Russian airports cancel flights amid drone attacks on Russia
Russian air defenses on July 5 shot down four drones advancing on Moscow, prompting a temporary halt to outgoing flights at Sheremetyevo, one of the capital's main airports.
Drones
Ukraine hits Russian electronic warfare facility making Shahed, Iskander components, General Staff says
The facility develops and manufactures Kometa adaptive antenna arrays used in Shahed-type drones, Iskander-K cruise missiles, and guided aerial bomb modules, according to the Ukrainian military.
Drone threat reportedly causes mass flight delays in Russia's Moscow, St. Petersburg airports
Some passengers reported waiting more than 10 hours, according to the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Shot.
Ukraine war latest: Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 1 dead, 26 injured
Key developments on July 4: * 'Nothing but terror and murder' — Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 1 dead, 26 injured * Zelensky, Trump discuss air defense, joint drone production amid Russian strikes * 'There is also good news' — Ukrainian drones hit key military optics plant in Russia, General Staff
Russia damages Chinese consulate in Odesa as Chinese drone parts found in Kyiv following similar attack
China has not publicly acknowledged the incident or reported any damage to its diplomatic premises in Odesa.
'There is also good news' — Ukrainian drones hit key military optics plant in Russia, General Staff confirms
Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's counter-disinformation center, said a drone hit the Azov Optical and Mechanical Plant in the town of Azov, Rostov Oblast. The facility reportedly manufactures critical components for the Russian military, including sights, rangefinders, thermal imaging systems, and fire control equipment for tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, ships, and aircraft.
Ukraine war latest: Putin tells Trump Russia won't back down from its war aims in Ukraine
Key developments on July 3: * Putin tells Trump Russia won't back down from its war aims in Ukraine * Deputy commander of Russian Navy killed in Ukrainian strike in Kursk, Russian official confirms * Ukraine signs major drone co-production deal with US Swift Beat, Zelensky announces * Russia targets Ukrainian conscription offices to
'Nothing but terror and murder' — Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 2 dead, 26 injured
Fires broke out across the city as Russia attacked the capital overnight on July 4. At least 23 people have been injured, with 14 of the victims hospitalized.
Ukraine signs major drone co-production deal with US Swift Beat, Zelensky announces
Ukraine signed a major deal with U.S. company Swift Beat to co-produce various types of drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on July 3 during his visit to Denmark.
'A powerful secondary explosion' — Ukrainian drones destroy Russian ammunition depot in Donetsk Oblast, SBU says
Unconfirmed videos posted to social media show a fire already burning followed by a large explosion and shockwave.
Raybird drones to be built in UK in new joint venture with Ukraine
Skyeton Prevail Solutions, a joint venture between Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton and U.K.-based defense company Prevail Solutions, will supply the British Army with Raybird drones, the two companies announced on July 2.
Ukraine war latest: As Russia ramps up missile attacks, US halts promised air defense shipments to Ukraine
Key developments on July 2: * As Russia ramps up missile attacks, US halts promised air defense shipments to Ukraine * North Korea to send up to 30,000 more troops to aid Russia's war against Ukraine, CNN reports * Ukraine denies another Russian claim of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast breakthrough, says small incursion repelled
Russia cannot launch 500 drones every day, Ukraine's intel chief says
Russia has the capacity to launch as many as 500 Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones at Ukraine in a single attack, but doing so on a daily basis is not possible, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on July 2.
'Important facility hit' — Ukraine attacks Russian oil refinery in Saratov Oblast, military says
"The occupiers use the capacity of this refinery to supply fuel and lubricants to Russian military units involved in the armed aggression against Ukraine," the General Staff reported on July 1.
Ukraine’s new interceptor UAVs are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the sky
Russia’s Shahed drone swarms are pummeling Ukraine on a nightly basis, inflicting ever more death and destruction in cities that had managed to carve out some sense of normalcy amid wartime. Civilian alarm has grown. With traditional air defense stockpiles running low, the government is banking on newly created
Operation Spiderweb and Russia’s record drone assault – Ukraine in photos, June 2025
For Ukraine, June began with a celebration — not the one the whole country longs for, victory over Moscow — but a celebration of one of the most stunning drone attacks on Russia, known as Operation Spiderweb. On June 1, Ukrainian drones targeted four Russian air bases – two of them thousands of
Ukraine shows footage of Bober drones hitting Russian air defenses, fighter jet in Crimea
The footage shows the combat use of UJ-26 drones, commonly known as Bobers (Beavers), targeting high-value Russian military systems.
