'The damage is enormous': Ukraine bombarded with record-breaking Russian missile strikes

Record-breaking Russian strikes ravaged Ukraine over the past month as Kyiv scrambles to bolster its crumbling air defenses.

Record-breaking Russian missile strikes ravaged Ukrainian cities in July, setting new wartime records for the rate and scale of attacks and the damage they caused.

Data published by the Ukrainian air force and analyzed by ABC News indicates new wartime records set by Russia as the Ukrainian government accelerates its efforts to patch well-publicized gaps in its aerial defense umbrella.

Russia launched a total of 381 missiles of all types into Ukraine in July, the air force said, at a rate of just over 12 per day. It set a new wartime record for the overall number and rate of missiles launched into the country.

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Iryna Terekh, CEO of Fire Point, Ukrainian defence-tech company

Ukraine has moved a step closer to building its own ballistic missile defence system after defence firm Fire Point secured agreements with more than a dozen European companies to develop a new interceptor designed to counter Russia's missile attacks.

The project comes as shortages of US-made Patriot interceptors leave Kyiv increasingly exposed, forcing Ukraine and its allies to accelerate efforts to create a cheaper, European-backed alternative.

European Industry Joins Freyja Programme

Fire Point says 13 defence companies have already signed up to the Freyja missile defence project, with further partners expected to join as development gathers pace.

The programme, formally launched in Paris last month by 10 governments and 12 defence firms, is integrating radar, guidance, tracking and command systems from across Europe into a single air defence network.

Chief executive Iryna Terekh said the project has entered its most technically demanding phase, with engineers now combining surveillance radars, tracking systems, missile seekers and interceptor technology into a working platform.

Race to Replace Patriot Shortfall

Ukraine currently relies on the Patriot system to intercept Russian ballistic missiles, but global shortages of interceptor missiles have intensified pressure to develop alternative capabilities.

Fire Point hopes to achieve its first successful ballistic missile interception by mid-2027 using its FP7.X interceptor. The company aims to produce each interceptor for less than €1 million, significantly below the reported cost of Patriot missiles.

Military analysts say that price target would represent a major breakthrough if achieved, potentially allowing Ukraine to field larger numbers of interceptors at lower cost.

Attack Missiles Also Near Deployment

Alongside the defensive programme, Fire Point says its FP7 strike missile is nearing operational certification by Ukraine's Defence Ministry following around 15 test launches.

The company expects the weapon to enter combat service this autumn, while development also continues on the larger FP9 ballistic missile, which Fire Point says is designed to strike targets at much greater range.

Meanwhile, engineers are working to replace ageing second-hand jet engines used in the company's Flamingo cruise missile with domestically produced powerplants to support increased production.

Ukraine Pushes for Long-Term Self-Reliance

The Freyja programme reflects a broader shift towards European defence cooperation as Ukraine seeks to reduce dependence on limited Western stockpiles.

If successful, the project would give Kyiv not only a lower-cost missile defence capability but also greater control over production during a war increasingly defined by industrial capacity as much as battlefield performance. With Russian missile attacks continuing, the race to deliver an effective interceptor has become a strategic priority for both Ukraine and its European partners.

Exclusive - Ukraine's Fire Point starts to integrate European tech into missile defence system

Europe needs to take action and provide Ukraine with additional missile defense systems.