Russia launches missiles from the Sea of Azov: News account

Russia Launches Missiles from the Sea of Azov: Media Statement

Russia allegedly launches cruise missiles from warships in the Azov Sea, according to Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy. A total of 16 missiles were fired, with 4 being Kalibr cruise missiles. The missiles were reportedly fired due to insecurity in the Black Sea, with the Russians using the Azov Sea as a strategic stronghold because they consider it safer. Pletenchuk issues a warning to Russian forces not to feel too secure in the Azov Sea. By December 2023, around 30% of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is said to have been destroyed, according to Ukrainian military reports.

The number of wounded in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, following a Russian attack, has increased to at least 52, according to Charkiw Mayor Igor Terekhov on Telegram. Three deaths had previously been reported, with three of the wounded being children.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that Russia has attacked Ukraine with over 2400 guided bombs in the past three weeks. 700 of these bombs were targeted at the second largest Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to Zelensky in his evening address. He pleads with allies to urgently provide military aid for the defense of the country.

A part of the Russian forces is reportedly withdrawing from the area around Wowschansk in the Charkiw region, according to Nasar Woloschyn, spokesperson for the Chortyzja Group, a formation of Ukrainian ground troops. Russia started a new offensive in the northern region of Charkiw on May 10, with the city of Wowschansk becoming the scene of some of the heaviest fighting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin participates in a commemoration event marking the 83rd anniversary of the attack on the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany on June 22, 1941. In addition to Putin, the newly appointed Russian Defense Minister Andrei Removich Belousov, as well as military officials, veterans, and military academy graduates are participating in the ceremony.

The National Technical University for Oil and Gas in the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk has been severely damaged by a Russian attack, according to "Ukrainian Pravda". Fourteen buildings on the campus are said to have been damaged, with no fatalities or injuries reported. The state Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz announces that it will help with the repair and reconstruction of the university.

Russian air defense systems destroyed a Ukrainian drone over the western Russian region of Bryansk. The Russian news agency TASS reported this, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.

The US is closing two Russian visa centers in New York and Washington. The Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoli Antonov, reported this to TASS, stating that the US government is also depriving Russian diplomats of tax privileges. Antonov described this as "another small, malicious attack on Russian diplomats." Furthermore, Antonov hinted at possible retaliatory measures from Russia.

Following a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the number of fatalities has risen to three, according to the governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Synegubov, on Telegram. The number of injured has also increased to 37, with four reportedly still in critical condition. The mayor of the city, Igor Terekhov, previously announced on Telegram that there were two fatalities and 18 injuries.

Marc Friedrich, founder of "Ambulance for Kids," and his emergency medical teams help sick and injured children in Ukraine. In an interview with ntv, he describes his dangerous and emotional work and the challenges faced by his team.

In the Russian-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, several people have been killed in fighting. Ukrainian governor of Donetsk, Wadym Filaschkin, announced on Telegram that, the previous day, five people had been killed in the region due to Russian attacks. Seven were injured. The head of the pro-Russian administration in Donetsk, Denis Puschilin, had previously reported (see entry 14:22), that three people had been killed and four injured due to Ukrainian shelling.

15:45 Image reveals extensive harm to oil refinery in Southern RussiaFollowing an assault utilizing Ukrainian drones on an oil refinery in the Russian town of Asow, records indicate that three out of the six fuel tanks were damaged. As per a report by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist Mark Krutov, satellite images provide visual evidence of the devastation in a before-and-after comparison. Krutov claims that it took three days to extinguish the fire at the Asow oil refinery. In recent months, Ukrainian military forces have carried out a series of assaults to disrupt the Russian oil industry, with revenue from which Moscow funds its war.

15:08 Ukraine: Two fatalities and 18 injuries due to Russian attack on KharkivAfter a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, there are reportedly two fatalities and 18 injuries. This was announced by Igor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, via Telegram. According to Terekhov, there were four shelling incidents in the city's metropolitan area. A house is said to have been struck.