Ukraine developing new anti-drone ammunition to counter Russian aerial attacks
The manufacturer Brave1 has already codified the new rounds according to NATO standards. The goal is to supply every infantry soldier with a magazine of specialized ammunition for use in case of aerial threats.
Smashing previous monthly record, Russia launches 5,337 kamikaze drones against Ukraine during June
Russia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine in June, according to data from the Ukrainian Air Force and Dragon Capital, smashing the previous record of 4,198 set in March. Russia's bombardments, a fact of life after three years of full-scale war, have intensified dramatically in May
Ukrainian drones strike missile, drone arsenal in Russia's Bryansk Oblast
Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) struck on June 28 the 1060th Material-Technical Support Center in the city of Bryansk, Ukraine's General Staff said. The facilities store a Russian missile and drone arsenal, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing a source in HUR.
Ukraine imposes new sanctions on Russian individuals, Chinese company involved in Shahed drone production
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on June 27 imposing sanctions on 52 Russian citizens as well as an additional 34 Russian companies and one Chinese entity involved in the production of Shahed-type drones and chip manufacturing machinery.
Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly strike 4 fighter jets in Russia
Key developments on June 27: * Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly strike 4 fighter jets in Russia * North Korea deployed 20% of Kim's elite 'personal reserve' to fight against Ukraine in Russia, Umerov says * Pro-Palestinian activists reportedly destroy military equipment intended for Ukraine * Zelensky signs decree to synchronize Russia sanctions
Ukrainian manufacturers able to produce 4 million drones per year, Umerov says
Ukrainian manufacturers will supply four million drones to the front line this year, while the Ukrainian army has already received up to 1.5 million drones as of the end of June, according to Umerov.
Warfare in Ukraine has changed… again
The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell explains a new modification of the standard first-person view (FPV) drone that already once transformed the way war is fought. Fiber optic cable now used to connect drone operators to FPVs ensures a perfect image and control experience all the way to the target — and cannot be spotted by enemy drone detectors.
Chinese journalist injured by drone strike in Kursk Oblast, Russian governor says
According to acting Kursk Oblast governor Alexander Khinshtein, 63-year-old reporter Lu Yuguang from the Chinese television network Phoenix TV was wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike on the village of Korenevo.
Ukrainian drones strike Russian S-400 air defense system in occupied Crimea, HUR says
The attack damaged "critical and expensive components" of Russia's S-400 Triumph air defense system, including two 92N2E multifunctional control radars, two 91N6E detection radars, and an S-400 launcher, according to HUR.
Facing manpower shortage, Ukrainian brigade turns to women in first-ever female recruitment drive
Editor’s note: This article originated as a winning story idea in a vote by members of the Kyiv Independent’s community. Join our community today and join our exclusive members-only Discord channel, where you can discuss and suggest stories, ask our journalists questions, and more. "Her strength is her
Taking lessons from Ukraine war, Trump's US defense budget prioritizes drones, missiles
The budget includes increased investment in small drones, a response to their proven battlefield value in Ukraine.
'Something unknown' hits key Russian drone facility in Taganrog, Ukrainian official says
"Something unknown flew into the Atlant-Aero plant in Taganrog," Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation center, said. "This is an important node in the Russian military-industrial complex, specializing in components for combat drones and control systems."
Russia has launched over 28,000 Shahed drones at Ukraine since 2022, with nearly 10% fired in June alone, Zelensky says
Speaking on June 24, Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that Russia would never have been able to carry out such drone attacks without support from Iran, and Ukraine, in turn, could not have intercepted most of the drones without the help of its international partners.
Ukraine war latest: Russian attack on Dnipro kills at least 17, injures almost 280
Key developments on June 24: * 'Dead and wounded everywhere' — Russian attack on Dnipro kills at least 17, injures almost 280 * Council of Europe, Ukraine to sign accord on June 25 to set up Russian aggression tribunal * Ukraine can produce 8 million drones annually but needs funding, Zelensky says at NATO
Ukraine can produce 8 million drones annually but needs funding, Zelensky says at NATO summit
President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to scale up investments in joint weapons production, including drone technologies, artillery, and interceptors. He argued that Ukraine's defense capabilities are not only key to defending its own territory, but essential to strengthening NATO's long-term security.
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