Russia fired a record number of missiles at Ukraine in July, an AFP analysis of Ukrainian air force data published Saturday showed, as Kyiv renewed its call for anti-ballistic defenses.
Daily reports published by Kyiv’s air force showed Russia launched 376 missiles at Ukraine during the month, more than twice the number fired in June. Many of the attacks over the month targeted the capital Kyiv, which saw some of its deadliest strikes since the beginning of the war, with at least 30 killed on the night of July 2 alone. Russia also fired 4,956 long-range drones at Ukraine during the month, down 14% on June.
Kyiv can intercept the vast majority of drones, but still relies on supplies from allies to counter missiles. The ultra-fast ballistic missiles travel on a high arcing trajectory before crashing down into their target, are hard to stop and often hit with just a few minutes’ warning from air raid sirens, if any. Russia has ramped up their use from an estimated 200-300 in the whole of 2024, according to military analysts, to 126 in July 2026 alone. Ukraine downed under a third of them, according to the AFP tally of official data.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine faces critical shortages of air defenses needed to counter missile attacks, particularly Russia’s increasing use of ballistic missiles. Both sides have escalated long-range attacks as the war drags through its fifth year, with no signs of stopping and with gains on the front line coming only at huge human cost.
Zelensky travelled to the White House in late July to press for the supply of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors, one of the only means of reliably shooting down Russia’s ballistic missiles. President Donald Trump had initially said he would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors, but he has since expressed reservations about the plan, saying Friday that Washington had to be “very careful” about the decision.
The AFP figures underline the scale of the aerial threat facing Ukraine as it enters its sixth year of war. The record July total reflects Russia’s willingness to expend large stockpiles of missiles and drones in an attempt to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and pressure Kyiv’s allies. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly asked for additional Patriot batteries and interceptor missiles, arguing that the current inventory is insufficient to protect major cities and critical infrastructure.
Saturday’s missile barrage on Kyiv, which killed at least nine people, came as the AFP analysis was published, underscoring the immediacy of the threat. The attack was the second large-scale strike on the capital in 48 hours, according to Ukrainian officials, and damaged residential buildings across four districts before air defenses intercepted part of the salvo.
Military analysts note that Russia’s missile campaign has shifted increasingly toward ballistic weapons that are harder to intercept and arrive with minimal warning. The trend places added strain on Ukraine’s air defense network, which Kyiv says needs sustained Western support to keep pace with Moscow’s production and imports of munitions.
Sources: The Moscow Times, CNN, CNBC
Author: Russia Desk
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