Russia launched a ferocious overnight assault on Ukraine, deploying over 300 drones and more than 30 cruise missiles, killing at least one person and wounding six others, including a child, in the Black Sea port city of Odesa. The attack, one of the largest in recent months, targeted multiple regions, with Odesa’s mayor, Hennadii Trukhanov, reporting a missile and over 20 drones struck the city, sparking a fire in a residential high-rise where five people were rescued.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack on X, highlighting the damage to critical infrastructure in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region. He urged global leaders to expedite defense agreements, emphasizing joint weapons production, drone manufacturing, and air defense systems to bolster Ukraine’s resilience.

The barrage marks a sharp escalation in Russia’s long-range strikes, with analysts warning of worsening assaults. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it downed 71 Ukrainian drones, while Moscow’s mayor reported intercepting 13 drones near the capital. The intensified attacks, following a record 700-drone strike on July 8, signal Russia’s intent to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses, dimming hopes for a near-term resolution to the over three-year war.

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