14:47 Sunak criticizes Farage for aligning with Putin's agendaBritish Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has criticized Nigel Farage of the newly formed Reform UK party for aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin's agenda with his comments on the war in Ukraine. Farage previously stated, "We have instigated this war," shifting some accountability to the West for the war. Farage also stated that Putin, of course, bears the responsibility for the war. But: "He has exploited what we have done as justification." Sunak asserts that it is "entirely incorrect" to blame the West for provoking Putin into aggression. "This is a man who has used nerve agents on the streets of Great Britain, conducts business with rogue nations like North Korea, and encouraging such appeasement is dangerous for the security of Britain, the security of our allies who depend on us, and fuels Putin's ambitions even more." On July 4, the approximately 46.6 million registered voters in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland were called to new elections for the British Parliament.

14:22 Three deaths and more injuries in Ukrainian missile attack on DonetskAccording to the Russian-appointed administration for Donetsk, three people were killed in a Ukrainian missile attack on the city of Donetsk. The city was hit by HIMARS missiles, as per Denis Puschilin, head of the administration for the Donetsk region, which Russia has declared annexed. Three more people were injured in a drone attack near the settlement of Horliwka, and one person was injured in an explosion of a mine in Donetsk. The Donetsk region, located in eastern Ukraine, forms the industrial heartland of Donbass alongside the annexed Luhansk region.

13:56 Russia suspected of sabotaging critical infrastructure in EuropeRussia is catalyzing critical infrastructure disruptions across Europe more overtly, including GPS interruptions in the Baltic region. Security expert Frank Umbach has weighed in on the situation.

13:25 Ukraine orders additional French radar for air defenseUkraine has ordered a second ControlMaster 200 radar system from France for managing its airspace. According to the "Kyiv Post," Ukraine already received a similar system last year. This encompasses not just a radar system but a system that comprises the ControlMaster 200 radar and the ControlView GBAD C2 electronic system, which processes all radar data and supplies the air defense systems with precise missile guidance and targeting data.

12:55 Eight civilian casualties due to Russian attacks in UkraineIn Ukraine, eight civilians were killed by Russian attacks the previous day. According to the "Kyiv Independent," in addition to this, a total of 19 people were injured in the attacks across 14 regions of the country. The city of Selydowe in the Donetsk region was particularly affected. Here, two people were killed and three were injured. The attackers damaged several buildings and houses.

12:20 Power outages expected in Ukraine due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructureFollowing new Russian air raids against the energy infrastructure in Ukraine, power companies have announced expected power outages of up to an hour in affected areas of the country between 14:00 (13:00 EET) and 24:00 (23:00 EET), as per energy company Ukrenergo.

11:37 ISW: Russians make little progress in Kharkiv offensiveAccording to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia has made little advancement in its efforts to build up its offensive in the Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian General Staff reports that Russian forces conducted ground attacks north of Kharkiv at Lyptsi and northeast of Kharkiv at Wowtschansk and Tyche (immediately east of Wowtschansk) on Thursday evening, but did not do so on Friday and instead conducted heavy aerial bombardments. Russian military bloggers, as per ISW, claim that Ukrainian forces are continuing their counterattacks near Hlyboke (north of Lyptsi). In addition, according to Russian sources, intense fighting continued in Wowtschansk, with a blogger repeatedly claiming that the Russian forces had taken control of the entire power plant in Wowtschansk.

11:01 Analysis of captured Russian armored personnel carrierRussian soldiers in the war against Ukraine are protected by specially equipped armored personnel carriers. One of these armored personnel carriers was seized by the Ukrainians, apparently in Donetsk. The Ukrainians are now examining their captures to understand their strengths and vulnerabilities.

10:35 US Diplomat Anticipates Additional Aid for Ukraine: The US diplomat John Bass forecasts further assistance from Western allies to support Ukraine in the approaching weeks. "I'm positive that they will implement additional measures in the imminent weeks when they convene with their European counterparts in the forthcoming week and when we welcome President Zelenskyj and other high-ranking Ukrainians in Washington within the next month," said the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the US Department of State to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. The unusual US move, the delayed delivery of military aid, particularly anti-aircraft missiles to other nations and their delivery to Ukraine, is extraordinary, as per Bass.

