Deadly Russian Drone Attacks on Ukraine Intensify

On Friday, Russian drones targeted a shopping mall in the city of Kryvyi Rih, central Ukraine, resulting in at least 15 deaths and numerous injuries, authorities reported. This assault was part of a series of Russian attacks across Ukraine, including in the Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions, which collectively led to a total of 21 fatalities.

Kryvyi Rih, known as the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suffered what he described as a ‘double-tap strike’. Initially, drones hit the area, and a second wave followed as rescue teams responded. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it an ‘absolute Russian atrocity’ and vowed that Ukraine would respond.

Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, confirmed that the mall attack claimed the lives of at least 15 people and injured 130 others, including 23 children. Kryvyi Rih has faced repeated assaults over the ongoing war, with one major attack in April 2025 that resulted in 20 deaths, nine of whom were children.

Friday’s onslaught in the Kharkiv region also led to the deaths of two elderly women, ages 73 and 66, as reported by regional head Oleh Syniehubov. In the same evening, an additional attack in the Mykolaiv region killed four individuals, including three children.

Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down or neutralizing 107 of the 135 drones launched by Russia overnight. These incidents occurred shortly after an intensive aerial attack on Kyiv, which left 16 victims. Large-scale strikes are frequent, with one attack earlier in the summer resulting in 17 casualties in Kyiv and its surrounding regions.

Moscow’s forces have increased ballistic missile use, exploiting Ukraine’s lack of sufficient U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems. The United Nations recently reported that Kyiv was heavily affected in July, with 54 civilian deaths and 202 injuries.

In response, Ukrainian drones conducted attacks in Russia. In Russia’s Belgorod region, one person died and four were injured in a strike. Additionally, Ukrainian drones targeted an oil refinery in Perm and a military airfield in the Volgograd region, as reported by President Zelenskyy. The Russian news outlet Astra noted that a Lukoil-operated oil refinery was set ablaze in Perm due to these strikes.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that it intercepted 325 Ukrainian drones across 15 regions, as well as in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Later, they claimed to have shot down another 211 drones. Long-range engagements between the two nations are escalating, with both sides experiencing constrained troop movements due to intense drone and ground robot activity.

Ukraine has successfully developed and deployed long-range drones capable of reaching deep into Russian territory, drawing global attention from governments and defense companies. The intent of Ukrainian officials is to make the Russian populace feel war’s toll, pushing President Vladimir Putin toward negotiations. Presently, Putin shows no inclination to end the invasion.