July Sees Highest Civilian Casualties in Ukraine Since April 2022 Amid Intensified Russian Attacks

Kyiv. July has become the deadliest month for Ukraine since April 2022 during the Russia-Ukraine war. According to Ukrainian government data, at least 377 civilians were killed and 2,129 injured in Russian attacks in this month alone. This makes July the month with the highest civilian casualties in four years. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its use of ballistic missiles, drones, and guided aerial bombs. Officials said that civilian casualties have significantly increased due to attacks targeting various cities including the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in the last week alone, Russia has fired nearly 1,700 drones, over 1,630 guided aerial bombs, and more than 50 ballistic missiles. Zelensky has once again urged international partners to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems. He specifically mentioned the urgent need for missile defense systems like Patriot, stating, 'The presence of each interceptor missile in Ukraine's sky is a means of saving civilian lives more than each obstacle missile in the warehouses of partner countries.' On Sunday, a Russian drone attack on a supermarket in the Chernihiv region of northern Ukraine killed a 10-year-old boy and an adult, while three others were injured. Meanwhile, Ukraine has also continued its drone and missile attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Recently, various oil refineries in Russia have been targeted. Following these attacks, Russia has extended its ban on diesel exports until the end of the year. In response, Russia has intensified attacks on fuel storage centers in northern Ukraine and ports in the Black Sea and Danube River regions. For the third consecutive day, the Romanian Air Force has reported shooting down a Russian drone flying over the Black Sea. Romanian President Nicușor Dan reacted that the Russian drone violating his country's airspace is 'unacceptable and unbearable.' Following the incident, the Russian ambassador to Bucharest was summoned to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an explanation.