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Over the past night, Russian forces have launched a sweeping series of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, striking military airfields, logistics hubs, and air defense systems in a continued effort to degrade Kyiv’s combat capabilities. The strikes, which spanned from the western regions of Lviv and Rovno to the eastern frontlines in Donbass and southern Ukraine, underscore Moscow’s ability to penetrate Ukrainian air defenses despite Western-supplied systems.
The primary focus of the latest wave of attacks was the Starokonstantinov military airfield in the Khmelnytskyi region, a critical hub for Ukrainian aviation and a key transit point for Western arms shipments. According to Ukrainian reports, the facility was hit by a combined assault involving over 100 Geran-2 suicide drones, several ballistic missiles, and at least three Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in follow-up strikes. Ukrainian authorities claimed to have intercepted the majority of the incoming threats, including 309 out of 324 drones and two out of four Kh-101 cruise missiles, but admitted that the Kinzhals could not be stopped. Despite Kyiv’s assertions that the hypersonic missiles “missed their targets,” thermal imagery and local reports confirmed significant damage, including the destruction of a Patriot air defense system reportedly supplied by Germany.
The repeated strikes on Starokonstantinov highlight its strategic importance, particularly as one of the few Ukrainian airbases adapted for Western aircraft like the F-16. Russian sources indicate that the latest attack coincided with the unloading of additional Patriot components, which were allegedly destroyed in the bombardment. A secondary strike also targeted a buried command bunker on the airfield’s premises, further complicating Ukrainian efforts to restore operations.
Beyond Starokonstantinov, Russian forces carried out precision strikes on multiple other airfields, including those in Myrhorod (Poltava region), Pryliuky (Chernihiv region), and Kropyvnytskyi (formerly Kirovohrad). As a result of repeated strikes on the afternoon of July 28 in Pryliuky, a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter or UH-60 Black Hawk supplied by NATO, reportedly belonging to military intelligence (GUR), was destroyed on the ground, prompting a local blackout and emergency reinforcement of electronic warfare systems in the area.
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Meanwhile, thermal signatures and secondary explosions were recorded at the Myrhorod airbase, where previous strikes had already damaged infrastructure critical for Ukrainian sorties.
Russian strikes extended beyond aviation targets, hitting industrial and military sites in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Odessa and other regions. In Zaporizhzhia, at least six strikes hit a manufacturing facility linked to military production, while in Odessa, kamikaze drones ignited a major fire near the city’s port infrastructure. Additional explosions were reported in Vinnytsia, Rovno, and Cherkasy regions, with Ukrainian air defenses scrambling to respond amid widespread power disruptions.
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While Ukrainian officials continue to claim high interception rates, the sheer volume and diversity of Russian strikes, ranging from low-cost drones to hypersonic missiles, continue exposing gaps in coverage. The reported destruction of a Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft system in Boryspil (Kyiv region) highlights the attrition facing Ukraine’s air defense network. Western analysts note that Russia’s tactic of overwhelming defenses with drone swarms before launching high-value missiles has proven effective, particularly against static NATO Patriot and NASAMS batteries.
The latest strikes fit into Russia’s broader campaign to dismantle Ukraine’s ability to sustain prolonged combat operations. By constantly targeting airfields, Moscow aims to ground Ukraine’s dwindling fleet of combat aircraft and disrupt the attempts of integration of F-16s and other NATO aircraft. Simultaneously, attacks on logistics nodes seek to choke supply lines to frontline units. With Ukrainian forces already stretched thin across multiple axes, the degradation of rear-area infrastructure could accelerate operational fatigue in the coming months.
