Russia again launched intense drone and missile attacks on various Ukrainian cities overnight into Sunday, resulting in 5 deaths and dozens of injuries, while Ukraine continues to target Russian energy infrastructure.
Foreign news agencies reported that Russia launched ballistic missile strikes against multiple Ukrainian cities overnight into Sunday, 19 Jul 2026 GMT+7, causing 5 deaths and at least 35 injuries, while Ukraine continued to attack various areas in Russia.
Ukrainian officials revealed that the latest Russian attacks caused 4 deaths and 19 injuries in Kharkiv in the northeast, and 1 death with 16 injuries in Kyiv, the capital.
The Ukrainian military stated Russia used Iskander ballistic missiles, hypersonic Zircon missiles, and over 125 drones in last night's attack on Kyiv. The city's air defense intercepted 18 of 41 missiles and 108 drones.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described this as one of the most severe ballistic missile attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. Over the past week, Russia “used about 1,450 drones, over 1,640 guided bombs, and 99 various missiles in attacks on Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine continued its strikes on Russian territory. Zelensky disclosed that three Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea and facilities in the Stavropol region in the southwest were targeted.
“The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) simultaneously struck three oil depots in the Stavropol region, while our military attacked another fuel-related facility in the same area,” Zelensky stated in a message posted on Telegram.
“There were also precision strikes on three oil tankers in Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ in the Black Sea. I thank all our units for helping Russia realize that this war must end.”
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, transporting oil from Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea to Russia’s Novorossiysk port on the Black Sea, reported that their oil loading station was attacked. Two oil tankers were damaged, halting operations temporarily, but there were no injuries or oil spills.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said residential buildings and other structures, including a supermarket and a dormitory, were damaged. Firefighters worked to control fires at two warehouses, while a logistics center in Bucha near Kyiv was struck, causing two injuries.
Russia’s latest attacks followed Ukraine’s drone strikes on two warehouses of Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, resulting in 8 deaths and a major fire. Zelensky said these attacks were retaliation for Russia targeting civilian infrastructure, cities, and communities.
Ukraine has escalated long-range drone attacks on key Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, causing widespread fuel shortages. Kyiv claimed in early July that nearly 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity had been disabled by these strikes.
Russia has also intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities, prompting Kyiv to seek additional missile defense systems from European allies.
“Defending ourselves against missiles remains our highest priority at all times,” Zelensky said on Sunday. “We need interception systems every day.”
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Source:bbc