Russia Fired Record Number of Missiles at Ukraine in July – AFP analysis

By AFP Aug. 1, 2026 Russia fired a record number of missiles at Ukraine in July, an AFP analysis of Ukrainian air force data published Saturday showed. State Emergency Service of Ukraine Russia fired a record number of missiles at Ukraine in July, an AFP analysis of Ukrainian air force data published Saturday showed, as Kyiv renewed its call for anti-ballistic defenses. Both sides have escalated long-range attacks as the war drags through its fifth year, with no signs of stopping and with gains on the front line coming only at huge human cost. Russia renewed its strikes on Kyiv Saturday, killing at least nine people, according to officials. Daily reports published by Kyiv's air force showed Russia launched 376 missiles at Ukraine during the month — more than twice the number fired in June. Many of the attacks over the month targeted the capital Kyiv, which saw some of its deadliest strikes since the beginning of the war, with at least 30 killed on the night of July 2 alone. Russia also fired 4,956 long-range drones at Ukraine during the month — down 14% on June. Kyiv can intercept the vast majority of drones, but still relies on supplies from allies to counter missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine faces critical shortages of air defenses needed to counter missile attacks, particularly Russia's increasing use of ballistic missiles. The ultra-fast missiles travel on a high arcing trajectory before crashing down into their target. They are hard to stop and often hit with just a few minutes' — if any — warning from air raid sirens. Russia has ramped up their use from an estimated 200-300 in the whole of 2024, according to military analysts, to 126 in July 2026 alone. Ukraine downed under a third of them, according to the AFP tally of official data. Zelensky travelled to the White House in late July to press for the supply of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors, one of the only means of reliably shooting down Russia's ballistic missiles. Trump had initially said he would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors. But he has since expressed reservations about the plan, saying Friday that Washington had to be “very careful” about the decision. Read more about: Ukraine war , Missile strikes Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Toll From Russian Strike on Odesa Rises to 8 The regional governor said Wednesday’s attack was the third strike on a civilian vessel in four days. 2 Min read Russian Ships Damaged in Ukrainian Strike on Annexed Crimea Ten missiles and three drones were used in the attack that Russia's Defense Ministry said damaged two warships that had been undergoing repairs. 2 Min read Russian Strikes Kill Father and Daughter in Southeast Ukraine A 50-year-old man and his 11-year-old daughter were killed after Russian missiles struck a house in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, officials... 1 Min read 45 Dead, 20 Missing as Ukraine Ends Tower Block Search Rescuers called off the search Tuesday for victims of the Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, with 20 people...