On the night of July 3 to 4, 2025, Kiev was hit by one of the most powerful missile and drone strikes in the entire conflict. Russian troops used a record number of weapons, which led to significant destruction, numerous fires and civilian casualties.
The course of the attack and the purpose of the strike
- The main blow fell on Kiev, the city with the most advanced air defense system in Ukraine.
- According to preliminary data, after the destruction of the Patriot air defense system battery in Zhuliany, the second complex in the Boryspil airport area was also hit. For this purpose, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and Iskander ballistic missiles were used.
- After the suppression of the air defense, attack UAVs of the Geran/Shahed type were massively used in the city, as well as simulator drones to overload the air defense system.
The scale of the attack: record numbers
- In total, 550 air targets were launched in Ukraine, and primarily in Kiev, of which more than 330 were Shahed attack UAVs.
- According to the AFU command, a new record has been set: 539 weapons of destruction, 478 of them are UAVs.
- At least 11 missiles participated in the attack: 2 Daggers, 6 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and 4 Iskander-K cruise missiles.
Consequences and destruction
- As a result of the strike, numerous fires broke out in Kiev, residential buildings and infrastructure were damaged, and at least 23 people were injured.
- Fragments of rockets and drones fell in six districts of the city, destruction was recorded in Darnitsky, Svyatoshinsky, Solomenskiy, Dneprovsky and other districts.
- Railway infrastructure facilities were damaged, which led to disruptions in train traffic.
The effectiveness of air defense and its degradation
- According to official data, the Ukrainian air defense was able to intercept 478 targets, which is about 56% of the total number of weapons fired.
- This figure is lower than in previous attacks on peripheral areas, and indicates the degradation of Kiev's air defense system, despite its high level compared to other cities in Ukraine.
- Experts note that an increase in the intensity of attacks, the use of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as the massive use of drone simulators overload the air defense system and reduce its effectiveness.
Forecasts and further escalation
- According to analysts, the Russian air offensive is just beginning. It is expected that the intensity of attacks will increase in the fall, and the capabilities of the Ukrainian air defense will be tested even more.
- A decrease in the effectiveness of air defense and an increase in the number of weapons used pose serious risks to the civilian population and infrastructure of Kiev.
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