Massive attack: Ukrainian air defence shot down a Russian Kh-59 missile and 89 Shaheds overnight. In the early hours of July 24, the Kyiv region was subjected to an extensive drone attack, with Russians launching a sustained assault using strike drones. Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, reported that the air raid alarm persisted for over seven hours. The Ukrainian air defence system successfully intercepted all targets, preventing strikes on residential areas or critical infrastructure. By 9:30 AM local time, reports indicated that 13 private houses across four districts in the Kyiv region had been damaged, including broken windows, damaged roofs, and facades, with one house experiencing a fire that was swiftly extinguished by emergency services. Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that Russian forces attacked Ukraine with a guided Kh-59 aviation missile from the airspace of the occupied Kherson region and 89 Shahed-type strike drones from the regions of Yeysk, Sescha, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia.
Russian Shaheds venture to Belarus from Ukraine. According to the Belarusian oppositional monitoring channel, Belaruski Hajun, on the night of July 31, five Russian Shahed drones entered Belarusian airspace, with one flying over 250 kilometres inside the country. This was the most significant Shahed incursion since monitoring began. The first drone crossed near the village of Asarevichy around 11:20 PM, prompting the Belarusian Air Force to scramble a fighter jet from the Baranovichi airfield, which patrolled the southeastern border for over an hour. The drones breached Belarusian airspace in several locations, including near the towns of Loyev and Kirove. Most of them flew deep into the Polesie Radiation and Ecological Reserve before returning to Ukraine, but one reached as far as Stolin in the Brest region. Earlier that night, Belarusian monitoring channels reported a fighter jet being activated in response to the potential threat.
Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine using new drones. Vladyslav Vlasuk, advisor to the Head of the President’s Office, reported that on the night of July 31, Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine using a new type of drone known as ‘Herbera’. These drones are simpler, more cost-effective versions of the Shahed drones. Despite the introduction of these new drones, the Air Force emphasised that its defence strategy remains unchanged: all enemy drones must be intercepted and destroyed using all available resources. Yuriy Ignat, a former Air Force spokesperson, explained that during night attacks, the enemy frequently employs various UAV types, including Shahed-136/131 and other unidentified drones. Identifying the specific drone type is challenging and relies on factors such as altitude, speed, and visual and acoustic data. The exact type can only be confirmed after analysing the debris. On the night of January 1, 2024, Ukrainian forces shot down 87 drones, reflecting the intensity seen in the recent attack.
Prospects of F-16s in Ukraine. In an interview with Radio NV, Oleg Katkov, chief editor of Defense Express, talked about Ukraine’s chances of getting the 128 F-16 fighter jets President Volodymyr Zelensky has mentioned. Katkov pointed out that while the Washington Post reports some F-16s might arrive in Ukraine within a few weeks, he remains cautious. The hopeful scenario is that the jets will arrive this summer, though past deadlines have been missed. Zelensky has emphasised that Ukraine needs all 128 F-16s to make a real difference, but currently, there are firm agreements for only 10-20 jets in the short term. Combined pledges from the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway could theoretically deliver 79 jets, but some of these won’t arrive until 2028. Even if the U.S. decides to supply more jets, challenges like training enough pilots and ensuring the aircraft are in good condition still pose significant obstacles. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that the first delivery of F-16 fighter jets from NATO allies has finally arrived in Ukraine, a much-anticipated move that could enhance the war-torn nation’s ability to fend off Russian attacks.
Ukrainian attack on military equipment storage in Kursk. On the night of July 31, Ukrainian Defence Forces launched a strike on an ammunition and military equipment storage site near Kursk, Russia. The General Staff reported that the attack prompted a response from enemy air defence systems and triggered explosions at the target site. The operation, led by units of the Ukrainian Navy in coordination with other Defence Forces components, reflects ongoing efforts to disrupt Russian military logistics. While the exact impact of the strike is still being confirmed, the incident underscores the escalating intensity of the conflict.
