Multiple cities in Ukraine were targeted by Russian drone attacks overnight, killing one in the Black Sea port of Odesa.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said over 300 drones and 30 missiles had been launched at Ukraine, with the Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zhytomyr among the regions affected.
Odesa mayor Hennady Trukhanov said at least 20 drones converged on the city early on Saturday, setting ablaze at least one multi-storey apartment building and killing one resident.
Pictures posted online showed a fire engulfing floors near the top of one building as Zelensky said six people were injured – including a child – in the attack.
Moscow’s mayor also said 13 drones had been downed or destroyed by Russian air defences overnight near the city. In a separate post, Russia’s Defence Ministry said it had downed 87 Ukrainian drones in different areas across Russia in a period of nearly five hours.
Meanwhile, Kyiv’s European allies have welcomed the EU’s 18th sanctions package targeting Moscow’s oil and gas industry.
When asked about the sanctions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia had built a certain immunity to Western sanctions and adapted to them.
Kyiv accuses Russia of leaving Ukrainians stranded at Georgian border
Ukraine’s foreign minister accused Russia on Saturday of deporting Ukrainians into Georgia and leaving them stranded there without proper documents hundreds of miles from their home.
Andrii Sybiha said Russia was stepping up the expulsions of Ukrainians – many of them former prisoners – over the southern frontier, rather than sending them directly over its border with Ukraine.
That amounted to Russia “weaponizing the deportation of Ukrainian citizens,” he added on X.
There was no immediate response from Moscow, which has denied accusations of mistreating or targeting civilians since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“Since June, Russia has significantly increased the number of deported Ukrainian nationals, mostly former convicts, to the border with Georgia,” Sybiha wrote.
“As a result, dozens of people, many of whom lack proper documentation, have been stuck in the transit zone.”
Athena Stavrou19 July 2025 15:31
Recap: One dead after drone attack on Odesa
A mass drone attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa has killed one person overnight, officials said.
Mayor Hennady Trukhanov said at least 20 drones converged on the city early on Saturday, setting ablaze at least one multi-storey apartment building and killing one resident.
Pictures posted online showed a fire engulfing floors near the top of one building as president Volodymyr Zelensky said six people were injured – including a child – in the attack.
Zelensky added over 300 drones and 30 missiles had been launched at Ukraine overnight overall, with several regions affected.
Athena Stavrou19 July 2025 15:02
Full story: Russian spies who ‘targeted Britain in sustained campaign’ sanctioned
Athena Stavrou19 July 2025 14:28
Latest pictures from Ukraine
Athena Stavrou19 July 2025 13:59
Zelensky’s latest statement in full:
Last night, our warriors from various units repelled another Russian attack. More than 300 strike drones and over 30 missiles of various types were launched against our cities. Target elimination is still ongoing — drones remain in the air.
Rescue operations are underway following the attack: the Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zhytomyr regions were affected.
In Sumy, critical infrastructure was damaged, leaving several thousand families without electricity. Shostka was hit with combined strikes. In Odesa, an apartment building was damaged — six people were injured, including a child. Sadly, one person was killed. My condolences to their family and loved ones. Missiles and drones also struck Pavlohrad, damaging a residential building and vital infrastructure. All relevant services are now on the ground wherever needed, restoring affected areas and assisting people after the attack.
I thank all the leaders who understand how crucial it is to promptly implement our agreements. Joint weapons production, investment in drone manufacturing in Ukraine — especially interceptor drones — the provision of air defense systems and missiles for them, and the ability to manufacture them here in Ukraine — all of this saves lives and is needed by Ukraine right now.
Zelensky on X
Athena Stavrou19 July 2025 13:31
Lammy warns Kremlin: We see what you are doing
The UK has sanctioned a string of Russian spies and hackers, accusing them of carrying out a campaign to “destabilise Europe”.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and threaten the safety of British citizens.
“The Kremlin should be in no doubt: we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won’t tolerate it. That’s why we’re taking decisive action with sanctions against Russian spies.”
Athena Stavrou19 July 2025 13:02
Analysis: How Ukraine’s drone-infested front is slowing Russia’s advance
Athena Stavrou19 July 2025 12:35
Watch: Trump threatens Russia with sanctions and tariffs if peace with Ukraine is not reached in 50 days
Athena Stavrou19 July 2025 11:57
UK says sanctioned more than 20 Russian spies, hackers and agencies: ICYMI
Britain on Friday said it had sanctioned more than 20 Russian spies, hackers and agencies over what it called a “sustained campaign of malicious cyber activity” to destabilise Europe.
The foreign ministry said it was sanctioning three units of the Russian military intelligence GRU agency and 18 of its officers, including those it said were involved in targeting strikes against Mariupol during the war in Ukraine, and spying on former agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia before they were targeted in a Novichok poisoning in 2018.
Athena Stavrou19 July 2025 11:27
In full: How the EU aims to put the squeeze on the Russian economy with new sanctions package
EU’s 18th sanctions package against Moscow explained:
Athena Stavrou19 July 2025 11:02
