Mass attack hits cities overnight as Ukrainians brace for 50 more days of Russian terror

Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Explosions rocked Ukrainian cities overnight on July 16 as Russia once again launched waves of drones and missiles across the country.

The attack comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has 50 days to strike a peace deal or face stiff tariffs from Washington.

Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground reported hearing explosions and the sound of air defense units at work shortly before 1 a.m. local time on July 16.

Ukraine's Air Force issued multiple alerts that waves of Russian drones were targeting the capital and other regions, including western oblasts far from the front lines. The Air Force also warned of the threat of ballistic missile strikes.

The northeastern city of Kharkiv came under intensive fire, with at least 17 explosions occurring in just 20 minutes, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.  

The strikes were concentrated on a civilian enterprise in the city's Kyivskyi district, Syniehubov said. Shahed drones attacked the facility, igniting a fire.

Syniehubov first reported at least three injuries in Kharkiv, but his later statement mentioned only one 54-year-old man injured in the city.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the city of Kryvyi Rih was hit by waves of drones, resulting in large-scale power outages, reported Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's military administration. A 17-year-old boy was also reported injured.

"In particular, energy infrastructure was targeted — work is currently ongoing to restore everything in Kryvyi Rih as fully as possible, and power supply will be resumed during the day," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X, adding that at least 15 people were injured in the overnight attacks.

Eight people were wounded and hospitalized in Vinnytsia Oblast following a barrage of drone strikes, local authorities said.

Two industrial facilities were hit, resulting in large-scale fires. Four residential buildings were damaged in the region, the State Emergency Service reported.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said one of the targets was the Barlinek Group factory, a Polish-owned facility in the region. "Russian drones have struck the Barlinek Group factory in Vinnytsia," Sikorski wrote in a post on X.

"The head of the plant told me a while ago that it was intentional, from three directions. There are injuries, including two severely burned," he said, adding: "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's criminal war is moving closer to our borders."

Explosions were also reported in Izmail, a city in Odesa Oblast in southern Ukraine.

Russian forces launched 400 drones against Ukraine overnight, including up to 255 Shahed-type "kamikaze" drones, as well as one Iskander-M ballistic missile, the Air Force said.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 198 drones, while 145 decoy drones disappeared from radars or were intercepted by electronic warfare. The Iskander missile and 57 drones struck 12 locations, according to the statement.

Russia has dramatically escalated its campaign of aerial bombardments against Ukrainian cities throughout late spring and summer. On July 9, Russia launched its largest attack of the entire full-scale war, deploying 728 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys, as well as seven Kh-101 or Iskander-K cruise missiles, and six Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles.

Zelensky said on July 13 that Russia had attacked Ukraine with over 1,800 long-range drones, over 1,200 glide bombs, and 83 missiles of various types in the past week alone.

"Russia is not changing its strategy — and to counter this terror effectively, we need to systematically strengthen our defenses: more air defense systems, more interceptors, and more determination — so that Russia feels our response," Zelensky said following the July 16 strikes.

The wave of deadly attacks prompted Trump to announce a "major statement" regarding Russia on July 14. But instead of slapping immediate sanctions on the Kremlin, Trump's ultimatum gave Moscow 50 more days to bomb cities and terrorize civilians.

Speaking to reporters on July 15, Trump said he "didn't think 50 days is very long."