President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on July 24, 2026, that intelligence suggests Russia has readied missiles for a massive
new attack on Ukraine within the next 48 hours. The warning follows a deadly Russian ballistic missile strike on a drone technology exhibition near Kyiv that killed at least 10 people and injured nearly 100.
The strike targeted a privately operated military training site in the Bucha district, located roughly 20 to 30 kilometers from central Kyiv. According to AP News, the attack damaged 27 homes and 44 vehicles. The event was hosted by a drone manufacturers’ association and attended by prominent members of the defense sector.
Ballistic Strikes and the Drone Exhibition Controversy
The attack involved three ballistic missiles, only one of which was intercepted, according to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuri Ihnat. While the BBC reported that the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the strike, Moscow claimed it used high-precision weaponry to target a site where drones intended for civil strikes in Russia were being demonstrated.
The incident has sparked internal friction within Ukraine. President Zelenskyy stated in a nightly video address that it is absolutely unacceptable
to hold weapons exhibitions with large crowds near residential buildings under wartime conditions. In response, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko has opened a criminal case over possible negligence in organizing the event to determine who approved the location and timing.
Despite the casualties, some high-profile figures escaped unharmed. Defence Ministry adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov, known as “Flash,” and technology developer Lyuba Shypovych both confirmed via social media they were safe; Beskrestnov noted he had avoided the event due to security concerns.
Casualties in Slovyansk, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia
The violence extended beyond the Kyiv region. In the eastern city of Slovyansk, Russian guided aerial bomb strikes killed five people and injured nine.
- Slovyansk: The Latvian consulate was damaged, a move Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, said
underscores Moscow’s utter disregard for international law.
Ukrainian Counter-Strikes on Wildberries and Kirov
Ukraine responded with a series of long-range attacks targeting Russian logistics and military infrastructure. A strike on a military plant in Kirov killed six people and wounded 26.
Kyiv also intensified its campaign against Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer.
The Push for Patriot Interceptors and US Production
Against the backdrop of these strikes, Zelenskyy is prioritizing the acquisition of Patriot missile interceptors. He recently met with a delegation from Raytheon, the U.S. company that manufactures the systems, and stated that the company is ready to jointly produce Patriot interceptors with Ukraine.
This move aligns with a shift in Washington, as President Donald Trump recently vowed to give Ukraine a license to produce Patriots. Zelenskyy further proposed a win-win
deal to build a factory in the United States using Ukraine’s advanced drone technology to create lines of production.
Diplomatic Tensions and the Trump Meeting
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump in Washington next Tuesday. The timing is tight; in an interview with influencer Laura Loomer, Zelenskyy indicated he may attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham on the same day as the talks.
Diplomatic friction remains high. Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the ASEAN summit in the Philippines. According to the Kremlin, Lavrov warned Washington that further arming the Kyiv regime
would be unacceptable. Rubio described the conversation as frank
but maintained that US arms sales via NATO’s PURL initiative remain unchanged.
As Ukraine braces for the predicted massive strike, the primary uncertainty remains whether the upcoming talks with Trump will result in a concrete peace deal or an acceleration of the military industrial partnership, particularly regarding the production of air defenses that Zelenskyy claims are the number one priority
for protecting lives.
Related reading
