The early hours of Thursday, July 10, saw a large-scale aerial attack on Kyiv, Ukraine. ABC News confirms the assault lasted for nearly 10 hours. In that time, drones and missiles hit the city.
In the aftermath of the attack, there were confirmed reports of two casualties and more than a dozen injured. Cars, warehouses, and residential areas were set on fire. During the barrage, many sought shelter, including in metro stations and basements.
The Assault
The attack was one of the largest to ever occur during the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with Russia sending more than a combined 400 drones and missiles at the Ukrainian capital.
Fortunately, the Ukrainian air force was ready, and many were destroyed before hitting their intended targets. However, due to the attack’s sheer size, not all could be intercepted, resulting in widespread damage and harm.
Impact On Residents
Many weren’t spared from the attack, and at least two Ukrainian civilians lost their lives. Over 20 people were injured as a result of the attack, which included children.
The emerging fires meant that emergency response was severely constrained, having to go inside ablaze buildings to rescue those trapped within. Many civilians are traumatized by the event, which is one of the most intense since the start of the war.
Escalation
The assault on Kyiv was just one of the latest escalations in a long line of back-and-forth attacks. Last month recorded the highest casualties for civilians in more than a year.
This is due to Russia scaling its drone production and leveraging Iranian-designed Shahed drones. These attacks strain Ukrainian defense systems, and when drones get through them, civilians are at a huge risk.
Trump’s Comments
Many can’t help but connect the assault with U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments. On July 8, the president accused Putin of “throwing a lot of [redacted]” at the U.S. This was in reference to a phone call with Putin that left Trump “very disappointed.”
Trump has made other comments in the past directed at Russia, including audio of a “bomb threat” emerging earlier in July. In the audio, which was recorded in 2024, Trump warned Putin that he would “bomb the [redacted] out of Moscow” if Russia invaded Moscow.
Response From Both Nations
While Trump’s past and latest remarks have led many to tie them to the recent assault, Russian officials have not linked the barrage to his words. However, the barrage coincided with the U.S. Military pledging additional support for Ukraine.
In the aftermath of the attack, Ukraine has rallied for increased sanctions on Russia and more advanced air defense capabilities. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy advises that Ukraine’s allies act decisively.
Reactions From Other Nations
Both allies of Ukraine and other nations have condemned the attack on Kyiv. Poland discovered the drone and missile barrage as it approached the country’s border and quickly deployed fighter jets as a defensive measure.
NATO officials have restated their full support for Ukraine staying a sovereign country. The U.S. has called for restraint and is trying to diplomatically end the conflict again.
Drones In Warfare
The sheer scale of the attack wouldn’t have been possible without the development and deployment of drones in modern warfare. Drones are much less costly than traditional weapons like missiles. Russia leveraged hundreds to keep Ukraine’s air defenses pressured.
This isn’t one-sided, and Ukraine has developed its advanced drones, highlighting how prevalent they are becoming on the battlefield.
The Information War
The information that was gathered surrounding the bombings has been leveraged by each side to try to shape perceptions of the event. State media in Russia has downplayed the casualties that occurred in Ukraine, and Ukraine has highlighted the toll on Kyiv’s population and the resilience shown.
With the audio of Trump’s threat to Russia making the rounds, the narrative has been further skewed, and speculation has been rampant.
The Future
The latest escalation in the Ukraine-Russia war is one of the boldest and most impactful yet, targeting not just the capital of Ukraine but the symbol of the country itself.
Notions of safety have been shattered as civilians wonder if anywhere is safe, no matter how far from the front lines. Unless diplomacy wins and an agreement can be reached, further escalations are sure to follow in the future.
