Russia attacks Ukraine's central regions as US envoy in Kyiv

Olesia Safronova, Bloomberg News on Jul 16, 2025

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Russia launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine’s central regions overnight, hitting mostly civilian infrastructure and industrial enterprises.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih as well as the city of Vinnytsia, which has largely escaped assault to date, were bombarded by dozens of drones and ballistic missiles in what local authorities said was one of the heaviest attacks since the war’s begin.

“Russia is not changing its strategy — and to counter this terror effectively, we need to systematically strengthen our defenses: more air defense systems, more interceptors, and more determination — so that Russia feels our response,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X commenting the consequences of the attack.

The attacks came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said Patriot air defense missiles were already being shipped from Germany as his administration pledged fresh weapons supplies on Monday.

Russian drones struck Kyiv as U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg continues his week-long visit to the Ukrainian capital. Air defenses could be heard in operation in the city overnight, though major casualties were not reported.

Trump’s pledge came with the condition that new weapons for Kyiv would be paid for by NATO allies, mainly from Europe, and threatened harsh financial penalties targeting Russian oil sales if Russian leader Vladimir Putin doesn’t end his war on Ukraine within 50 days.

The U.S. president, who has voiced skepticism of arming Ukraine, changed course after saying he was “very disappointed” by a phone call with Putin, in which the Russian leader insisted he wouldn’t back down on his war aims.

Energy infrastructure was targeted in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy said, adding that 15 people were injured across the country, including one child.

Kryvyi Rih, a city of around 650,000 that includes many who fled from Mariupol — devastated by Russian artillery earlier in the conflict — faces power and water supply cuts, Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul said on Telegram.

Zelenskyy also said Russia also attacked the north-eastern Kharkiv and Sumy regions as well as the Odesa region in Ukraine’s south, hitting civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine’s Air Defense said it shot down almost 200 of the 400 drones launched from Russian regions, with another 145 drones jammed.

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