Thursday, July 23. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine
Ukraine's Air Force intercepted 18 out of 41 ballistic and hypersonic missiles fired by Russia overnight into July 19. One civilian was killed, while 16 others were wounded in one of the largest missile attacks of the war on Kyiv.
In separate attacks on July 21, Russian strikes killed at least 10 civilians across Ukraine, with the eastern Donetsk region and southern Odesa facing the highest death toll amid a wider string of Russian raids on port infrastructure in southern Ukraine.
Russia's war against Ukraine is becoming deadlier for civilians. The UN recorded 1,396 civilian deaths and 7,978 injuries in the first six months of 2026, a 37% increase on the same period last year, according to a July 14 statement. Most casualties occurred in Ukraine, though the UN also verified 250 civilian deaths in Russia. Since 2022, it has documented 16,431 civilian deaths.
Ukraine attacks on Russia. Ukraine’s military launched drone attacks on various Russian regions overnight on July 23, striking targets in multiple cities. Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery, approximately 400 miles into Ukraine-Russia border. Ukrainian drones have hit several retail warehouses of Russia's biggest online retailer, Wildberries.
Ukraine's military leadership is undergoing its biggest shake-up since the dismissal of Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's serving ambassador to the UK. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, replacing Oleksandr Syrsky after nearly two and a half years in the post.
The move follows six days of nationwide protests, initially sparked by the surprise dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov — who was viewed in Ukrainian society as an effective technocrat focused on bringing in reforms and fighting corruption — but soon turning into calls for Syrsky's removal.
The upheaval began with last week's cabinet reshuffle and the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. At a meeting with lawmakers on July 15, Zelenskyy acknowledged for the first time that relations between Fedorov and Syrskyi had broken down. He also blamed the outgoing minister for a stalled overhaul of Ukraine's military recruitment system, long dogged by corruption and abuses that triggered public anger.
Fedorov later said Syrsky had demanded his dismissal. Syrsky, in turn, denied any personal rift. As protesters gathered each evening in Kyiv and other regional capitals, demanding both Fedorov's reinstatement and broader military reforms, the political pressure quickly mounted.
Frontline officers widely respect Drapatyi. He has built a reputation for accountability, resigning earlier this year after a Russian missile strike on a training ground killed Ukrainian soldiers; Drapatyi belongs to a cohort of officers forged by Russia's war against Ukraine and is widely seen as Syrskyi's antipode.
Zelenskyy framed the appointment as a wartime necessity rather than a political concession. "We all have one desire — victory over the enemy and the achievement of such conditions at the front and under pressure on Russia that would allow us to force Russia to peace," he said late on Tuesday as he announced Drapatyi's promotion.
Another vacancy also hangs in the balance. Ukraine is yet to appoint a new ambassador to the U.S. after former Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Zelenskyy's favorite, reportedly turned down the position.