- Financial Times. Unexpected turn: after the scandal, Zelensky is looking for a new military commander
- “Time to open fire”: Kadyrov urged Putin to attack NATO
- “We will kill each other here”: Russia in turmoil – police, ambulance, and fights in fuel queues
- Even Putin fears him: this Israeli decision is a blow to the Kremlin
All news about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine can be found HERE.
Russians launched the largest ballistic missile attack on Kyiv during the entire war
09:17 Updated 09:45
One person was killed and 13 others were injured in the Ukrainian capital during Russian strikes on Sunday.
Read more Forget the usual shashlik: these grill combinations will become the summer hit
The Verkhovna Rada reported that the Russians launched the largest-scale ballistic missile attack on Kyiv during the entire war.
Previously, on Saturday, Kyiv launched a deadly wave of drones that struck warehouses of an e-commerce giant in Russia.
Among other things, the latest bombardment highlighted a dual challenge for Ukraine in the fifth year of the war, as a rare political turmoil erupted alongside almost daily Russian attacks in the country, caused by unexpected military leadership reshuffles.
AFP journalists in Kyiv heard explosions moments after the Ukrainian Air Force warned residents via Telegram about incoming ballistic missiles.
One of the explosions was so powerful that car alarms went off in the city center, an AFP journalist said.
The Ukrainian State Emergency Service reported on Telegram that during the attack, which police said targeted six districts, one person was killed and 13 others were injured.
According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and local officials, a multi-apartment building was hit in the Solomianskyi district, a fire broke out in a shopping center, and a house burned in the Sviatoshyn district.
Strikes were also reported at a shopping and entertainment center in the Dnipro district, a multi-apartment building in the Shevchenkivskyi district, and an uninhabited building.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, which borders the frontline, one person was killed in Russian drone strikes, regional official Oleksandr Hanža reported on Telegram.
On the Russian side, one person was killed in a Ukrainian strike in the Kursk region near the frontline, regional governor Aleksandr Chynshtein reported on Telegram.
41 Russian missiles
The Ukrainian military air forces reported that last night Russia attacked Ukraine by launching 125 drones and 41 missiles of various types.
In total, the Radio-Technical Forces detected 166 air assault weapons:
- 10 anti-ship missiles “3M22 Zircon” (launch sites – Kursk region, Russia);
- 25 ballistic missiles “Iskander-M/S-400” (launch sites – Bryansk, Kursk regions, Russia);
- 3 anti-ship missiles “Onyx” (launch sites – occupied Crimea);
- 3 guided air-to-surface missiles “Kh-59/69” (launch sites – airspace over the Black Sea);
- 125 attack drones “Shahed”, “Gerbera”, “Italmas”, imitation drones “Parody”, maneuvering missiles “Banderol” (from Kursk, Orel, Millerovo – Russia, Hvardiyske – occupied Crimea).
It is reported that Ukrainian air defense units shot down 126 targets – 18 missiles and 108 drones of various types.
“The fleet is disappearing and hiding”: Ukrainian drones shelled Russian tankers
10:37
Ukrainian drone forces struck 13 power plants in occupied territories and 4 objects of the Russian “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea last night, reports force commander Robert Brovdi.
“The total number of losses during the operations ‘MoLoČKa’ and ‘Crimea switch off’ from July 1–19 amounts to 176 ‘shadow fleet’ objects and 96 energy nodes,” he stated.
Last night, the drone unit “Ptachy” successfully destroyed 59 enemy targets in the enemy’s operational zone.
“The fleet is disappearing and hiding – during the night watch in the Black Sea, 2 tankers, a dry cargo ship, and a floating crane were destroyed,” reported R. Brovdi.
According to the drone forces commander, 13 power plants were destroyed overnight, 8 in Crimea and 5 in the southern and eastern occupied territories.
“They shone in Kerch, Old Crimea, Yalta, Sudak, Berdyansk, Yed-Kuyu, Ponizivka, Shchetivka, Zelyony Yar, Shirokoye, and elsewhere,” he wrote.
The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that two tankers were attacked in the Black Sea area last night, as well as a floating crane in the Sea of Azov area.
It is noted that tankers are used for transporting Russian oil, oil products, and fuel for the Russian armed forces’ interests. Floating cranes ensure port operations, cargo loading and unloading, and support the Russian military’s maritime logistics.
Additionally, Ukrainian defenders also destroyed a “Buk” anti-aircraft missile system in the Zelenopillya district, Zaporizhzhia region, and a vehicle bridge in the Novoeconomichny district, Donetsk region, which the Russians use for military logistics.
