On July 3, 2024, the Ukrainian city of Dnipro suffered a devastating Russian attack involving missiles, drones, and cruise missiles, resulting in at least five civilian deaths and 39 injuries, including a 14-year-old girl. The assault, described as ‘massive’ by local authorities, targeted various locations including a shopping center, a gas station, and industrial enterprises.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned the attack, calling it an act of terror and urging international allies to provide more advanced air defense systems and long-range weapons to counter such threats. ‘The world can protect life, and for this, we need the decisiveness of leaders. Decisiveness that must become the norm for protecting against terror,’ Zelensky stated.The Ukrainian Air Force reported successfully intercepting 11 Russian aerial targets, including cruise missiles, guided air-to-air missiles, and Shahed-type drones. However, despite these defensive efforts, significant damage was inflicted on the city, with amateur footage showing a huge plume of black smoke rising over Dnipro.In response to the tragedy, the Dnipro city council has declared July 4 a day of mourning. This attack marks the third time Dnipro has been targeted in the past five days, following previous strikes on June 28 and July 1, underscoring the intensifying nature of the conflict in the region.Meanwhile, in a separate incident, Ukraine reportedly repelled a Russian naval drone attack on the port of Novorossiïsk, home to part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. This event demonstrates Ukraine’s growing capability to conduct long-range drone operations against Russian coastal areas, despite Russian naval superiority in the Black Sea.
Key points
- Russian attack on Dnipro killed at least 5 civilians and injured 39, including a child.
- Ukrainian President Zelensky called for more international support in the form of air defense systems and long-range weapons.
- Ukrainian Air Force successfully intercepted 11 Russian aerial targets, but significant damage was still inflicted on Dnipro.
- Ukraine reportedly repelled a Russian naval drone attack on Novorossiïsk, demonstrating its growing long-range drone capabilities.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported number of casualties across different sources, with some reporting 34 injured while others report 39.
