Massive air assault on Kyiv: Ukraine intercepts over 90% of Russia’s threats

Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Ukraine on July 10, firing a total of 415 drones and missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The vast majority of the weapons, over 90 per cent, were successfully intercepted by Ukrainian air defences.

The main target of the attack was the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, which came under heavy fire from multiple directions. Ukrainian authorities reported that 397 strike drones, primarily Iranian-made Shahed models, along with drone imitators, were launched during the offensive. Approximately 200 of the drones were identified as Shaheds, Caliber.Az reports, citing RBC-Ukraine. 

In addition, Russia fired eight Iskander-M ballistic missiles from its Bryansk region, six Kh-101 cruise missiles from the Saratov region, and four S-300 surface-to-air missiles from Kursk.

Ukraine’s Defence Forces responded with a multilayered air defence operation, involving aviation units, surface-to-air missile troops, electronic warfare systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and mobile fire groups.

By 10:00 a.m. local time, the Ukrainian Air Force reported shooting down 178 Russian aerial weapons, including 164 Shahed drones, all eight Iskander-M missiles, and all six Kh-101 cruise missiles. A further 204 drones and missiles were reportedly neutralized by electronic countermeasures or lost on radar, bringing the total number of neutralized targets to 382—equivalent to a 92 percent interception rate.

Despite the large-scale defence effort, the attack caused significant damage across the capital. Russian airstrikes hit eight locations in Kyiv, with 33 strike drones making it past Ukrainian defences. Debris from downed drones and missiles also fell in 23 areas, compounding the destruction.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that the Shevchenkivskyi district suffered the heaviest damage. Fires were reported, residential buildings were damaged, and emergency services were deployed throughout the city. In total, 16 people were reported injured, and two fatalities were confirmed.

Following the attack, several streets in Kyiv were closed, and public transportation was disrupted as authorities worked to clear debris and assess damage.

By Sabina Mammadli