President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described Russia’s most recent aerial assault against Ukranian cities as the largest single-day attack, resulting in the deaths of at least eight civilians.
According to President Zelensky, who reported the attack on July 9, 2025, Russia fired 728 drones of various types, including over 300 Shaheds, and 13 missiles at Ukraine.
“Most of the targets were shot down. Our interceptor drones were used – dozens of enemy targets were downed, and we are scaling up this technology. Mobile fire groups were also active – they downed dozens as well. I thank all our warriors for their precision,” said President Zelensky on social media.
The number of drones launched surpassed any previous days during the War and came just hours after US President Donald Trump rebuked the Russian President Vladimir Putin during a cabinet meeting.
During the televised meeting on July 8, 2025, President Trump, said: “We get a lot of b******* thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
President @ZelenskyyUa: A new massive Russian attack on our cities. It was the highest number of aerial targets in a single day: 741 targets – 728 drones of various types, including over 300 shaheds, and 13 missiles – Kinzhals and Iskanders. Most of the targets were shot down.… pic.twitter.com/tpASdyuosP
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) July 9, 2025
President Trump also confirmed that the US would send 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine and weapons deliveries would restart after they were paused by the Pentagon.
President Zelensky also said that the main target of the recent aerial assault, which included Russian Kinzhal and Iskander missiles, was Lutsk in north-western Ukraine.
“Damage has also been reported in the Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions,” said President Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president called for tougher sanctions against Russia, particularly against oil which has “fueled Moscow’s war machine with money for over three years”.
He also demanded secondary sanctions against countries and states that buy Russian oil.
“Our partners know how to apply pressure in a way that will force Russia to think about ending the war, not launching new strikes. Everyone who wants peace must act,” said President Zelensky.