WORLD NEWS

Ukraine’s air force has thwarted one of the largest aerial assaults from Russia in recent months, shooting down 89 drones and one missile that targeted Kyiv and its surrounding areas overnight. The attack, involving Shahed-131/136 strike drones, was reported to have caused some damage to buildings due to falling debris, but no casualties were reported.
Kyiv’s military administration confirmed that more than 40 drones were intercepted over the capital, Kyiv, and its outskirts. This drone assault marks the seventh such attack on the city in July alone. Air raid alerts were issued across Kyiv and central and eastern Ukraine from 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.
During the attack, approximately 11,500 residents sought shelter in metro stations as the drones came in waves from multiple directions. The air force's successful defense underscores Ukraine's capacity to repel large-scale aerial threats.
In a broader context, Russia's Ministry of Defence announced the commencement of the third stage of drills for deploying tactical nuclear weapons. These drills follow earlier stages in May and June, with Belarus participating in the second stage. President Vladimir Putin has previously suggested that Russia might use nuclear weapons under extreme circumstances, amid ongoing tensions with the West.
The deputy spokesman for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrei Nastasin, warned that the construction of an ammunition factory by German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall in Ukraine would be deemed a “legitimate target” for Russian forces.
In response to the escalating conflict, Ukraine’s military reported a strike on a weapons and military equipment storage facility in Russia’s Kursk region overnight. The acting governor of Kursk claimed that four Ukrainian missiles were intercepted by air defences over two districts.
The ongoing exchange of attacks highlights the intensifying nature of the conflict and the broadening impact on both military and civilian infrastructure in the region.