13:03 Russia wants to fend off Ukrainian drones with barrage balloons
Russia begins construction of a network of balloons to counter long-range Ukrainian drone attacks, reports The Telegraph. This "Barrier" protection system draws inspiration from models from the First and Second World Wars. A Russian aerospace and defense company has reportedly started testing such military balloons, according to The Telegraph report.
12:22 Russia: One civilian death reported after Ukrainian attack on HorliwkaA civilian is reportedly dead following a Ukrainian attack on Horliwka in the Russian-occupied region of Donetsk. This is according to the city's mayor, Iwan Prichodko, on Telegram. Russian news agency RIA Novosti reports of "heavy Ukrainian attacks" on the region.
11:44 Sharma: Le Pen's appearance causes stir in UkraineThe situation at the Ukrainian frontline worsens, with anticipated Western weapon deliveries delayed. Additionally, there is growing concern over a potential right-wing shift in France. An interview by Le Pen generates significant attention, as reported by NTV reporter Kavita Sharma.
11:14 Ukraine: Five fatalities after Russian attack on SelydoveThe Russians launch two guided bombs onto the city of Selydove in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian governor Wadym Filaschkin shares this information on Telegram. Five people were reportedly killed and eight injured in the attack. The bombs reportedly landed in an industrial area. "No one can feel safe in the Donetsk region," Filaschkin writes.
10:51 Governor: Air alarm in the Saporischschja regionAccording to the Ukrainian governor of Saporischschja, Iwan Fedorow, the Russians are attacking the southern Ukrainian region with ballistic missiles. Fedorow shares this news on Telegram and has declared an air alarm in Saporischschja.
10:35 Governor: Explosions after Russian attack on ChersonFollowing a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Cherson, there are multiple explosions in the city center. Cherson region governor Oleksandr Prokudin shares this information on social media. Additionally, the "Lito" café reportedly caught fire and was reduced to its foundation. Authorities have released a video that allegedly shows the impact of the Russian attack.
10:14 ISW sees no genuine willingness for negotiations from PutinAccording to US experts, Russian President Vladimir Putin, following his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, shows no genuine intent for negotiations in his war against Ukraine. The analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in Washington report that Putin demanded Ukraine's "disarmament" and the surrender of significant territories that Russia currently does not occupy. Putin also reportedly rejected a two-day ceasefire in the conflict. Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of using the ceasefire to reorganize and rearm their troops.
09:27 Ukrainian Security Service reports successful destruction of two Russian military installations in DonetskAccording to their own statements, Ukrainian intelligence agents, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Air Force, have set two Russian military installations in Donetsk on fire. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) reports this on social media. The area is occupied by the Russians. In the city of Debaltseve, a fire was reportedly started in a logistics center where tank equipment and ammunition were stored. In the village of Nowoluhanske, the Russian radio transmitter station R-330Zh "Zhitel" is reported to have been set on fire.
09:09 Ukrainian Air Force: 13 Russian drones interceptedThe Ukrainian Air Force reports, according to their own statements, that they have destroyed all 13 drones that Russia launched at targets in Ukraine overnight. In the Telegram short news service, they also report that Russia fired two Iskander-Raketen. The Air Force does not report whether the rakets were intercepted.
08:44 After Ukrainian drone attack: Explosion in Russian VoronezhAn explosion in a warehouse with "explosive materials" has broken out in the Russian region of Voronezh after a Ukrainian drone attack. This is reported by the Russian governor of the region Voronezh, Oleksandr Gusev, on social media. Gusev reports that all drones were shot down. Falling debris are said to have caused the fire in the warehouse. Gusev reports on an evacuation, but not on casualties or fatalities.
08:05 Russia: Two Patriot air defense systems in Odessa destroyedTwo launchers for Patriot ground-to-air missile systems have been destroyed in the Ukrainian region of Odessa, Russian news agencies report, citing the Defense Ministry. Iskander-Raketen were used for the destruction. The Patriot systems were reportedly located near the Juschnes harbor.
07:38 Governor: Russia fires rockets at PavlogradThe Russians fired rockets at the city of Pavlograd in the Dnipropetrovsk region at night, Governor Serhii Lysak reports on social media. There were no fatalities or injuries. In addition, Nikopol was shelled with heavy artillery and kamikaze drones. Three women are reported to have been injured. In the city, several private houses, a university, a kindergarten, a car and a gas pipeline were damaged.
07:09 Ukraine publishes numbers on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff publishes new figures on the losses of the Russian troops in Ukraine. According to this, Russia has lost approximately 550,990 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. In the past 24 hours alone, the number of losses is said to be 1,150. According to the report from Kiev, two more tanks, 16 armed vehicles, 40 artillery systems and an air defense system were also destroyed. Since the beginning of the large-scale attack, Russia is said to have lost 8,155 tanks, 15,524 artillery systems and 360 aircraft, 326 helicopters, 11,862 drones, 28 ships and a submarine. Western estimates give lower loss figures - but they are only minimum values.
06:42 Ukraine: Navy trains on Dnipro RiverThe Navy of Ukraine is conducting a tactical exercise of its river flotilla on the Dnipro River. The Ukrainian Navy posted pictures of the flotilla training on its Facebook channel. According to the report, combat operations and mine countermeasures were practiced.
