The Russia-Ukraine conflict intensified on July 18, 2024, with both sides reporting significant military actions and defensive operations. Russian forces claim to have thwarted a major Ukrainian drone attack, reportedly destroying 33 aerial drones over Crimea and 10 naval drones in the Black Sea. The Russian Ministry of Defense also reported intercepting two additional drones over the Bryansk region.Simultaneously, Russia launched its own offensive, targeting multiple Ukrainian regions with drones and missiles. The attack reportedly included 16 Shahed-131/136 drones and three guided air-to-surface missiles, launched from the Kursk region and southern directions. Russian sources claim successful strikes on targets in the Poltava region, including explosions near the Kremenchug oil refinery and railway plant, as well as hits on the Mirgorod military airbase.Ukrainian forces, however, assert that they successfully repelled most of the Russian attack. According to Ukrainian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Nikolai Oleschuk, air defense systems destroyed all 16 Shahed drones and two X-59 guided missiles in various regions including Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, and Kharkiv. The fate of one X-35 missile remains unclear.Despite the claimed successes in air defense, Ukraine reported some damage from the attacks. In the Kremenchuk district of the Poltava region, a civilian home and yard were damaged, though no casualties were reported. The ongoing conflict continues to pose risks to civilian areas, with air raid warnings issued and residents urged to take necessary precautions.As the conflict escalates, both sides continue to accuse each other of targeting civilian infrastructure while claiming successful military operations against enemy forces and equipment. The situation remains tense, with regular reports of attacks and counterattacks from both Russian and Ukrainian sources.
Key points
- Russia claims to have destroyed 33 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and 10 naval drones in the Black Sea.
- Ukraine reports repelling a Russian attack, destroying 16 Shahed drones and 2 guided missiles.
- Both sides report some damage to civilian infrastructure, particularly in the Poltava region of Ukraine.
- The conflict continues to escalate with regular exchanges of drone and missile strikes.
Contradictions👾While Russia claims successful strikes on Ukrainian targets including military bases and industrial facilities, Ukraine reports intercepting most incoming attacks.
The exact impact and success rate of these operations remain unclear due to conflicting reports.
