BRAZIL PERSPECTIVE

Brasília, July 3, 2026. Brazil's press has been closely following one of the deadliest Russian strikes since the start of the conflict in 2022, describing the offensive as a 'mega-attack' and documenting with precision the arsenals deployed against the Ukrainian capital.

The attack began with a wave of hundreds of Geranium-2 suicide drones - the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 - which saturated Ukrainian air defenses. This was followed by hypersonic Tsirkon missiles, Kalibr and Kh-101 cruise missiles, and Iskander-M ballistic missiles. Moscow reportedly mobilized strategic bombers Tu-95 and Tu-160 for the first time in several months. All ten districts of the capital were hit, on both sides of the Dnipro River.

The death toll varies depending on the time of publication. Estadão initially reported eight deaths and fifty injuries. G1 reported ten deaths and around thirty damaged sites. Folha de S.Paulo, citing updated data, put the death toll at eighteen and ninety injuries. Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, described the attack as 'the most massive since the start of the conflict' and declared July 3 a day of mourning in the capital.

Among the targets hit were an ambulance station - five medics injured, including one paramedic in critical condition - a partially collapsed nine-story residential building, as well as two high-end buildings: the CityHotel Residence and the Tarian commercial tower. 'The enemy has again targeted residential areas and killed civilians, including children,' said Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, on Telegram.

The city's metro was stormed by residents seeking refuge, carrying sleeping bags, tents, and pets, as authorities recommended other protection points due to the risk of overcrowding. Zelensky had anticipated the strike the day before, warning Ukrainians to be 'especially cautious' before cutting short his visit to Ireland - where the EU's six-month presidency was beginning - to return to Kyiv.

Poland mobilized fighter jets to monitor its airspace due to the risk of drone intrusion. Last year, twenty-one Russian drones had entered Polish territory during a similar mega-attack. Moscow framed the operation as a response to Ukrainian strikes against its own civilian infrastructure, a claim rejected by Kyiv.