15:19 Hofreiter views the chancellor's Ukraine policy with "some concern"
After the latest reconciliation between Germany, Britain, and Poland, Green politician Anton Hofreiter of the German parliament demands that the German government change its Ukraine policy. Both Poland and Britain are advocating for a more decisive stance towards Russia. Hofreiter, who is known as a strong advocate for extensive weapons deliveries to Ukraine, expresses concern with the course of the Chancellery and the SPD in Ukraine policy, which he deems not resolute enough. He speaks to Reuters about this.
14:59 Heusgen on Economic Warfare: "Russia won't be able to endure it"
The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, sees potential economic problems in Russia as a peace opportunity for Ukraine. The shift towards economic warfare by Russian President Putin is expected to be economically devastating in the medium term, according to Heusgen in an interview with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland regarding the question of whether he sees another way besides military strength to achieve peace. "Putin will face significant economic difficulties in the long run." The former security advisor to Chancellor Angela Merkel is convinced: "Russia won't be able to endure it." Heusgen calls for more pressure on countries like China, India, or Turkey, which continue to do business with Russia. "This will prolong the war," he criticizes.
14:39 Russia: Village in Donetsk region taken
The Russian army, according to its own statements, has taken control of another village in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. The village of Tschigari is now under Russian control, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reports. On Saturday, Russian forces, according to Moscow's statements, had already taken control of the village of Sokil, about 30 kilometers northwest of the city of Donetsk.
14:22 NATO Summit in Washington could disappoint Selenskyy again
The 32 NATO countries will once again confirm at their summit in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday that Ukraine will one day become a member of the Alliance and will offer it further military aid. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyy will not receive what he desires most: an invitation to join. It is uncertain, according to diplomats, whether the NATO countries have managed to obtain the seven air defense systems that Ukraine is demanding to defend against persistent Russian attacks. The NATO countries plan to approve new billions in aid for Kiev. Who will pay for it and for how long is unclear. The one thing all NATO members agree on: A confrontation with Selenskyy like at the last summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius a year ago should not be repeated in Washington.
14:00 Mine clearing vehicles from Hamburg in use in Ukraine
A mine clearing vehicle from Hamburg has arrived in Ukraine and is already in operation in the Charkiw region. This is reported by the Hamburg Interior Senate. Interior Senator Andy Grote from the SPD had handed over the first of four mine clearing vehicles to the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, in mid-May. Three more are expected to follow by August.
13:32 Insider: Russian munitions depot struck by drone attackAccording to Ukrainian security sources, a Russian munitions depot was hit, northeast of Ukraine in the Voronezh region (see entry 08:44). The 9000 square meter large storage facility was reportedly attacked by drones, says a member of the security forces. There is a "high probability" of further explosions in military-industrial facilities, the informant explains.
13:03 Russia: Plans to use balloons to counter Ukrainian dronesRussia is reportedly planning to build a network of balloons to counter long-range Ukrainian drone attacks. This was reported by "The Telegraph". The so-called "Barrier" protection system is said to draw inspiration from models from the First and Second World Wars. According to the "Telegraph" report, a Russian aerospace and aviation company has already begun testing such military balloons.
12:22 Russia: Civilian death after Ukrainian attack on HorliwkaA civilian is said to have been killed in Horliwka, a city in the Russian-occupied region of Donetsk, following a Ukrainian attack. This was reported by the mayor of the city, Iwan Prichodko, on Telegram. The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported "heavy attacks by Ukraine" on the region.
11:44 Sharma: Le Pen interview causes stir in UkraineThe situation at the front in Ukraine is deteriorating, but announced weapons deliveries from the West are reportedly being delayed. In addition, there is growing concern about a right-wing shift in France. An interview by Le Pen is causing particular attention, according to NTV reporter Kavita Sharma.
11:14 Ukraine: Five dead after Russian attack on SelydoveThe Russians dropped two guided bombs on the city of Selydove in the Donetsk region. This was reported by the Ukrainian governor of Donetsk, Wadym Filaschkin, on Telegram. Five people were reportedly killed and eight injured in the attack. Filaschkin also stated that the bombs had landed in an industrial area. "No one can feel safe in the Donetsk region," he wrote.
10:51 Governor: Air raid alert in the Saporischschja regionAccording to the Ukrainian governor of Saporischschja, Iwan Fedorow, the Russians are attacking the southern Ukrainian region with ballistic missiles. He announced an air raid alert in Saporischschja on Telegram.
10:35 Governor: Explosions after Russian attack on ChersonFollowing a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Cherson, there were several explosions in the city center. This was reported by the governor of the Cherson region, Oleksandr Prokudin, on social media. In addition, the Cafe "Lito" reportedly caught fire and was completely destroyed. The authorities released a video that is said to show the effects of the Russian attack.
10:14 ISW sees no genuine negotiation willingness from Putin
According to US experts, Russian President Vladimir Putin, after his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, shows no genuine willingness for negotiations in his aggression against Ukraine. The analysts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in Washington report. Putin also rejected a ceasefire in the conflict for two consecutive days. Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of using the ceasefire to rearm and re-equip their troops.
09:27 Ukrainian Security Service reports successful destruction of Russian military installations
According to their own reports, Ukrainian intelligence agents, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Air Force, set two Russian military installations in Donetsk on fire. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) reports this in social media. The area is currently occupied by the Russians. In the city of Debaltseve, a fire was set 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 intercepted
The Ukrainian Air Force reports that it has destroyed all 13 drones that Russia launched at targets in Ukraine overnight. In a telegram short message, 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 Voronezh
In the Russian region of Voronezh, a fire broke out in a warehouse with "explosive items" after a Ukrainian drone attack. This is reported by the Russian governor of the region Voronezh, Oleksandr Gusev, in social media. Gusev reports that all drones were shot down. Falling debris is 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 destroyed
In the Ukrainian region of Odessa, two launch ramps for Patriot ground-to-air missile systems have been destroyed, Russian news agencies report, citing the Defense Ministry. Iskander-Raketen were used for the destruction. The Patriot systems were located near the Juschnes harbor.
