Russia’s relentless aerial bombardment of Ukraine is pushing regional security to the brink, threatening catastrophic miscalculation along Europe’s fragile borders, the UK's Senior Military Adviser warned. In a statement delivered to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and published on Wednesday, Colonel Joby Rimmer highlighted an overnight barrage on July 18–19 in which Russia launched 41 missiles and 125 drones — one of the largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv since the full-scale invasion began.
Details of the attack
Colonel Rimmer said: “Overnight, on 18–19 July, the Russian Federation launched 41 missiles and 125 drones against Ukraine.” Ukrainian air defences intercepted 18 missiles and 108 drones, but strikes and falling debris affected residential buildings, a supermarket, a dormitory and other civilian infrastructure. The attacks killed at least 20 civilians across the country.
Colonel Rimmer said: “Those interceptions did save lives, but we should be clear: Ukraine should not need to deploy air-defence systems to protect apartment blocks, supermarkets, hospitals and schools. Russia’s reckless use of drones and missiles has repeatedly resulted in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.”
International legal obligations
He emphasised clear international legal obligations, continuing: “Parties must always distinguish between civilians and combatants, and between civilian objects and military objectives. Attacks may be directed against only military objectives. Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited, as are attacks expected to cause incidental civilian harm excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.”
Threat to neighbouring states
Beyond Ukraine, Colonel Rimmer warned that Russia’s campaign is directly threatening neighbouring states. On May 29, during another Russian attack on Ukraine, a Russian drone entered Romanian airspace and struck a 10-storey apartment building in Galați. Two civilians were injured and around 70 residents had to be evacuated. Colonel Rimmer declared: “This is not a theoretical risk. A live weapons system crossed sovereign airspace and struck civilians in a NATO country.”
Moldova has faced similar dangers. On July 13, a Shahed-type drone crossed into Moldovan territory and exploded near the village of Copanca during Russian strikes on southern Ukraine. No casualties were reported in that incident, but Colonel Rimmer noted it demonstrated “the consistent danger posed to neighbouring states.” NATO has condemned Russia’s actions in both cases.
Risk of miscalculation
Colonel Rimmer stressed the OSCE’s core purpose: “This Forum exists to reduce misunderstanding, miscalculation and unintended escalation. Yet every Russian missile or drone launched near an international border could create an uncertain track… could and has resulted in a possible airspace violation… could result in the scrambling of military aircraft, further escalating the risk of miscalculation.”
In response, Colonel Rimmer called for stronger European air and missile defence, surveillance and coordination, describing these as “defensive and proportionate responses to a threat solely created by Russia’s aggression, not acts of hostility.” However, he stressed that such measures only address symptoms: “Air defence, however, treats the symptoms rather than the cause. Russia must cease its reckless attacks, comply fully with distinction, proportionality and precautions, prevent further airspace violations and communicate promptly and honestly when incidents occur.”
Call for peace
Colonel Rimmer concluded that Russia’s greatest contribution to European security would be “to end its aggression, agree an immediate ceasefire and engage seriously towards a just and lasting peace.”
The latest attacks come amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022. Ukrainian officials and Western governments have repeatedly accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting civilian areas and infrastructure, allegations Moscow denies. Civilian deaths and damage to non-military sites have been documented in numerous incidents since the invasion began, including strikes on energy facilities, hospitals and residential districts.
