Night Attack in Kyiv: Drastic Damages to Polish Consulate and Diplomatic Missions
On the night of July 4th, Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, faced a devastating missile and drone attack launched by Russian forces. This assault resulted in significant damage across the city’s infrastructure and the Polish diplomatic mission. The Polish Foreign Ministry reported that over 550 drones and missiles were used in the attack, with Ukrainian Air Defense successfully intercepting and destroying 478 of them. Nevertheless, the ongoing shelling caused destruction in key areas, including the damage to the building housing the Polish consulate. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski confirmed via social media that the consulate staff, including ambassador Łukasiewicz, survived without injuries, yet expressed concern over the safety of diplomatic personnel amidst heightened hostilities. He emphasized the urgent need for Ukraine to receive advanced anti-aircraft systems and called on the United States, in particular, to resume supplies of missile defense aid and impose stronger sanctions on Russia, which keeps mockingly disregarding international peace efforts. This night’s attack involved over 550 launched aerial objects, of which only 72% were intercepted. Kyiv experienced falling debris in five districts, with at least 14 civilians injured, some critically. Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Russian forces set a new record, deploying over 330 Shahed drones during the assault, displaying increased tactical complexity and an escalation in drone usage. Overall, the continuous attacks symbolize the persistent danger facing Kyiv and highlight the critical importance of modern air defense capabilities and diplomatic support. The situation remains tense, with Ukraine calling for immediate international action to bolster its defenses and protect its citizens and diplomatic missions from further strikes.