Ukraine continues strikes on targets in Russia as Kremlin losses mount

On Thursday, July 16, 2026, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported further strikes on targets in the Russian Federation. Kyiv is continuing its strategy of attacking targets inside Russia.

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

During the night of July 15–16, 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.

Six tankers and two tugboats were attacked in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The tankers are used to transport Russian crude oil and petroleum products in circumvention of international sanctions, as well as to carry fuel for the Russian Armed Forces. Since last week, a total of 144 vessels have been hit, most of them tankers (Ukraine attacks more tankers; Russia loses an attack helicopter).

Unmanned Systems Forces operators struck 11 more vessels from russia’s shadow fleet

On July 16, USF units continued Operation “MoLoChKa.” In total, 147 vessels belonging to russia’s shadow fleet were struck between July 6 and July 16.

Of these:
• 117 vessels in the Sea of… pic.twitter.com/IsEquMOAWb

— 🇺🇦 Unmanned Systems Forces (@usf_army) July 16, 2026

An oil depot in Shakhtarsk, in the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, was also struck. Ukrainian military intelligence is currently assessing the extent of the damage and the effects of the attack.

In addition, a road bridge in the Prymorsk district of the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and the Syvash railway bridge in the Chonhar district of the occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea were hit. Russian occupation forces use both bridges for logistics.

A base housing electronic warfare equipment was also struck in the Novodarivka area of occupied Luhansk Oblast.

⚡️Уражено шість танкерів, два буксири, нафтобазу, мости та інші військові об’єкти противникаhttps://t.co/PKv4Gii8Ga pic.twitter.com/IEzrg4i6Eb

— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) July 16, 2026

Earlier, Ukraine announced another On the Shield repatriation operation, during which the bodies of 501 fallen Ukrainian service members were recovered.

The operation involved the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Joint Center of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Persons Missing under Special Circumstances, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and other elements of the country’s security and defense sector. Assistance was also provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Search teams from the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s On the Shield Humanitarian Project play an important role in the process. Their work is coordinated by the Central Directorate for Civil-Military Cooperation of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Despite the threat of drone attacks, remote mining, and enemy fire, the teams continue to operate in difficult and dangerous areas.

Once the repatriation operation is completed, the next stage begins. Personnel and resources from the Joint Civil-Military Cooperation Center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, under the overall coordination of the General Staff’s Central Directorate for Civil-Military Cooperation, will transport the repatriated remains to designated facilities for the necessary forensic examinations and identification.

Photos: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also reported another limited Russian missile and drone attack. Since 6:00 p.m. local time yesterday, Russian forces had attacked targets in Ukraine using:

• eight Iskander-M ballistic missiles/S-400 surface-to-air missiles launched from Bryansk Oblast;
• four Raduga Kh-22/32 cruise missiles launched by Tu-22M3 bombers operating over the Black Sea;
• one Kh-31P anti-radiation missile launched from a combat aircraft;
• five S8000 Banderol cruise missiles;
• 146 Geran/Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles, including jet-powered Geran-3/4 variants, as well as Gerbera and Italmas drones and various types of decoys, including Parodiya, launched from the directions of Kursk, Oryol, and Millerovo in Russia, the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, 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 9:00 a.m. local time, Ukrainian air defenses had shot down or otherwise neutralized three Iskander-M/S-400 missiles and 129 drones over the north, south, center, and east of the country. Five Iskander-M/S-400 missiles, one Kh-31P missile, and 16 drones struck 15 locations, while drone debris fell at seven sites. The Kh-22/32 missiles failed to reach their targets. At the time the report was published, several Russian drones remained in Ukrainian airspace.

⚡️ ЗБИТО/ПОДАВЛЕНО 132 ЦІЛІhttps://t.co/KAGJtxJIjl pic.twitter.com/FfONsbjbKY

— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) July 16, 2026

Volodymyr Zelenskyy:

„As of now, two people are confirmed to have been killed in Kyiv in last night’s Russian missile strike. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Five people have been injured, including a child. The Russians have damaged a residential high-rise, warehouse facilities, and vehicles. Russian strikes on the Kharkiv region have left four people injured. The region was attacked with drones and a guided aerial bomb. Ordinary homes and entirely civilian sites have been damaged, including a movie theater and tennis courts. In Sumy, a public park was struck, and in the region, a tractor brigade was targeted. Apartment buildings were damaged in Zaporizhzhia. Damage has been reported at power grid facilities in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, and Donetsk regions.

In total, the Russians launched 13 missiles, including eight ballistic ones, and 151 drones. This was already the sixth ballistic attack on Kyiv in July alone. Moscow is counting on ballistic terror and continues its strikes, so it’s critical now to speed up deliveries of interceptors for our air defense. Every package matters, and everything we have agreed with our partners must arrive on time. The swiftness of these deliveries helps save our people’s lives and takes the fight out of Russia. Thank you to everyone who is helping.”

As of now, two people are confirmed to have been killed in Kyiv in last night’s Russian missile strike. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Five people have been injured, including a child. The Russians have damaged a residential high-rise, warehouse facilities, and… pic.twitter.com/NfDwjFUzcE

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 16, 2026

State Emergency Service of Ukraine:

„At least seven people were injured in a Russian airstrike on Kramatorsk. The city was attacked this afternoon. A restaurant and several vehicles were damaged, while a major fire broke out in a building belonging to a local business. Firefighting operations were hampered by the continued threat of shelling. Emergency crews were repeatedly forced to take cover, but returned to fight the blaze once the situation stabilized. Despite the danger, firefighters extinguished the fire, which covered an area of 800 m².”

Щонайменше семеро поранених внаслідок російського авіаудару по Краматорську: ворог атакував місто сьогодні вдень!
Пошкоджений заклад громадського харчування та автомобілі. Виникла масштабна пожежа в будівлі місцевого підприємства.
Детальніше: https://t.co/MUJ0Xd2RNU pic.twitter.com/lEPRRowsfM

— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) July 16, 2026