10:07 Ukraine Destroys Over 28 Artillery Systems in One Day: The Ukraine annihilated a grand total of 28 artillery systems of the Russian attackers in the span of a day. This was announced by the Ukrainian General Staff on Facebook. Furthermore, the enemy lost 1,100 soldiers. The cumulative number of Russian personnel casualties now stands at 533,090 soldiers, according to the Ukrainian military. Eight tanks and eleven infantry fighting vehicles were also annihilated.

09:31 Losses in the Naval War: Moscow Suffers Due to Innovative Ukrainian Resistance: Nowhere has the Ukrainian resistance against the Russian colossus been as successful as in the Black Sea. ntv.de showcases how Moscow lost control and ships due to improvised weapons and a military strategy that pushes back an almost overwhelming opponent.

09:05 Ukraine Intercepts Majority of Russian Rockets: The Ukrainian air defense claims that they have intercepted around three quarters of all Russian rockets from the previous night. Seven out of ten X-101/X-555 missiles launched were allegedly intercepted by the Ukrainian Air Force, according to a statement on Telegram. Four Kalibr missiles and one out of two Iskander missiles were also intercepted. Thirteen Shahed drones were shot down. The rocket attacks were launched from the Black Sea, from occupied Crimea, and from the Russian mainland, as per Ukrainian sources.

08:18 Mediazona Verifies Over 56,000 Fallen Russian Soldiers' Identities: The independent Russian platform Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC, has verified the identities of over 56,858 Russian soldiers who have perished in Ukraine since February 2022, according to the "Kyiv Independent". The journalists note that the actual numbers are likely to be much higher, as the confirmed information comes from public sources such as obituaries, family contributions, local media reports, and statements from local authorities.

07:43 Casualties from Russian Rocket Attacks: Two individuals were injured due to a Russian rocket assault on energy infrastructure in the south and west of the country. Two technicians were hospitalized after a "massive" attack in Zaporizhzhia, declared the national energy company Ukrenergo on Telegram. Two of the company's facilities in Lviv and Zaporizhzhia were harmed by the assault.

07:07 Access to Key Russian Airbases Remains Unattainable for Ukraine: Despite the US approval for the deployment of Western weapons against targets in Russia, key Russian airbases in the region remain inaccessible for Ukraine, as reported by the "Washington Post" quoting two anonymous Ukrainian officials. The military installations contain Russian jets that bombard Ukrainian cities, it was noted.

06:31 Rockets Strike Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure: Russian forces have conducted rocket and drone attacks on various regions of Ukraine throughout the night. In the Lviv Oblast, a Russian rocket hit the energy infrastructure, causing a fire, as per the "Kyiv Independent" citing the region's governor Maksym Kozytskyi. The scope of the damage is still unclear. Civilian infrastructure was also damaged by Russian attacks in other cities.

05:49 New Drone Attacks in Western Ukraine: The Ukrainian air defense records fresh Russian drone assaults in the night. Numerous explosions are reported in the Iwano-Frankiwsk region in western Ukraine. The regional military administration advises the population via the Telegram platform not to share photos of the incidents, "to not provide aid to the enemy." No further information is available about the possible targets of the missiles in Ukraine before morning.

04:59 Poland Deploys Jets Due to Nighttime Russian Rocket Attacks in Ukraine: While a nighttime Russian rocket attack transpires in Ukraine, Poland launches military jets into the air. The operational command of the Polish armed forces reports on the platform X: "We would like to inform that in the southern part of the country, the possibility of an increase in noise levels in connection with the taking off of Polish and allied aircraft in our airspace exists", the message reads. According to reports, an intensive long-range air activity by the Russians is observed at night, which is associated with attacks employing cruise missiles, Shaheed drones, and ballistic missiles. The target is Western Ukraine.

