukraine.

“This is an extremely important contribution. We are helping ensure that aid reaches Ukraine and that the country can continue the fight for freedom,” he states. 

In June 2025, it became known that Rzeszów is also a center of Russian spy activity. Vasyl Malyuk, head of Ukraine’s Security Service, confirmed that several assassination attempts on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were foiled in this city, UNIAN reports. 

They were organized by a retired Polish military man who had been recruited decades ago and firmly believed in the Soviet idea. The goal was the physical elimination of Zelenskyy at Rzeszów airport. Several options were considered: an FPV drone or a sniper system.

Vasyl Malyuk said that these plans were prevented due to cooperation with Poland’s special service, the Internal Security Agency (ABW), the counterpart of Ukraine’s SBU.

Exclusive

Why Ukraine must bet it all on Putin’s greatest weakness—Crimea. Ukraine must focus its strategic efforts on reclaiming Crimea to exploit Putin’s most vulnerable position.

Military

Ukraine strikes Crimea again, destroys Russia’s Pantsir air defense system and helicopters
On the night of June 27–28, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) carried out a drone strike on the Kirovske military airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Ukraine intercepts a mystery Russian bomb near Dnipro — officials debate if it’s Grom-1
At approximately 11:30 AM local time, a loud explosion shook the suburbs of Dnipro, a major city in central Ukraine.

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine intelligence: Russia deploys Soviet-era tanks as modern reserves dwindle amid massive losses
Russia began deploying Soviet-era T-62 tanks from the 1960s, as the country faces mounting equipment losses in its war against Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate.

Zelenskyy: Russian missiles and drones still packed with Western tech — and still killing Ukrainians
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia continues to rely on foreign-made components, including from Western countries, to build weapons used in its war against Ukraine.

International

Bild: Germany’s Ukraine aid promise math doesn’t add up as € 900 million missing from actual budget
A nearly one billion euro gap has emerged between German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s public promises of Ukraine military aid and the actual budget allocations approved by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet, according to Bild.

NATO allies conduct major river crossing joint exercise in Germany as Russian security threat persists
Military units from Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, and Italy successfully completed a large-scale river crossing operation on 28 June as part of ongoing joint military exercises in Germany.

German chancellor rules out direct contact with Putin as previous calls led to more strikes on civilians
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out telephoning Russian President Vladimir Putin in the foreseeable future, citing a pattern of escalated attacks following diplomatic outreach attempts, according to an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Frontline report: UK patrols cut off Russian shadow tankers at Baltic chokepoints – Putin’s oil billions at risk

Humanitarian and social impact

Russian drone strike on Odesa kills teacher and husband, injures children — “We heard it coming, helpless” (updated) Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack on a residential high-rise in Odesa, local authorities confirmed.

Pope expresses sorrow for Ukrainian prisoners and victims of war. Zelenskyy asks for help to return prisoners Pope Leo XIV expressed solidarity with Ukrainian families suffering from the Russian aggression during a Vatican service, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to request papal help in bringing home Ukrainian prisoners of war and deported children.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Ukrainian forces have destroyed a rare M-1991 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) originating from North Korea, marking the first confirmed elimination of this type of weapon in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. The drone strike was carried out by soldiers of the Raid battalion, which shared footage of the operation. The attack reportedly occurred in the Novopavlivka sector in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast.

Precision strike leads to massive detonation

Militarnyi notes that video footage published by the Raid battalion on Telegram shows FPV drone footage, targeting the MLRS. The strike hit one of the rockets inside the launcher pack, causing an unplanned launch that pierced the crew cabin. The impact also sparked a fire, which eventually destroyed the system.

North Korean M-1991: Cold War-era weapon in modern war

The M-1991 MLRS was introduced by North Korea’s military in the late 1980s. It features a 240 mm caliber and was designed as an attempt to replicate the Soviet “Uragan” system. The launcher carries 22 rockets and is mounted on a Chinese CQ25290 truck chassis. It requires a two-person crew along with a driver and commander.

Each rocket used by the M-1991 measures approximately 5.2 meters in length. While the original maximum range was around 60 kilometers, North Korean sources claimed in 2024 that it had been extended to 80 kilometers.

Ukrainian military intelligence reported that its drones successfully hit five valuable components of Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defense system during a covert operation in occupied Crimea. The attack was carried out by the elite Prymary (“Ghosts”) unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) and targeted critical radar systems and a missile launcher. The agency did not share the details of the operation, but the short range of FPV drones suggests that those may have been launched from a maritime carrier drone, like in previous similar operations.

Operation by HUR’s Prymary hits S-400 system

On 26 June, Ukraine’s HUR announced that its special unit Prymary executed a drone attack that damaged or destroyed key components of the Russian S-400 system in Crimea. HUR stated:

“Prymary returns: HUR warriors strike enemy air defense systems in Crimea.”

The operation focused on high-value and technically advanced elements of the S-400. The components targeted included two 92N2E multifunction radar stations and two 91N6E detection radars, along with one S-400 missile launcher.

According to HUR, this targeted strike further weakens Russia’s ability to control the skies over the occupied peninsula.

Video footage released by HUR showed the FPV drone strikes hitting their intended targets.

Functionality of S-400 radars hit

As reported by Militarnyi, the 92N6E radar units are responsible for target detection, tracking, and missile guidance, capable of tracking up to 100 targets and guiding as many as 72 missiles simultaneously. The 91N6E radars, also struck during the operation, are used for long-range detection and target assignment within the missile complex.

The S-400 missile launcher reportedly hit in the attack was believed to be armed with missiles at the time.

S-400’s image continues to deteriorate in Ukraine war

Originally introduced as a successor to the Soviet-era S-300 system, Russia promoted the S-400 Triumf as one of the most powerful air defense systems in the world. Russia has actively exported the system and spread propaganda emphasizing its effectiveness.

However, the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has repeatedly challenged those claims. Ukrainian drone operations in Russian-occupied Crimea have exposed vulnerabilities in the S-400 system.

According to open-source intelligence group Oryx, Ukrainian forces have visually confirmed the destruction of at least 18 S-400 launchers, 3 radars, and 3 tractor vehicles used in the complex since the all-out war began.