Key facts
- Ukraine intercepted 29 of 195 Russian ballistic missiles in July.
- The Defense Ministry cited critical shortages of interceptor missiles.
- Russian forces also launched 265 cruise missiles, with 187 intercepted.
- A poll found 60% of Ukrainians oppose territorial concessions in Donbas.
- Ukrainian forces struck a Wildberries logistics center in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
- A Russian strike damaged a football stadium in Odesa.
Ukraine intercepted 29 of the 195 ballistic missiles Russia launched in July, facing critical shortages of interceptor missiles, the Defense Ministry reported on August 7. The ministry stated that air defenses operated under challenging conditions due to a lack of interceptor missiles needed to counter ballistic threats. The missiles included in the report comprised Russian Iskander-M and 48N6DM, as well as North Korean KN-23 missiles, and potentially Zircon missiles, which may follow a quasi-ballistic path. In addition to intercepted missiles, another 40 failed to reach their targets. Russia also launched 265 cruise missiles, of which Ukrainian forces intercepted 187.
A poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) revealed that 60% of Ukrainians oppose ceding territory in the Donbas region to Russia, while an equal percentage would accept a freeze of the war along current front lines in exchange for security guarantees. The poll indicated that 33% of respondents would be willing to give up territory, with 7% undecided. A majority of Ukrainians do not anticipate the war ending soon, with 45% expecting it to conclude no earlier than the second half of 2027. The proportion of Ukrainians willing to endure the war for as long as necessary has increased to 61%.
Ukrainian forces conducted a strike on a logistics center belonging to Russian e-commerce company Wildberries in Yekaterinburg on August 7, approximately 2,000 kilometers from the front line. Photos and videos emerged showing smoke from the facility. The Sverdlovsk Oblast Governor reported drone attacks in the region, and Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency imposed flight restrictions at Koltsovo Airport. The attack reportedly caused a large fire, with Russian officials claiming eight drones were downed and three crashed onto the facility's roof. Wildberries confirmed the attack, stating the fire was contained and operations were temporarily redirected. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 203 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Separately, a Russian strike on Odesa on August 7 damaged one of Ukraine's largest football stadiums, the home of FC Chornomorets, and injured at least two people. The attack occurred shortly after a drone warning. The stadium sustained significant damage, including a partially destroyed roof and damaged glazing and stands. The venue, with a capacity of 34,164, has hosted UEFA matches and international fixtures. It is home to FC Chornomorets and the women's SeaSters club and hosts top-flight league matches. The upcoming Ukrainian Premier League match scheduled for August 8 has been postponed. Since July 20, Russian forces have damaged or destroyed 915 sports infrastructure facilities across Ukraine.
In internal military news, soldiers from Ukraine's 425th Separate Assault Regiment 'Skelia' are being transferred to other units due to alleged abuse within the regiment. 'Skelia' is one of Ukraine's largest assault formations. The order for reassignment was issued about a week prior, with soldiers moving to approximately 10 other units. An undisclosed source indicated the regiment was being restructured due to being 'artificially inflated' with low command quality.