Russia fired record 376 missiles at Ukraine in July: AFP

An AFP analysis of Ukrainian air force daily reports published Saturday found that Russia launched 376 missiles at Ukraine in July, a record monthly total in the data reviewed.

The July missile figure was more than twice the number fired in June. Russia also launched 4,956 long-range drones at Ukraine during the month, down 14 percent from June, according to the analysis.

Many of the July attacks targeted Kyiv. At least 30 people were killed in the capital on the night of July 2 alone, and officials said renewed Russian strikes on Kyiv on Saturday killed at least nine people.

The analysis found that Russia used 126 ballistic missiles in July. It said Ukraine downed under a third of them, based on official data. Military analysts estimated Russia used 200 to 300 ballistic missiles in all of 2024.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine faces critical shortages of air defences, especially against ballistic missiles. He travelled to the White House in late July to press for US-made Patriot interceptors, which are among the few systems able to reliably shoot down Russia's ballistic missiles.

US President Donald Trump had initially said he would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors, but later expressed reservations. He said Friday that Washington had to be “very careful” about the decision.