03:59 US Imposes Sanctions on Kaspersky Lab Executives: The US government imposes sanctions on twelve executives of the software company AO Kaspersky Lab. "Today's action against the leadership of Kaspersky Lab underscores our commitment to safeguarding the integrity of our cyber domain and protecting our citizens from malicious cyber threats," the US Treasury Department states. The sanctions prohibit American companies or citizens from conducting business and financial transactions with the affected executives. Their assets in the US are frozen. The company was already banned from selling its antivirus software in the US as of September 29. The company denies any connections to the Russian military or intelligence services.

02:58 Russia: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) attack power facilitiesRussian authorities report an UAV attack by Ukraine on two power plants in Enerhodar, which also supply electricity to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. As per the authorities, the power plants are currently offline, leaving most city residents without power. According to Russian news agencies, the nuclear power plant remained unscathed. The agencies cite the head of the communications department of Zaporizhzhia. The UAV attack had no impact on the nuclear power plant. The plant can be repaired. Ukraine has yet to comment on the matter. Independent verification is not available.

01:57 Farage: West bears responsibility for inciting PutinThe right-wing populist Nigel Farage from the UK accuses the West of provoking the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In an interview with the BBC, the leader of the Reform UK party says, "We've instigated the war." In relation to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Farage adds that the persistent EU and NATO expansion provided Putin with a reason for the war. Putin could tell his people that "the West is coming after them." At the same time, Farage views Putin as an aggressor: "Of course, it's his fault." Farage, a longstanding member of the EU parliament, played a significant role in the UK's exit from the EU (Brexit).

00:55 Kiev's ambassador warns against exploiting refugee issueThe Ukrainian ambassador Oleksii Makeiev warns against politicizing the debate about Ukrainian refugees. Makeiev, speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) regarding the allegation that too few of the Ukrainian refugees in Germany are working and too many are receiving welfare, notes, "War victims should not be used for political campaigns." He emphasizes that language proficiency requirements in German delay employment for many refugees. "Many of them have a university degree; some have even earned a doctorate. And yet, they cannot find work here," Makeiev says. Makeiev is actively working with the German labor minister, Hubertus Heil, to integrate Ukrainian asylum seekers into the labor market.

23:26 Selenskyj: Negotiations with the EU can now commenceUkraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is one step closer to the EU. "The European Union has approved the framework for negotiations with Ukraine - many have fought for this on various levels," says Zelenskyy in his evening video address. This means the negotiations can now begin in earnest. This is a "significant achievement." According to Zelenskyy, Kiev has already assembled a delegation for the accession talks. The head of state is optimistic about the negotiations' success. "Ukraine remains a part of united Europe," he says.

22:14 Kiev plans second peace conference this yearUkraine plans to hold a second international peace conference this year. This is stated by Igor Schowkwa, the first deputy head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration, in an interview with Interfax Ukraine. "We plan to hold the second peace conference before the end of the year," Schowkwa says. "Ukraine wants peace as soon as possible." There is a "high probability" that the next conference will take place "in one of the countries of the global South." The first peace conference took place on June 15 and 16 in Switzerland. According to Schowkwa, Ukraine is ready "tomorrow" to resume negotiations with Russia, if Moscow withdraws its troops from Ukrainian territory immediately.

21:38 Netherlands announce delivery of Patriot-system to UkraineThe Netherlands, in collaboration with another country, plan to deliver a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine, according to Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren, as reported by the Dutch news agency ANP. The Netherlands have reportedly assembled all components for the Patriot system. Ollongren did not provide information on the cooperation partner or when the system will be delivered to Ukraine. It was reported in May that the Netherlands intended to build and deliver a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine promptly with the support of other countries.

20:57 Estonia temporarily closes border crossing to RussiaEstonia will temporarily close the border crossing to Russia in Narva for security reasons over the weekend. The police and border authority of the Baltic EU and NATO country explained the step due to significantly delayed border controls on the Russian side. According to reports, border crossers had to wait for hours to cross the border on Thursday and Friday. To avoid a public health and order threat, the crossing will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday, the authority stated. Estonian media speculate that the delayed controls may be related to the planned celebrations for the Estonian Day of Victory against the Red Army in 1919 on June 23 in Narva.