On the night of July 31, 2026, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a large-scale combined attack on Ukrainian territory. Drones, missiles, and aerial bombs struck more than ten regions of the country. As a result of the raid, casualties and injuries among the civilian population were recorded, as well as significant damage to infrastructure.

Scale of the Air Attack

According to fact-checking data, Russian troops launched a record number of attack drones against Ukraine — 255 units. Ukrainian air defense forces and mobile fire groups managed to destroy or suppress 195 drones using electronic warfare means. 22 strikes were recorded in 14 different locations across the country.

A distinctive feature of the night attack was the mass use of new "Gerbera" type drones. According to local authorities, these devices, made of compressed polystyrene and plywood, are used to mimic large targets on radar in order to exhaust air defense system resources.

Consequences in the Regions

The most severe consequences were recorded in the following regions:

  • Dnipropetrovsk region: Two people were killed and three others injured in the Nikopol district. A food industry enterprise, a village council building, an educational institution, and private homes were hit. Damage was also recorded in the Dnipro, Pavlohrad, and Synelnykove districts.
  • Zaporizhzhia region: One person died as a result of a drone hitting a civilian car. The head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov, reported that the day before, Russian troops had launched 842 strikes on 45 settlements in the region, resulting in six injuries.
  • Donetsk region: On the morning of July 31, Russian aircraft dropped four guided aerial bombs (KABs) on a residential district of Kramatorsk. One person was killed and four were injured. Residential buildings, a supermarket, and an educational institution were destroyed. The total area of fires was approximately 685 square meters.
  • Odesa region: A morning missile strike damaged civilian infrastructure, including the territory of an enterprise, a hospital building, and a college. Two people were injured, one of whom is in critical condition.
  • Vinnytsia region: In the city of Haisyn, a drone made a direct hit on a "Nova Poshta" terminal. The fire covered an area of more than 750 square meters, and nine people were injured.
  • Kyiv region: In the Brovary district, debris damaged an industrial enterprise and a residential building.
  • Chernihiv region: In the village of Mashevo, four people were injured by drone strikes.

Air Defense Situation

Analysts note that Russia is changing tactics, using cheap drones to overload Ukrainian air defense systems before strikes with ballistic missiles. The situation is exacerbated by a shortage of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. The issue of equipment supplies is being discussed during negotiations with NATO allies.