Eagle over Kyiv, missiles and political overtones: aviation expert on the prerequisites for a large-scale attack
4 July 2025 11:46
On the night of July 4, Ukraine experienced one of the largest air strikes in the history of the full-scale war. Russia launched more than half a thousand drones and 11 missiles, most of which hit the capital. On the day of the shelling, an enemy Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone was spotted over Kyiv, which aviation experts called an alarming signal for Ukrainian air defense.
MPs point out that the absence of an appointed commander of the Air Force for 307 days is not only a technical but also a systemic crisis. Politicians attribute this massive shelling to Russia’s reaction to the phone call between Trump and Putin. Is it just a coincidence or a signal to the U.S. Why is the enemy flying reconnaissance drones over the capital without any obstacles? And will Ukrainian air defense withstand the next Russian strikes?
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian troops launched 539 attack drones and 11 missiles of various types.
In particular, Ukraine was attacked:
▪️ 1 X-47M2 “Kinzhal” aerial ballistic missile
▪️ 6 Iskander-M / KN-23 ballistic missiles
▪️ 4 Iskander-K cruise missiles
Air defense forces managed to destroy 268 drones and 2 cruise missiles. The main target of the attack was Kyiv and the region.
Government reaction
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the attack began almost simultaneously with the news of Donald Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin. The air alert in Kyiv lasted until almost 9:00 am.
“The first air alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began almost simultaneously with the beginning of the media discussion of President Trump’s phone conversation with Putin. Russia is once again demonstrating that it is not going to end the war and terror. Only at about 9 a.m. this morning did the air raid alert go off in Kyiv. It was a tough, sleepless night,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said
The President called the shelling “another proof that the Kremlin will not stop on its own” and called on partners to step up assistance to Ukraine.
Trump himself issued a statement after speaking with the Russian dictator and said he was disappointed with Putin and did not believe he would end the war. The White House also announced a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga called the night of July 4 one of the worst nights in Kyiv. He is sure that Putin deliberately attacked after the call to Trump.
“No more waiting! Putin is clearly demonstrating his complete disregard for the United States and all those who have called for an end to the war. The toughest sanctions must be immediately imposed on Moscow. Ukraine must be provided with all the necessary means for self-defense,” the Foreign Minister said.
At the same time, the head of the Presidential Administration, Andriy Yermak, wrote that Putin’s goals are to kill Ukrainians as long as he is allowed to.
“In addition to strengthening air defense, we need to attack. Of course, defense alone will not stop all this. Putin’s regime will be hit, and only then can it be stopped. Our allies need to understand one thing – it will spread to Europe if they act slowly. And Russia’s autocratic allies will gladly take part in this,” Andriy Yermak
It is necessary to attack the Russian economy and defense right now, summarized the head of the Presidential Administration.
Kyiv. The most massive attack
Thehead of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Serhiy Popko, said that the capital was subjected to a combined attack from missiles and drones. In total, damage was recorded in more than 20 locations, and the wreckage of downed targets fell in 33 more places. More than 20 people were injured, including a 10-year-old child.
The following districts were the most affected:
- Solomyansky: more than 30 apartment buildings, 5 educational institutions, and private homes were destroyed
- Svyatoshynskyi: floors of a 14-storey building were damaged, at least 6 locations
- Dniprovskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Holosiivskyi and Darnytskyi districts: blast wave and debris caused destruction of residential buildings and infrastructure
In addition to Kyiv and its region, impacts and debris were recorded in Dnipropetrovs’k, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions. Data on the victims are being updated.
Eagle-10 flies into the capital – alarming signals for defense
on July 3, around noon , Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin reported an enemy Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone that had flown into Ukrainian airspace. This information was later confirmed by MP Mariana Bezuhla: the drone had already reached Kyiv.
Aviation expert Kostyantyn Kryvolap in an exclusive commentary for
“Yesterday, there was definitely one Eagle flying over Kyiv, and possibly two. Information came from different sources – from the right bank and from the reservoir area. Most likely, the drones went further to Chernihiv region. To intercept even one Orlan, we had to raise tactical aviation,” noted Kryvolap.
According to the expert, just one hour of F-16 flight costs $25,000, not including engine and maintenance costs. That is, the attempt to intercept a primitive drone using a combat aircraft shows the low efficiency of air defense to detect and destroy spies.
“This is not a matter of supplying Patriot or NASAMS – this is something we can and should solve ourselves. But this is not being done. Why? Who is responsible?” Kryvolap added emotionally.
He also criticized the leadership of the army aviation, recalling that he had appealed to the commander of the aviation, General Badrakov, through intermediaries. At first, he promised a result, but later called the problem “not serious” and dismissed it.
At thesame time , MP Mariana Bezuhla admitted that the appearance of an enemy drone in Kyiv is a sign of failure in the capital’s defense system.
“The reconnaissance drone has already arrived in Kyiv. 307 days since the Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has not been appointed,” the MP wrote on social media.
According to Kryvolap, the enemy’s intelligence could have quite successfully adjusted the strikes that took place on the night of July 3, when Kyiv was attacked with Kinzhal and Iskander missiles and drones – more than 500 air targets in total.
Earlier, a local resident of the Vyshhorod district of Kyiv region saw an Orlan-10 drone in the forest. This was reported by Andriy Nebytov, the head of the Kyiv regional police.
