Saturday, July 18, began for Ukraine with the elimination of the consequences of another massive night attack and at the same time with news about another success of our long-range weapons. Russian occupation forces continue to concentrate their efforts on the destruction of the port and civilian infrastructure of the south, using a complex combination of missile weapons and various drones. However, the response of the Defense Forces was not long in coming: Ukrainian developments demonstrated the ability to reach strategic targets at a distance of up to 700 kilometers deep in the enemy’s rear. As reported by the information portal 34.ua , state institutions, military and digital services are working in maximum coordination to ensure internal stability and protect citizens.
News 1: Combined night attack: Odessa and Dnipropetrovsk regions under attack
On the night of July 18, the Russian army carried out a large-scale air attack on Ukraine, launching about 90 strike drones (including kamikaze drones and Gerbera and Italmas decoys), as well as Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Onyx anti-ship missiles, and Kh-59/69 guided aircraft missiles. The main blow fell on the Odessa region, where powerful explosions were heard. Air defense forces managed to eliminate more than 70 large air targets. Unfortunately, damage to infrastructure was recorded in four districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region, and the Zaporizhia region and Kherson were hit, where there were casualties and the destruction of logistics warehouses and gas stations.
Expert opinion (Military analyst): “The enemy has noticeably changed tactics, mixing heavy anti-ship missiles and cheap drone simulators in one salvo. This is done in order to overload our air defense systems in the southern direction. The fact that mobile fire groups and anti-aircraft units intercepted the lion’s share of targets indicates the high adaptability of our defense. However, Odessa remains in a zone of increased risk, since the arrival time of Onyx missiles from temporarily occupied Crimea is minimal.”
News 2: Ukraine’s long-range response: Russian military facilities hit at a distance of 700 kilometers
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the successful implementation of targeted operations by our Defense Forces. Ukrainian long-range weapons delivered precise strikes on two large military-logistical facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation. The facilities, which the enemy actively used to provide and supply its occupation group, are located in the Moscow and Tambov regions – at a distance of 500 and 700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, respectively. In parallel, a series of powerful explosions were heard at military facilities in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Expert opinion (Armaments Analyst): “Successful strikes to such a depth in the Moscow and Tambov regions demonstrate that Russia’s air defenses inside the country have huge gaps. The destruction of the enemy’s logistics centers directly affects the intensity of fighting on the front line, as the supply chains of ammunition and equipment are interrupted. Ukraine is systematically increasing its own production of long-range drones, capable of changing the rules of the game in this war.”
News 3: Digitalization and security: “Reserve+” temporarily enters maintenance mode
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has warned military-liable citizens about possible temporary failures or unavailability of the “Reserve+” mobile application. Restrictions on the operation of the popular service are related to large-scale planned technical work and updating the security architecture of the application. According to official data, technical measures will last until July 22. Citizens are urged not to panic and to take this information into account when it is necessary to present electronic documents.
News 4: Diplomatic front: disclosure of SBU archives and new obstacles from Hungary
Ukraine has taken an important step towards strengthening international relations by officially opening the declassified archives of the SBU and intelligence on the tragic historical events in Volyn, which should relieve tension in the dialogue with European neighbors. At the same time, challenges remain on the path to European integration: Hungary has again attempted to block Ukraine’s technical progress towards joining the European Union, which will require additional diplomatic efforts from our Foreign Ministry.
ANALYTICS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CITIZENS
Ukraine continues to demonstrate resilience and increase its retaliatory strikes , despite daily air pressure on peaceful cities from the occupiers.
Practical recommendations:
Strictly follow safety rules: due to the frequent use of ballistics and high-velocity missiles during night raids, reaction time is extremely limited. At the first alarm signals, immediately go to cover or use the two-wall rule.
Prepare paper documents: since the Reserve+ application may be out of order until July 22 due to scheduled technical work, just in case, keep paper military registration documents with you to avoid misunderstandings during inspections.
Follow the information embargo: it is strictly forbidden to publish photos, videos, or locations of arrivals in the Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa, and other regions. Also, do not disclose details about Ukrainian strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation, except for officially published information.
Remain calm and united: diplomatic maneuvers by individual EU countries and hostile shelling are aimed at creating internal panic. Trust only verified official sources of information and continue to systematically support the Defense Forces.