Ukraine updates: Russia hits Odesa, Sumy in overnight attack

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched some 300 drones and 30 missiles in overnight attacks on Ukraine. 

One person was killed in the port city of Odesa and critical infrastructure was damaged in northeastern Sumy.

Russia said its air defenses were able to down more than a dozen drones headed for Moscow overnight as well as more than 80 others in different parts of the country.

Australia said it is delivering 49 US-made Abrams M1A1 tanks to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's "illegal and immoral invasion."

Below is a roundup of news and analysis on Russia's war in Ukraine from July 19, 2025:

07/19/2025July 19, 2025

Overnight Russian attacks kill one, damage critical infrastructure

Russia has intensified its nightly attacks on Ukraine in recent monthsImage: Nina Liashonok/REUTERS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said that Russian forces had fired some 300 drones and 30 missiles overnight.

The tirade killed one person in the port city of Odesa and damaged critical infrastructure in the northeastern city of Sumy. 

Zelenskyy posted a video and pictures of flaming buildings and firefighters to his Telegram account , writing that the attacks in Sumy had knocked out power to thousands of homes in the region. 

The mayor of Odesa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, said a high-rise in the city had been engulfed in flames and that emergency services and firefighters were battling fires and searching for injured citizens. 

"Odesa was attacked by enemy strike drones — more than 20 UAVs approached the city from different directions," wrote Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov on Telegram.

"Civilian infrastructure was damaged as a result of the attack. A residential high-rise building is on fire," added the mayor.

07/19/2025July 19, 2025

Russia says it downed dozens of Ukrainian drones

Russia's Defense Ministry on Saturday said it had successfully downed 87 Ukrainian drones over central, western and southern parts of the country, with 48 downed near the Ukrainian border in Bryansk. 

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also said that air defenses had down 13 drones headed for the capital had been downed after midnight.

Sobyanin said that specialists were examining fragments where they hit the ground.

07/19/2025July 19, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Welcome to DW's coverage of the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine.

This Saturday, we start with another massive Russian air assault 

In Russia, authorities say they downed more than 80 Ukrainian drones, a dozen of which were headed for the capital Moscow.

Russia has seemingly increased its barrage against Ukraine amid faltering attempts by US President Donald Trump to secure a ceasefire deal.

Stay tuned for more news and analysis