The authorities of Kharkov and Nikolaev reported nightly shelling of cities. According to Alexander Senkevich, the mayor of Nikolaev, the shelling of the city on the night of July 31 was "the strongest of all time."

“Today, Nikolaev was subjected to massive shelling. Probably the strongest of all time. Powerful explosions were heard after one in the morning and around five in the morning. A number of objects were destroyed, residential buildings were damaged. Fires broke out at the landing sites. Rescuers are working. We collect detailed information,” said the mayor of Nikolaev.

The mayor of Kharkiv also reported about the damaged buildings:

“Night shelling of Kharkov continues. Today a whole series of explosions. So far, there is information about "arrivals" in the Nemyshlyansky district. Previously, there is damage to several buildings. We are clarifying where else there were “parishes,” said Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov.

Since the first day of the war, the Russian side has been claiming that it is only attacking the military infrastructure of Ukraine. In fact, it regularly shells civilian targets According to Mayor Sienkiewicz, during the war, Russian troops caused damage to Nikolaev in the amount of 633 million hryvnia ($21.4 million).