07:38 Governor: Russia fires rockets at Pavlograd
In the night, the Russians fired rockets at the city of Pavlograd in the Dnipropetrovsk region. This is reported by the governor of Dnipropetrovsk, Serhii Lysak, in social media. There were no fatalities or injuries. In addition, Nikopol was shelled with heavy artillery and kamikaze drones. Three women were reportedly 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 has published new casualty figures for 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, the number of casualties was reportedly 1,150. According to a report from Kiev, in addition, two more tanks, 16 armed vehicles, 40 artillery systems, and an air defense system were reportedly destroyed. Since the beginning of the large-scale attack, Ukraine claims that Russia has lost 8,155 tanks, 15,524 artillery systems, and 360 planes, 326 helicopters, 11,862 drones, 28 ships, and a submarine. Western estimates give lower casualty figures - these are only minimum values.
06:42 Ukraine: Navy trains on the Dnipro RiverThe Navy is conducting a tactical exercise of its river flotilla on the Dnipro River. The Ukrainian Navy posted pictures of the flotilla exercise on its Facebook channel. According to the report, combat engagements and mine clearance were practiced.
06:07 "DeepState": Russia advancing in the Donetsk regionRussian forces are reportedly advancing in the Donetsk region. This was reported by the Ukrainian military-affiliated channel "DeepState" on Telegram and X. The areas of Pishchany, Yevgenivka, Severnoy, in the vicinity of Lozuvatsky, Makiivka, Novoselivka First, Chasovoy Yar, and Kalynyvka are said to be affected. Furthermore, it is reported that Ukrainian forces are pushing the Russians back in Hlyboky in the Charkiw region.
05:32 Drone attacks in Eastern UkraineThe Russian 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, there is a fire on the Crimea. The administration of the Crimea, installed by Russia, reports 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. There are no reported injuries. 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. Seven drones were shot down over the Belgorod region, which is reportedly under almost daily Ukrainian attacks, the Russian Defense Ministry reports. Seven more drones were shot down in the Kursk region, according to Alexey Smirnov, Governor of the region further north and west. Ukrainian forces reportedly shelled about ten villages during the day.
23:39 Kiev reports 123 battles in Donetsk region
Heavy fighting continues in the east of Ukraine. "The situation was hottest today in the area of Pokrovsk, in addition, the enemy was active in the direction of Lyman and Kurachowe," the Ukrainian General Staff reports in its evening situation report. All three cities mentioned lie in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. A total of 123 battles took place during the day. Forty-one of these were reportedly from the area of Pokrovsk. There were 19 attacks in Lyman and 17 in Kurachowe. While the Ukrainian General Staff reports that 29 attacks at Pokrovsk have been repelled, 12 battles are still ongoing. The military leadership in Kiev is doing everything to stabilize the situation and prevent the enemy from advancing deep into Ukrainian territory, according to the military command.
22:18 Russians allegedly lost thousands of soldiers at Chassiw Jar
Russian troops reportedly suffered heavy losses in the battle for Chassiw Jar - according to an Ukrainian military spokesperson, 5000 men were either wounded or killed. The tenacious resistance of the Ukrainian defenders forced them to withdraw from part of the village. Chassiw Jar has been a focal point of fighting for months.
21:49 Ukraine: Russia targeted decoys in air raid
By a Russian air raid on the previous Wednesday, Russia is said to have destroyed a Mig-29 and two Patriot-Rocket batteries - but, according to the Ukrainian Air Force Commander, the Russians fell for a decoy. They had only destroyed decoys, said Mykola Oeschtschuk. The raid targeted a military airfield in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast and a supposed Patriot battery in the Odessa oblast.
21:11 Chinese soldiers arrive for joint anti-terror maneuvers in Belarus
Chinese soldiers have arrived for a joint anti-terror exercise in Belarus (formerly White Russia). The exercise is scheduled to take place from July 8 to 19, according to the Belarusian Defense Ministry on its Telegram channel. "This joint training helps to exchange experiences, improve the cooperation between Belarusian and Chinese units, and lay the foundation for further development of Belarusian-Chinese relations in the field of joint military training." No details have been released about the planned exercises yet.
20:28 Zelenskyy: Russia will never again dominate the Black Sea
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 in the near future. The war has changed the power balance in the Black Sea, he said. The Russian fleet will never again dominate the region.
19:41 Alarm for drones - Romania scrambles F16s
The Romanian government has scrambled two F16 fighter jets after Russian drones approached Ukrainian territory - near the border. They did not have to intervene. No damages from drone wreckage have been reported yet, according to the Defense Ministry in Bucharest.
- Anton Hofreiter of the German parliament urges a more decisive stance towards Russia's attack on Ukraine, expressing concern over the current policy's lack of resolve. He shares his views with Reuters.
- Christoph Heusgen, head of the Munich Security Conference, sees economic difficulties for Russia as an opportunity for Ukraine to pursue peace, given the expected negative impact of Russian President Putin's shift towards economic warfare.
- The Russian military claims control over another village, Tschigari, in the Donetsk region of Eastern Ukraine, as reported by its Defense Ministry.
- In anticipation of the NATO summit in Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyy seeks an invitation to join the alliance, but diplomats are unsure if the necessary air defense systems will be provided to defend against Russian attacks.
- In response to evening drone attacks in Eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian air defense in Charkiw and Sumy reports multiple waves of drone intrusions, with no information on their impacts.
