Ukraine intercepts 65 Russian drones as mutual aerial bombardments persist

Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 65 out of 80 attack and decoy drones launched by Russian forces overnight on July 29. The barrage involved multiple weapon types, including Shahed models and decoy drones dispatched from several locations in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories.

This latest wave follows intense aerial operations across both countries. Russian defense officials recently reported downing 81 Ukrainian drones over the Moscow region, where fallen debris damaged a residential building and ignited an industrial fire in Chekhov. Ukrainian authorities simultaneously reported intercepting more than 130 Russian drones in prior assaults, alongside missile and drone strikes targeting Zaporizhzhia, Izium, and Sumy that resulted in civilian casualties. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russian forces suffered over 220,000 casualties in seven months while alleging Moscow plans to deploy North Korean troops.

Sources: Moldova1, TV8, Ziarul de Gardă