Russian Drones Kyiv in Apparent Tactical Shift

By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda Updated at 1405 EAT on Thursday 10 July 2025

Hundreds of Russian drones swarmed Kyiv from all directions overnight into Thursday, signaling what appears to be a new shift in Russia’s military tactics. The assault marked the second consecutive night of intense attacks on the Ukrainian capital.

According to authorities, at least two people were killed, including a 22-year-old female police officer, and more than a dozen others were wounded in the overnight strikes.

Russia has intensified its aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent weeks, but Thursday’s attack marked a notable shift in tactics by Moscow.

Launching hundreds of drones and missiles, Russian forces targeted Kyiv from multiple directions. In a new and sophisticated maneuver, some drones initially bypassed the capital before abruptly changing course and circling back toward the city a move that further strained Ukraine’s already stretched air defense systems and complicated efforts to protect the capital’s skies.

Many Kyiv residents endured another sleepless night in bomb shelters, haunted by the terrifying sounds of explosions and drones buzzing overhead.

Nadiya Voitsehivkya, 63, told CNN that her brother-in-law was hospitalized after a drone strike hit their apartment.

“Everything inside was completely destroyed,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “My sister escaped in her underwear. She managed to get out, but her husband didn’t make it he was crushed by a slab. The ambulance took him away.”

The overnight assault lasted more than 10 hours, with Russia launching 400 drones and 18 missiles, including eight ballistic missiles, according to a Telegram post from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

As terrifying as the night was for Kyiv’s residents, such massive aerial bombardments have become the new normal for Ukrainian civilians.

Just a day earlier, on Wednesday, Russia carried out its largest drone assault since the start of the full-scale invasion unleashing 728 drones and 13 missiles in strikes that killed at least one person, Ukrainian officials said.

“This is an obvious build-up of terror by Russia,” Zelensky said on Thursday. He added that he would be speaking with Ukraine’s allies about additional funding for interceptor drones and air defense systems.

Houses, apartment blocks, cars, warehouses, offices, and other structures across Kyiv were damaged or set ablaze, according to city authorities. A health care clinic was almost completely destroyed, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed.

Russia has sharply escalated its aerial assault on Ukraine in recent weeks, with near-nightly barrages involving hundreds of drones and missiles, leaving infrastructure in ruins and civilians on edge.

At the same time, progress toward a peace agreement has stalled, prompting growing frustration in Washington. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for renewed urgency in diplomatic efforts.

“We get a lot of bullsh*t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” President Trump said during a Cabinet meeting. “He’s very nice all of the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”

Russia’s sustained aerial onslaught in recent days has reignited questions about Washington’s long-term commitment to defending Ukraine.

In response, the Trump administration has pledged to send additional defensive weaponry to Kyiv signaling what appears to be a significant shift in policy amid mounting pressure to act.

Moscow downplayed President Trump’s harsh remarks in a press briefing on Wednesday. A Kremlin spokesperson said Russia is reacting “calmly” to the criticism of President Vladimir Putin.

“Trump, in general, tends to use a fairly tough style and expressions,” said Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s press secretary. He added that Moscow still hopes to maintain dialogue with Washington, despite the rhetoric.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia on Thursday — a rare high-level encounter amid escalating tensions.

In the wake of Wednesday’s record-setting drone assault, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his frustration over stalled diplomatic efforts:

“There have been so many attempts to achieve peace and a ceasefire, but Russia rejects everything,” Zelensky said.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued rulings on four cases related to Russian military operations in Ukraine — covering actions since the 2022 full-scale invasion, as well as the conflict in eastern Ukraine that began in 2014, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

The ECHR found that Russia has committed a consistent pattern of human rights violations in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

The court also held Russia responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014, an attack that killed 298 people. Moscow has repeatedly denied any responsibility for the tragedy.

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