Russian Shaheds and Missiles Devastate Ukraine Overnight—Casualties and Civilian Destruction Mount

Civilian infrastructure was hit in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Ivano-Frankivsk, leaving at least two people dead and dozens injured, including a teenager, according to Ukrainian officials on July 21.

In Kyiv, explosions rang out across several districts. According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, debris from an intercepted drone ignited a fire on a balcony of a ten-story apartment building in the Shevchenkivskyi district. In the other districts, fires broke out at a shopping center, a garage cooperative, and even a preschool. Emergency responders quickly contained the blazes.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the entrance to the Lukianivska metro station was damaged, forcing a temporary closure. Trains are now bypassing the station without stopping.

He confirmed seven people were injured in the capital, including five adults aged 36 to 55 and a 15-year-old girl in the Darnytskyi district. An elderly woman was hospitalized in the Shevchenkivskyi district. A man was killed in the Solomianskyi district.

The capital’s casualties and damage spanned at least seven neighborhoods, including Obolonskyi, Dniprovskyi, and Holosiivskyi, with destruction reported at a supermarket, kindergartens, garages, and warehouses.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to a Russian attack, saying, “Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity—in Kyiv, a kindergarten caught fire, along with residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure.”

He added that regular apartment buildings were damaged in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and the region.

“15 people have been injured, the youngest is a 12-year-old boy. Everyone is receiving assistance. Two people were killed in the attack. My condolences to their families and loved ones,” he wrote.

Russia launched more than 420 drones and over 20 missiles, including ballistic ones, the President added.

“The waves of attacks lasted all night and continued into the morning. In the morning, ‘shaheds’ once again targeted the Kharkiv region. During the shelling, mobile fire groups, army aviation, electronic warfare units, Air Force warriors, and interceptor drones were in action. Many targets were shot down — but unfortunately, not all,” Zelenskyy stated.

Ukraine must continue scaling up interceptor capabilities, he said.

“This is the kind of solution that can protect us from massive attacks. I am grateful to everyone working in Ukraine and with Ukraine to defend lives—to expand weapons production, strengthen our air defense, and continue work on sanctions. Only real pressure on Russia can stop this aggression,” Zelenskyy concluded.

Ivano-Frankivsk endures the worst airstrike of the war

Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv said the city experienced its most intense bombardment since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The attack involved both Shahed drones and missiles.

“In three villages of our community, there’s damage to infrastructure,” Martsinkiv said. “We know of injuries in at least one village. Unfortunately, there were a lot of strikes.”

Rescue services reported four people injured in the region, including a child. Fires broke out at a private home, in garages, and at storage and production facilities spanning over 500 square meters.

Kharkiv rocked by a drone barrage, suffers infrastructure damage

In Kharkiv, at least 12 explosions were reported overnight as Russian forces launched another round of Shahed drones. Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed strikes in the city’s Kyivskyi district, including one near a residential building.

The blasts shattered windows, damaged roads, tram tracks, and power lines. A civilian enterprise caught fire, but no injuries were reported.

What Russia used in the attack

Ukraine’s military said Russia launched a combined assault using Iranian-made Shahed drones, Kalibr cruise missiles, Kinzhal aero-ballistic missiles, and missiles fired from Tu-95 strategic bombers. Russian MiG-31K jets were also reportedly active during the night and into the morning.

Emergency services and police continued operations across affected regions, documenting the aftermath and providing psychological aid to survivors.

Earlier, more than 300 attack drones and at least 30 missiles were launched against Ukraine overnight on July 19 in one of the most extensive coordinated Russian assaults to date, affecting over ten regions and causing multiple casualties and significant damage.

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