Radushne: A Russian ballistic missile strike on the village of Radushne in Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region has resulted in a tragic loss, with almost an entire family killed. Ukrainian officials have reported at least nine fatalities and numerous injuries across the nation due to Russian missile and drone attacks.
According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the attack on July 30 coincided with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's return from a trip to the United States. During his visit, he secured a commitment from US President Donald Trump to provide Kyiv with licenses for Patriot missiles. Just ahead of the assault, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of air defense support from Western allies to shield Ukraine from such attacks.
In Radushne, near Zelenskyy's hometown of Kriviy Rih, local defense council head Oleksandr Vilkul reported that at least six members of one family were killed in the missile strike. He warned that the death toll could rise as emergency services continued their work, with reports of additional family members feared dead and ten others injured.
The affected family, as described by local resident Mykola to RFE/RL, had ten children, eight of whom lived in the targeted building. Mykola lamented the loss, referring to them as a "good family."
President Zelenskyy condemned the attack and linked the missile to North Korean origins, suggesting a connection between Moscow and Pyongyang. He claimed the alliance was aimed at deploying North Korean forces in Europe and intensifying the threat against Ukrainian civilians. Zelenskyy had previously expressed concerns about Russia's intentions to deploy North Korean soldiers to Ukraine, recalling a similar deployment in 2024.
Beyond Radushne, Russian strikes claimed more lives in Kyiv, Poltava, and Pavlohrad, with two people reported missing in Lviv near the Polish border. In Lviv, local authorities reported significant damage to apartment buildings and injuries to at least 30 people. Among the damaged structures were two kindergartens and a school.
In response to the escalation, Poland, a NATO and EU member, scrambled fighter jets amid reports of Russian missiles violating its airspace. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the airspace breach and engaged European leaders to address the situation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the incident, calling it an "unacceptable violation" of EU airspace.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian forces have targeted Wildberries warehouses across Russia, accusing the company of facilitating military logistics. The drone strikes have reportedly disrupted Wildberries' operations, impacting approximately 10% of its warehouse capacity.