Zelensky responded to Russia’s strike on Kyiv
10:28
Last night, Russia launched one of the largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, the words of the Verkhovna Rada were echoed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to him, the Russians launched more than 40 missiles of various types, most of which were aimed at the capital, and 120 attack drones.
“Currently, it is known that one person was killed and 16 were injured in Kyiv and its surroundings. I express condolences to all relatives and family members. All victims are receiving necessary medical assistance. In three locations, the work to eliminate the consequences of the shelling continues, involving almost 600 rescuers. Relevant services are also working in the Odesa region,” the head of state noted.
Read more «I hear what people are saying»: Zelensky considers changes in the army
He informed that in total this week Russia used about 1450 attack drones, more than 1640 guided aerial bombs, and 99 missiles of various types against Ukraine.
People were injured in the Odesa region and Zaporizhzhia, and destruction was recorded in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions.
The president emphasized that protection against ballistic weapons is currently a constant and main priority.
“Anti-missile defense means are needed every day, and I am grateful to everyone who takes our agreements seriously and ensures the supply of anti-missile defense means.
These shipments currently mean lives saved during every massive Russian attack. And it is very important that along with work in the anti-missile defense area, pressure on Russia continues. Delays in making new decisions give Moscow the opportunity not only to plan new attacks against our people but also to avoid new sanctions,” the president noted.
“A frightening combination”: Ukrainian Security Service became one of the most dangerous in the world
09:34
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has become one of the most effective secret organizations in the world. This conclusion was made by the British newspaper Daily Telegraph. The publication Postimees reviews what exactly made the SBU one of the most dangerous services.
Impressive attacks deep inside Russian territory and assassinations of high-ranking military officials resemble the plot of a modern James Bond thriller.
But all this is not a movie script – these are operations carried out by Ukrainian SBU officers.
Reserve officer Hamish de Bretton-Gordon emphasizes that over more than four years of war, the Ukrainian special service has become one of the most effective intelligence organizations in the world, which helped shift the balance of power in favor of Ukraine.
Read more HERE.
“Decisions will be made”: Zelensky sent a message after talks with Fedorov and Syrskyi
09:32
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that after consultations with former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, decisions regarding the army will be made. He announced this on his Telegram channel.
“Many consultations took place yesterday and today. Of course, I hear what people are saying. Today I had a long conversation with Mykhailo Fedorov. I also spoke with Oleksandr Syrskyi today. Decisions regarding the army will be made. I thank everyone who cares about Ukraine. I thank everyone who defends our positions on the front and strives to return the war to where it came from – to Russia. Glory to Ukraine!” said V. Zelensky.
In turn, M. Fedorov reported on Telegram that negotiations are ongoing.
“Changes will definitely happen. Dialogue is ongoing. I believe everything will succeed,” he wrote.
The former minister also thanked Ukrainians for their support and added that “he never felt such responsibility even while serving in the government.”
During a closed meeting with Verkhovna Rada deputies, V. Zelensky reportedly stated that he dismissed M. Fedorov from the position of defense minister due to a prolonged conflict with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine O. Syrskyi.
According to sources, the cause of the conflict was differing views on the development of the defense system and the inability to resolve the confrontation between the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.
Today, the media also reported that V. Zelensky is allegedly considering dismissing O. Syrskyi to resolve the crisis within the military leadership. It is said that the president is preparing meetings with military commanders and interviewing potential candidates for these positions to ensure a smooth transfer of powers and maintain defensive positions on the front.
The decision is reportedly being considered against the backdrop of protests against O. Syrskyi and support actions for M. Fedorov.
Ukraine attacked a powerful Russian oil base for the third time in a row
09:21
On the night to Sunday, Ukrainian forces struck an oil base in Russia’s Stavropol region and attacked several targets in occupied territories, reported The Kyiv Independent portal, citing monitoring channels on the social network Telegram.
The Telegram news channel Exilenova Plus reported that Ukrainian forces struck the oil base in the city of Mikhailovsk, Stavropol region, for the third time in a few weeks.
According to Exilenova Plus, residents of occupied Luhansk also reported explosions in the city on Sunday.
The pro-Ukraine Telegram channel Krymskij veter reported that after a Ukrainian drone strike, a power substation caught fire in the occupied city of Yalta, Crimea, causing a power outage.
The channel noted that explosions were also heard in the city of Kerch in eastern Crimea, leading to the closure of the bridge leading to Russia.
Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep inside Russian territory and in occupied areas to weaken Moscow’s capacity to continue the war.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and the General Staff confirmed that the previous night Ukrainian forces struck two Russian logistics centers, an oil base, and several targets in the Azov and Black Seas.
