Russia pounds Ukraine with hundreds of drones

Russia has launched hundreds of drones at Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Russia has launched hundreds of drones at Ukraine, killing at least one person in a stepped-up bombing campaign that has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia fired more than 300 drones overnight into Saturday, along with more than 30 cruise missiles.

One person died when Russian forces attacked the Black Sea port city of Odesa with more than 20 drones and a missile, the city’s mayor, Hennadii Trukhanov, said, while five people were rescued when a fire broke out in a residential high-rise building.

A residential building burns in Odesa (Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)

According to Mr Zelenskyy, six other people were wounded in the attack on Odesa, including a child, and critical infrastructure was damaged in Ukraine’s north-eastern Sumy region.

The Ukrainian president also thanked international leaders “who understand how important it is to promptly implement our agreements” aimed at boosting Ukraine’s defence capabilities, including joint weapons production, drone manufacturing, and the supply of air defence systems.

Moscow has been intensifying its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities. It often batters Ukraine with more drones in a single night than it did during some entire months in 2024, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate.

On July 8, Russia unleashed more than 700 drones — a record.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said it shot down 71 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 13 were shot down as they approached the Russian capital.