In the early hours of July 24, 2024, Russia launched a significant aerial assault on Ukraine, employing a combination of drones and missiles to target multiple regions, including Kharkiv, Odessa, and Sumy. The Ukrainian Air Force, led by Commander General-Lieutenant Mykola Oleksiyuk, reported that out of 23 ‘Shahed’ drones detected, 17 were successfully intercepted by air defense systems. The attack also included the use of ballistic missiles, with an ‘Iskander-M’ launched from Russia’s Belgorod region.The assault resulted in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. In Kharkiv, missile strikes hit both an industrial area and a residential sector, causing at least one fatality. The port infrastructure in Odessa region was damaged, with three people injured. In Sumy Oblast, nine separate attacks across five communities were reported, utilizing artillery, drones, and mines.In a significant development, General-Polkovnik Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, revealed that Ukrainian forces have conducted drone attacks on approximately 200 critical infrastructure targets in Russia over an unspecified period. These targets reportedly included factories, fuel storage facilities, and ammunition depots, aimed at disrupting Russian military logistics. Syrskyi also claimed that Ukrainian sea drones have sunk about a third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, forcing Russia to ‘completely withdraw its forces’ from the occupied port of Sevastopol.The ongoing conflict continues to exact a heavy toll. The Ukrainian General Staff reported 152 battles and 4,443 artillery strikes in the past 24 hours, while claiming to have eliminated 1,140 Russian troops, 14 tanks, and 65 artillery systems. These figures, however, cannot be independently verified.
Key points
- Russia launched a significant aerial assault on Ukraine on July 24, 2024, using drones and missiles.
- Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted 17 out of 23 ‘Shahed’ drones.
- Ukraine claims to have conducted drone attacks on about 200 Russian critical infrastructure targets and sunk a third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Contradictions👾While Ukrainian sources claim significant successes in drone attacks against Russian targets, these claims have not been independently verified and contrast with the ongoing Russian offensive capabilities demonstrated in the recent attacks.
