Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine overnight into Saturday with hundreds of drones, killing at least one person, part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than 3-year-old war.
President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X, saying Russia fired over 300 drones, along with more than 30 cruise missiles. One person died when Russian forces attacked the Black Sea port city of Odesa with more than 20 drones and a missile, the city’s mayor, Hennadii Trukhanov, said on Saturday on Telegram, while five people were rescued when a fire broke out in a residential high-rise building.
According to Zelensky, six other people were wounded in the attack on Odesa, including a child, and critical infrastructure was damaged in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region.
The Ukrainian President also thanked international leaders “who understand how important it is to promptly implement our agreements” aimed at boosting Ukraine’s defence capabilities, including joint weapons production, drone manufacturing, and the supply of air defence systems.
Russia has been intensifying its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities. It now often batters Ukraine with more drones in a single night than it did during some entire months in 2024, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate. On July 8, Russia unleashed more than 700 drones.
Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down 71 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 13 drones were shot down as they approached the Russian capital.
Abrams tanks
Australia’s government said on Saturday it had delivered M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a A$245 million ($160 million) package to help the country defend itself against Russia.