06:07 "DeepState": Russia capturing territories in the Donetsk regionRussian forces are reportedly advancing in the Donetsk region. This was reported by the "DeepState" channel on Telegram and other messaging apps. The affected areas are reportedly Pishchany, Yevgenivka, Severnoy, in the vicinity of Lozuvatsky, Makiivka, Novoselivka First, Chasovoy Yar, Kalynyvka. Furthermore, it is stated in the report that Ukrainian forces are pushing back the Russians in Hlyboky in the Charkiw region.
05:32 Drone attacks in Eastern UkraineRussian forces have again attacked the Eastern Ukraine at night with so-called kamikaze drones. The air defense in Charkiw and Sumy reports drone intrusions in several waves. There is currently no information on the effects of the attacks.
04:14 Gas pipeline on the Crimea is on fireFollowing an accident at a gas pipeline, a fire is burning on the Crimea. The administration of the Crimea, installed by Russia, reported on Telegram that employees of the Emergency Situations Ministry are controlling the extent of the fire. The fire reportedly broke out near the village of Vinogradnoye and has spread to the nearby forest. The gas supply to the resort of Aluschta and over a dozen settlements has been disconnected. "There is no danger to the populated area," the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry reports. No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is unknown.
01:09 Russia reports shooting down Ukrainian dronesRussian air defense units have shot down seven Ukrainian drones in the southern regions of Belgorod and Kursk near the Ukrainian border. The Russian Defense Ministry reports that seven drones were intercepted over the Belgorod region, which is reportedly frequently subjected to Ukrainian attacks. Seven more drones were reportedly shot down in the Kursk region, according to Alexei Smirnov, the governor of the region further north and west. Ukrainian forces reportedly shelled about ten villages during the day, according to Smirnov.
23:39 Kiev reports 123 battles in Donetsk regionHeavy fighting continues in the east of Ukraine. "The situation was most intense today in the Pokrovsk area, as well as in the direction of Lyman and Kurachowe," the Ukrainian General Staff reported in its evening situation report. All three mentioned cities are located in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. A total of 123 battles took place during the day. Forty-one of these battles were reported in the Pokrovsk area. There were 19 battles in the direction of Lyman and 17 battles in the direction of Kurachowe. While the General Staff reports that 29 attacks in Pokrovsk have been repelled, 12 battles are still ongoing. The defenders are doing everything they can to stabilize the situation and prevent the enemy from advancing deep into Ukrainian territory, according to the military leadership in Kiev.
22:18 Russians are said to have lost thousands at Chassiv Yar
Russian troops suffered heavy losses in the battle for Chassiv Yar - according to a Ukrainian military spokesperson, over 5000 men were reportedly wounded or killed. The determined Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from part of the town. The village has been a focal point of fighting for months.
21:49 Russia: Air strike hits decoys in Ukraine
During a Russian air raid on the previous Wednesday, Russia is said to have destroyed a Mig-29 jet and two Patriot missile batteries - but, according to the Ukrainian Air Force commander, Nikola Oeschtschuk, the Russians fell for a decoy. They had only destroyed decoys, he said. The attack targeted a military airfield in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast and a supposed Patriot battery in the Odessa oblast.
21:11 Chinese soldiers arrive for joint maneuvers in Belarus
Chinese soldiers have arrived for a joint anti-terror exercise in Belarus (formerly White Russia). The exercise will be held from the 8th to the 19th of July, according to the Belarusian Defense Ministry's Telegram channel. "The joint training will help exchange experiences, improve cooperation between Belarusian and Chinese units, and lay the groundwork for further development of Belarusian-Chinese relations in the field of joint military training." No details about the planned exercises have been released yet.
20:28 Zelenskyy: Russia will never rule the Black Sea again
President Zelenskyy announced a new naval strategy in his daily video address. This strategy is expected to be presented to the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine shortly. The war has changed the power balance in the Black Sea, he said. The Russian fleet will never rule the area again.
19:41 Drone alarm - Romania scrambles F16s
The Romanian government has scrambled two F16 fighter jets after Russian drones approached Ukrainian territory - near the border. They were not required to intervene. No damages have been reported from drone debris, according to the Romanian Defense Ministry in Bucharest.
- The Telegraph reports that Russia is testing military balloons as part of their "Barrier" protection system, inspired by models from the First and Second World Wars, to counter long-range Ukrainian drone attacks, potentially affecting Nato's involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
- In a statement on Telegram, Ukrainian governor Wadym Filaschkin reports five fatalities after a Russian attack on Selydove in the Donetsk region, highlighting the continued military operations and the need for political resolution in the Ukraine conflict.
- Le Pen's interview attracts attention in Ukraine, according to NTV reporter Kavita Sharma, as there are growing concerns about a potential right-wing shift in France, which could potentially impact NATO's stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no genuine intent for negotiations in his war against Ukraine, according to US experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), as reported by The Telegraph, further exacerbating cyberwar concerns and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- The Russian attack on Ukraine involves not only traditional military operations but also cyberwarfare, as shown by the recent incident where an explosion in a warehouse in Voronezh occurred after a Ukrainian drone attack, causing damage to Russian infrastructure.
