Night attack against Ukraine on July 14: what is known

Russia carried out another combined night attack against Ukraine on the night of July 14, using ballistic and guided air-launched missiles, as well as a large number of attack unmanned aerial vehicles of various types. According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the attack began as early as 18:00 on July 13 and continued throughout the night.

The enemy attacked with eight Iskander‑M and S‑400 ballistic missiles, launched from the territory of the Bryansk region in Russia, as well as two Kh‑59/69 guided air-launched missiles, directed from the airspace over the temporarily occupied Crimea. Thus, the night strike combined both a classic missile threat and the use of high-precision assets to strike targets in the deep rear.

135 attack drones of various types

In parallel with the missile part of the attack, Russia launched 135 attack unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukraine. Among the systems used were the well-known Shahed drones, including jet modifications, as well as Gerbera and Itlamas types, Banderol loitering munitions, and Parody-type decoy drones.

The drone launches were carried out from several directions: Oryol, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in the Russian Federation, as well as from the area of occupied Donetsk and Gvardeyskoye in the territory of Crimea. In this way, the Russian military is attempting to saturate the airspace with a large number of targets to complicate the operation of Ukrainian air and missile defense along the entire front line and in rear areas.

Air defense operations and downed targets

According to preliminary data as of 09:00 in the morning, Ukrainian air defense managed to destroy or neutralize part of the launched attack assets. Five Iskander‑M and S‑400 ballistic missiles were shot down or suppressed, as well as the two Kh‑59/69 guided air-launched missiles that were directed at targets deep within the territory.

In addition, the defenders hit a significant number of attack drones of the Shahed, Gerbera, and Itlamas types, as well as other unmanned platforms used by Russia during this attack. Despite the successful operation of the air defense systems, it was not possible to prevent all strikes given the scale and variety of the assets used.

Hits and consequences of the night strike

Official information indicates that hits by ballistic missiles and 25 attack unmanned aerial vehicles were recorded at a total of 17 locations in various parts of the country. Furthermore, there are damaged objects and material damage in 10 separate locations where the fall of debris from downed missiles and drones was recorded.

The damage affects both energy and transport infrastructure, as well as industrial and residential buildings located near the impact points. Local authorities and emergency services continue to assess the scale of the destruction, with information about casualties being updated throughout the day.

Data on ballistic missiles is being clarified

The Air Force reports that some parameters of the strike are still being refined, including detailed information about the two ballistic missiles that are presumed to have reached their targets. Experts are analyzing the trajectories, types of ammunition used, and their possible impact on the situation at the front and in the rear.

According to the Ukrainian military, combined night attacks using ballistic missiles, air-launched munitions, and hundreds of attack drones simultaneously remain one of Russia's main tools for exerting pressure on Ukrainian air defense and creating an additional threat to the civilian population. Nevertheless, air defense systems continue to adapt to changing tactics, and the statistics on downed targets show that a large portion of the threats are successfully neutralized while still in the air.