On Sunday, July 19, 2026, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported further strikes on targets in the Russian Federation, including two tankers, a floating crane, a 9K37 Buk air defense system, and other enemy military facilities. Russian forces retaliated with a counterattack focused primarily on Kyiv.
Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
During the night of July 18–19, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck a number of important enemy military and defense-related economic targets as part of efforts to reduce the Russian aggressor’s military and economic potential.
Two tankers were attacked in the Black Sea, along with a floating crane in the Sea of Azov. The tankers are used to transport Russian crude oil, petroleum products, and fuel in support of the Russian Armed Forces. Floating cranes support port operations, cargo loading and unloading, and the maritime logistics of the Russian military. Since last week, a total of 164 vessels have been hit, most of them tankers.
A launcher belonging to a 9K37 Buk air defense system (DIA/NATO reporting name: SA-11 Gadfly) was also struck near Zelenopillia in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. According to the Dutch open-source intelligence group Oryx, which tracks Russian and Ukrainian equipment losses using photographic and video evidence, Russia has lost 54 9A310M1-2 launchers and 11 9A39M1-2 transporter-loader vehicles of the Buk-M1-2 system since the start of the full-scale war, as well as 18 9A316 transporter-loader vehicles and 19 9A317 launchers of the Buk-M2 system, 18 9A317M launchers of the Buk-M3 system, and 25 launchers of unspecified variants. Including the latest loss, the total stands at 146 vehicles.
In addition, a road bridge near Novoeconomichne in the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast was struck. Russian forces use the bridge for logistics.
⚡️Уражено два танкери, плавучий кран, ЗРК «Бук» та інші військові об’єкти противникаhttps://t.co/gTknQe3KXT pic.twitter.com/WCTL9S31nD
— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) July 19, 2026
At the same time, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported another Russian missile and drone attack, which began at 6:00 p.m. local time yesterday. Russian forces launched:
- 10 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missiles from launchers deployed in Kursk Oblast;
- 25 Iskander-M ballistic missiles/S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Bryansk and Kursk oblasts;
- three P-800 Oniks/Yakhont anti-ship missiles from Crimea;
- three Kh-59 Ovod/Kh-69 guided missiles from a combat aircraft operating over the Black Sea;
- 125 Geran/Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles, including jet-powered Geran-3/4 variants, as well as Gerbera and Italmas drones, S8000 Banderol cruise missiles, and various types of decoys, including Parodiya, launched from the directions of Kursk, Oryol, and Millerovo in Russia and Hvardiiske in Crimea.
The attack was countered by Ukrainian aviation, air defense missile units, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile air defense teams.
According to preliminary data, by 8:30 a.m. local time, Ukrainian air defenses had shot down or otherwise neutralized 126 targets, including 17 Iskander-M/Zircon/S-400 missiles, one Kh-59/69 guided missile, and 108 drones. Twenty-three missiles and 10 drones struck 20 locations, while drone debris fell at 18 sites.
⚡️ ЗБИТО/ПОДАВЛЕНО 126 ЦІЛЕЙ: 18 РАКЕТ ТА 108 ВОРОЖИХ БПЛА
Докладніше: https://t.co/aAYfDAQsNV pic.twitter.com/rH3BXhIFZU— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) July 19, 2026
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
“Overnight, Russia carried out one of its largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv. The enemy launched more than 40 missiles of various types—most of them targeting the capital—as well as 120 attack drones.
So far, one person has been reported killed in Kyiv and the surrounding region, while 16 others were injured. My condolences go to their families and loved ones. Everyone affected is receiving the necessary medical care. Rescue operations are continuing at three sites, involving nearly 600 emergency personnel. The relevant services are also working in Odesa Oblast.
In total, over the course of this week, Russia has used approximately 1,450 drones, more than 1,640 guided aerial bombs, and 99 missiles of various types against Ukraine. People were injured in Odesa and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, while damage was reported in Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts. Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Cherkasy oblasts also came under Russian attack this week.
Protection against ballistic missiles remains our constant and highest priority. Interceptor capabilities are needed every day, and I am grateful to everyone who takes our agreements seriously and ensures the delivery of anti-ballistic missile capabilities. These packages are now literally saving lives during every large-scale Russian attack.
It is equally important that pressure on Russia continue alongside our work to strengthen anti-ballistic missile capabilities. Delays in making new decisions give Moscow an opportunity not only to plan further attacks against our people, but also to devise ways of circumventing new sanctions. I thank everyone who is helping.”
Протягом цієї ночі Росія здійснила одну з наймасованіших балістичних атак на Київ. Ворог випустив понад 40 ракет різних типів, з них більшість по столиці, та 120 ударних дронів.
Станом на зараз у Києві та в області відомо про одну загиблу людину, ще 16 отримали поранення. Мої… pic.twitter.com/Vmx4tJns7A
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 19, 2026
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine:
“While emergency crews were responding to the aftermath of the Russian attack in Odesa, Russian forces carried out follow-up strikes directly on the site where firefighters were working. Fortunately, the rescuers were in a shelter and no one was injured.”
😡 Під час ліквідації наслідків російської атаки на Одещині російські війська завдали повторні удари безпосередньо по місцю роботи вогнеборців
На щастя, рятувальники перебували в укритті і ніхто не постраждав. pic.twitter.com/v7lxx0Xtr4
— МВС України (@MVS_UA) July 19, 2026