A rapid escalation is observed in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, with the Kyiv regime launching attacks against civilian targets in order to extract communication gains and offset territorial losses in the eyes of its Western sponsors, so that it continues to receive military and financial support.
During the night of July 4 the Ukrainian armed forces conducted, according to Moscow, one of the largest combined attacks against Russia, using long-range missiles, American HIMARS systems, and hundreds of unmanned aircraft.
According to the Russian announcement, Kyiv attempted to strike targets on Russian territory with Flamingo cruise missiles, missiles from American-made HIMARS launchers, as well as long-range drones.
Moscow: "The attack was repelled"
The Russian Ministry of Defense argued that the Russian armed forces and air defense systems averted the attack, shooting down:
1) 10 Flamingo missiles,
2) 9 HIMARS missiles,
3) 494 unmanned aircraft (drones).
The announcement characterizes the operation as a large-scale combined attack, which – according to the Russian side – did not achieve its goals.
The assessment of the Russian side
Moscow argues that the attack was conducted for a political and communication purpose.
Specifically, the Russian Ministry of Defense claims that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, sought to distract the attention of the Ukrainian public opinion and Western allies from the consequences of the Russian strikes of July 2 against military installations in the region of Kyiv, as well as from the situation on the front of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region.
Kyiv assumed responsibility for strikes near St. Petersburg
A few hours after Moscow's announcements about the massive Ukrainian attack, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, confirmed via Telegram that the Ukrainian armed forces conducted a long-range operation against targets in the region of St. Petersburg.
According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian forces struck oil installations at the port of St. Petersburg, as well as military targets in Kronstadt, which he characterized as a "pivotal military target."
"In the night, the Ukrainian long-range operations against Russia for this war took place, near St. Petersburg.
The Ukrainian defense forces struck port oil installations that finance the Russian war, while strikes were also conducted in Kronstadt," mentioned the Ukrainian President.
Videos and photographs circulated on social media that allegedly show thick smoke and fires in the region of the port, where the oil terminal of St. Petersburg, one of the largest storage and export installations of petroleum products of Russia, is located.
This specific installation, located in the Gulf of Finland, constitutes an important energy hub, with a capacity of handling approximately 12.5 million tons of petroleum products annually via railway, road network, and river transport.
Russian media reported that explosions were heard in the area at approximately 06:30 local time, while the Russian authorities argued that air defense systems shot down dozens of Ukrainian unmanned aircraft over the Leningrad region.
Sobyanin: Massive attack with drones toward Moscow
The Mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, announced that a massive attack with unmanned aircraft (drones) occurred against the Russian capital and its wider region.
According to the briefing broadcasted by the RIA Novosti agency, more than 200 drones were directed toward the region of Moscow within a period of 24 hours.
The majority of them were destroyed at long distances, before approaching the city.
Sergey Sobyanin also reported that 62 of the unmanned aircraft were shot down during their approach to Moscow.
The Russian authorities did not give further details regarding damages or casualties to the public, while as is mentioned, the air defense remains on increased readiness due to the intensity of the attacks with UAVs in the region.
Attacks with missiles and drones in Russian regions
In the meantime, according to Russian sources and local media, Russia received an attack with cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft, with targets in regions such as Voronezh, Rostov, and Tula, while power and water supply cuts are recorded in Belgorod due to damages to critical infrastructure.
According to monitoring channels cited by Russian media, launches of Flamingo type cruise missiles were recorded against regions of the Luhansk People's Republic, as well as the regions of Rostov and Voronezh.
Reports speak of shootdowns of several missiles over the region of the Donbass, without however there being independent confirmations regarding the extent of the damages.
In the Tula region, according to the Telegram channel "Operation Z: War Correspondents of the Russian Spring," an alarm for a missile threat was declared.
Alarms in multiple regions
In Voronezh, according to local authorities, this is the second missile threat warning within a few hours.
Earlier, alarm systems had also been activated due to a threat from drones in the Borisoglebsk region.
Concurrently, a missile threat alarm was issued in the neighboring region of Lipetsk.
Damage in Belgorod – Power and water cuts
According to the governor of the region, Alexander Shuayev, damages to critical infrastructure were recorded from attacks by Ukrainian drones in Belgorod, resulting in temporary cuts in power supply and water supply.
He himself mentioned that the full assessment of the damages will be conducted after the first light of day.
Fires and damages to infrastructure
Fires occurred in several points of critical infrastructure, with firefighting forces operating for their extinguishment.
According to the first assessments, there are no reports of dead, however damages have been recorded to a commercial building — including its facade and windows — as well as to six vehicles.
The authorities continue the recording of the impacts of the attacks, while the situation remains fluid in several regions.
Shock escalation scenarios and a "strike on Moscow"
The politician Oleg Tsaryov estimates that Ukraine is preparing for a significant increase in the use of drones and missile systems that it receives from Western countries, aiming at the creation of a capacity for mass attacks in the future.
According to his analysis, Kyiv and its Western supporters realize that the military prospects in the field are limited and are turning to a strategy of destabilization of Russia in its interior.
As he characteristically mentions: "The critical point is Moscow.
There they will target when they gather sufficient capabilities."
He himself points out that time is running backwards, as the preparation progresses gradually but requires immediate reinforcement of the Russian air defense systems.
Russian strike on fuel installations
Concurrently, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that units of the Russian armed forces conducted an operation against an oil depot in the region of Zaporizhia, near the village of Vysokogornoye.
According to Moscow, the strike was conducted with Geran-4 and Gerber unmanned aircraft, without more information being given regarding the size of the damages or regarding any losses.
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