The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War noted that cooperation with China has allowed Russia to bypass Western sanctions on imports of electronics for drone production. Ukraine’s military intelligence estimates that Russia receives up to 65% of components for its Geran drones from China. Beijing rejects the claims.

A railway hub in Novocherkassk used by the Russian military and defense-industrial complex came under an attack, said Andrii Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.

A Ukrainian soldier told BI that the thermonaric warheads have gotten bigger, while a first responder said Russia is using them more frequently.

Moscow wants to be able to deploy 2,000 drones in a single strike, according to the assessment of a senior German military official.

Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Kharkiv. The city is experiencing multiple fires, and the first consequences of the strikes have already been reported, according to a Telegram post by Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Shahed-style drones are deadly systems that Russia has been using to strike Ukrainian cities for nearly three years.

"Putin's criminal war is getting closer to our borders," Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on Wednesday.

Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Kyiv during the night of July 21. The shelling has already caused initial damage, according to a Telegram post from Kyiv City Military Administration chief Tymur Tkachenko.