In a brazen escalation of hostilities, Russia launched a massive overnight aerial assault on Ukraine between Tuesday, July 15, and Wednesday, July 16, 2025, deploying hundreds of drones and at least one ballistic missile, defying a prior warning issued by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Ukrainian officials, the coordinated attack involved over 400 Shahed-type drones, hitting multiple regions including Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, and Vinnytsia. The offensive left at least one person dead and dozens injured, despite Ukraine’s air defence systems reportedly intercepting the majority of the aerial threats.
Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was one of the hardest hit. Local authorities confirmed that a ballistic missile strike disrupted power and water infrastructure, leaving 15 residents injured, including a 17-year-old boy who is in critical condition. Additional injuries were reported in Kharkiv and Vinnytsia, where at least eight and three people were wounded, respectively.
The attack comes in stark defiance of a 50-day ultimatum issued earlier in January 2025 by former President Trump, who had warned that Russia would face severe sanctions, including 100 percent tariffs, if it failed to end the war in Ukraine. Despite that threat, Russia proceeded with the latest wave of attacks, which analysts describe as a direct rebuke to Western diplomatic pressure.
Russian officials have dismissed Trump’s warnings as political posturing, while President Zelenskyy condemned the continued aggression and renewed calls for advanced air defence support from international partners. He emphasized that Russia’s unrelenting attacks underscore the urgent need for more Patriot missile systems and comprehensive protection for civilian populations.
This latest offensive follows a growing pattern of intensified drone warfare, including a record-breaking 728-drone assault launched by Russia earlier this month. As tensions escalate and hopes for a negotiated ceasefire remain slim, Western allies are now weighing further economic sanctions to pressure Moscow into de-escalation.
With Ukraine’s military stretched and civilians increasingly caught in the crossfire, global observers warn that the conflict may soon enter a more dangerous phase unless immediate diplomatic and defensive interventions are made.
