Russia launched 126 ballistic missiles at Ukraine in July 2026, the New York Times reports. This figure represents a new monthly record since the start of the full-scale invasion as Moscow steps up the bombardment of Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.
The recent surge in missile attacks comes as Ukraine runs short of air defense ammunition, leaving the country virtually defenseless against the Kremlin’s ballistic blitz. Russian President Vladimir Putin clearly aims to exploit Ukraine’s vulnerability and bomb the country into submission.
The death toll from Russia’s escalating bombing campaign is already rising alarmingly. Around 400 people were reportedly killed during July, while UN data indicates that 1,396 Ukrainian civilians died and an additional 7,978 suffered injuries during the first six months of this year, a 37 percent rise from the same period in 2025.
Ukraine’s only effective protection against Russian ballistic missiles is the US-made Patriot air defense system. However, the country’s Patriot interceptor missile stocks have now been almost entirely depleted, while Kyiv’s efforts to secure fresh supplies are currently failing.
The United States is unable to provide Ukraine with Patriot interceptors as America is currently experiencing its own supply challenges due to the war with Iran. A recent report produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that US stockpiles of Patriot ammunition have fallen from over 2,300 missiles in February to around eight hundred.
