Used Tu-95 bombers

Ukraine, Zelensky: 'Increase arms quota by 50% in the next 6 months'. From the USA and Germany 5 Patriot defence systems

Several Tu-95 strategic bombers reportedly took off from Olenya Airport in the Murmansk region of Russia. Since then, alerts have followed one another at short intervals as the drones headed towards Boryspil, Hlevakha, Vasylkiv, Brovary, Kyiv, Zolotonosha, Balakleya, Chornobay, Monastyryshche. At 2.18 a.m. local time, Russia launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea towards the capital

21 July 2025

Un edificio di Kiev bombardato dai russi

3' min read

The share of Ukrainian weapons in the Defence Forces of Ukraine is to be increased by 50% in the next six months by increasing domestic production. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during the presentation of new Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal. "People should realise that Ukraine has its own missiles. In general, as far as weapons are concerned, the goal is to increase the share of Ukrainian weapons in our Defence Forces by 50 per cent in the next six months by increasing our production. This is absolutely realistic,' Zelenskyy said. 'Some agreements have already been concluded. Others still need to be worked out. All contracts should be in force this week,' he added, emphasising that the Defence Ministry must ensure a significant increase in the frequency and scope of Ukrainian drone use against Russian targets.

Pending an increase in domestic arms production, Ukraine can count on an additional supply of five Patriot air defence systems, guaranteed by the US and Germany. The announcement comes from German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, and comes as Russia intensifies its campaign of long-range attacks against Ukraine, including with ballistic missiles that only the advanced Patriot system can shoot down.

Russia launched a large-scale combined air strike against Ukraine overnight. This was reported by local media. Over the Ukrainian skies 426 dronesattack drones and 24 missilesfrom different bases were flown. Explosions were heard in several regions. In Kiev at least two people were killed and fifteen others were injured. According to the head of Kmva Timur Tkachenko, the Ukrainian Armed Forces Air Force, Russian drones were reported in the regions of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kiev, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

State of alert in the capital

The state of alert in the capital had already been declared around 11pm, midnight in Italy, Tkachenko told newspapers. Forty minutes later air defence was activated and 20 minutes later the Air Force reported the take-off of several Tu-95 strategic bombers from Olenya airport in Russia's Murmansk region. Since then, alerts followed one another in short succession as the drones headed towards Boryspil, Hlevakha, Vasylkiv, Brovary, Kyiv, Zolotonosha, Balakleya, Chornobay, Monastyryshche. At 2.18 am local time, Russia launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea towards the capital. As a result of the attack, the roof of a non-residential building in Kiev's Darnytskyi district caught fire.

The balance of the attack

The casualty toll from the massive Russian attack that also cost the lives of at least two people has risen to fifteen. According to the capital's police on Telegram, reports Rbc-Ukraine, five people aged between 36 and 55 and a 15-year-old girl were injured by shrapnel. Earlier, media reports had mentioned only one injured person. The victim was a man in the Solomyanskyi district. As a result of the attack, a kindergarten, a metro station, warehouses and several vehicles, among others, were damaged.

Moscow: 'Military industries and airports hit'

The Russian Defence Ministry said that in last night's bombing raids on Ukraine, 'enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex and military airport infrastructure' were hit. The ministry states that drones and long-range missiles launched from the air, land and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic launchers, were used in the raids. The ministry adds that in the bombing raids over the past 24 hours, 'three launch platforms of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system and a US-made AN/MPQ-65 multifunctional radar station were also destroyed'.

Damage also in Kharkiv

In Kharkiv, at least 11 buildings were reported damaged in the Kyivskyi district, but no casualties were reported at the moment. At 3:00am, Russia launched Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic aero-ballistic missiles from MiG-31K. The Air Force reported high-velocity targets headed for Kiev and Rivne/Dubno. A group of cruise missiles from the Black Sea then moved from the Odessa region to the Vinnytsia region, where the drone attack continues. The Air Force raised the alarm over the repeated take-offs of MiG-31K fighter jets. At 3:50 a.m., missiles launched from strategic aircraft entered Ukrainian airspace and moved through the Kharkiv region towards Poltava. Then, through the Černihiv region towards the Kiev region. At 4.18 a.m. the Air Force issued an alert for the presence of missiles heading towards Kiev. At 4.20 a.m., a series of powerful explosions were heard in the capital. At 4.23 a.m., the Air Force was alerted to the presence of ballistic missiles heading towards Kiev. At 5 o'clock local time, one person was reported dead and another injured in the Ukrainian capital, writes Ukrainska Pravda.

Moscow: '74 Ukrainian drones shot down overnight'

Russian forces last night shot down 74 Ukrainian drones in seven regions of the country including the Moscow region, the Russian Defence Ministry announced on Telegram. Twenty-three unmanned drones were destroyed in the Moscow region, including 15 that were headed towards the capital, 14 in Kursk, 12 in the Rostov region, 10 in the Bryansk region, another 10 in the Kaluga region, four in the Tula region and one in the Lipetsk region.