Russian attacks kill 12 and injure at least 90 across Ukraine

Russian attacks kill 12 and injure at least 90 across Ukraine

Russian forces killed 12 people and injured at least 90 others across Ukraine over a 24-hour period ending July 15, as Moscow launched its fifth consecutive day of combined drone and missile strikes against the southern Odesa Oblast, according to local authorities.

An overnight missile strike on July 15 hit a multi-story apartment building in Odesa, killing three people and injuring at least six. Regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported that emergency workers rescued three people from the ruins, including two children. The strike also damaged a production facility, a warehouse, a gas pipeline, and a non-residential building. Elsewhere in the oblast, a drone strike damaged a gas station.

"The enemy is deliberately targeting the civilian population and the region's civilian, industrial, and port infrastructure,"

Oleh Kiper, Governor, via yahoo.com

The violence in Odesa follows a July 14 attack on a civilian cargo ship that killed two people, also according to Governor Kiper. Other reports indicate a broader campaign against port infrastructure from July 8 to July 14, with strikes hitting Chornomorsk, Pivdennyi, and Izmail. On July 12, four ships were damaged, resulting in five crew members being killed and ten injured on one vessel.

Beyond the south, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 122 drones and two Kh-59/69 cruise missiles overnight, though air defenses intercepted 101 drones.

Casualties Across the Regions

The strikes extended into northern, eastern, and southeastern Ukraine:

• Sumy Oblast: A guided bomb attack on the city of Sumy killed three people and injured 17, including a 16-year-old boy, Governor Oleh Hryhorov said. An additional 13 people were injured in other attacks across the region.
• Kharkiv Oblast: Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported two deaths and 10 injuries across 22 settlements, including the regional capital.
• Chernihiv Oblast: A Russian Geran drone killed a 37-year-old man in Ozeriany, while an FPV drone left an 18-year-old man in critical condition in the village of Prybyn, Governor Viacheslav Chaus said.
• Kherson Oblast: One person was killed and 23 others, including one child, were injured, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
• Donetsk Oblast: Governor Vadym Filzshkin reported one death and seven injuries.
• Zaporizhzhia: One person was killed and four injured in the city and surrounding oblast, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.
• Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: Governor Oleksandr Haznha reported nine injuries on July 14 and July 15.

The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) released a report on July 14 stating that June was the deadliest month for civilians since April 2022. At least 293 people were killed and 1,990 injured in June. Long-range drones and missiles caused 45% of those casualties, accounting for 126 deaths and 907 injuries, primarily in urban centers like Dnipro and Kyiv.

Energy and Infrastructure Warfare

Vitaliy Zaychenko, chairman of the board of Ukrenergo, reported on July 10 that Russian attacks on energy infrastructure rose by 36% in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year. Zaychenko noted a tactical shift: Russia now uses 20 to 25 drones to attack a single facility, whereas it previously used three or four. This has led to persistent power cuts in all frontline regions.

In the capital, Russian forces targeted industrial and storage facilities, including a power substation. The Ukrainian Air Force Command (UAFC) stated the city was struck by 21 missiles fired from S-400 systems and Iskander-M ballistic missiles. While none were intercepted on July 8 and 11, the UAFC reported that five of eight ballistic missiles were shot down on July 14, suggesting the arrival of new PAC-3 MSE missiles.

Frontline Developments and Counter-Operations

In the Donbas, Russian forces have worked to clear Kostiantynivka of Ukrainian soldiers. While Ukraine still controls the northern outskirts, they have intensified air strikes to prevent Russia from using the town as a bridgehead toward Kramatorsk. Russian forces are currently advancing along the western bank of the Donets–Donbas Canal, roughly 7–10 km from Kramatorsk.

Ukraine has responded with other maneuvers. Ukrainian forces reportedly launched a successful counteroffensive in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast to consolidate control over Stepnohirsk and recaptured territory in the Ivanivka area on the border of Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk oblasts.

At sea, the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) began Operation “MoLoCHKa” on July 6 to disrupt Russian shipping in the Sea of Azov. Commander Robert Brovdi “Magyar” stated that drones have struck 116 vessels over nine days. Most targets were small tankers supplying fuel and chemicals to occupied Crimea. This operation led to the suspension of traffic through the Azov–Don Sea Canal on July 11.

Ukraine also targeted Crimea’s energy grid, damaging 11 facilities on July 12 and 13, including nine substations and the Kuban–Crimea power bridge. This caused total blackouts in Sevastopol and power cuts across the peninsula.