Following Russian assaults in Sumy, Authorities confirm 4 casualties and 13 wounded individuals.
Russian Military Attacks Sumy Region of Ukraine 261 Times, Causing Death and DamageRussian military forces carried out 261 attacks on the Ukrainian region of Sumy the previous day, resulting in the death of four individuals and injuring 13 others. Local authorities reported that six apartment blocks, 26 houses, an educational facility, outbuildings, vehicles, a gas pipeline, and shops were damaged in the process. Additionally, a two-hectare area of dry grass caught fire due to the attacks.
12:42 Zelensky Ridicules Putin: "Ailing Dictator from Red Square"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented the newly developed Ukrainian drone Palianytsia during his country's Independence Day celebration and ridiculed Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a video address. Zelensky compared Putin to an "ailing dictator from Red Square," constantly threatening others with his nuclear arsenal, and claimed that he would not allow Putin to dictate his "red lines" to the Ukrainian people.
12:14 Energy Ministry: Over 500 Ukrainian Settlements Still Without Power After AttacksOver 500 Ukrainian settlements remain without power following Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure, according to the Ukrainian Energy Ministry, as reported by state news agency Ukrinform. The state news agency also noted that no limitations have been imposed on consumer use of electricity and that technicians have managed to restore power for over 7,200 people. The ministry urged citizens to conserve electricity and use it responsibly, particularly in the evenings as a result of the substantial Russian troop attacks, which have left the energy system severely damaged and vulnerable.
11:38 Ukraine: 160 Encounters with Russian Troops Along the Frontline in a DayUkrainian forces recorded 160 engagements along the frontline the previous day, with the most intense activity occurring in the Pokrovsk sector, as reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Russian forces launched five attacks using 15 missiles and 95 attacks with 127 guided aerial bombs at Ukrainian positions and cities and villages.
10:57 Reuters Employee Missing After Hotel Attack in Kramatorsk - Search OngoingSince a Russian attack on a hotel in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, a Reuters employee has gone missing, and two others have been hospitalized. The Reuters news agency reported that a team of six members was staying at the Hotel Sapphire when the attack occurred. The building was confirmed to have been struck by a rocket, with one employee still unaccounted for, two others injured, and the rescue operations still ongoing. The Ukrainian governor of the Donetsk region wrote on Telegram that "the Russians attacked Kramatorsk." The governor and authorities are working together to locate the missing employee and assist the two injured journalists.
10:44 Ukrainian Air Force Commander: Most Russian Shahed Drones Intercepted and Destroyed OvernightUkrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted and destroyed eight out of nine Russian Shahed drones last night, according to the commander of the air force, Mykola Oleschuk. The Ukrainian defenders not only intercepted most of the drones but also most of the rockets launched by them.
10:20 Ukraine: Hotel in Kramatorsk Bombed - Several Western Journalists InjuredSeveral Western journalists were injured in a Russian shelling of the Eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk during the night. A hotel was hit, and two individuals were rescued with injuries. One person remains trapped under the rubble. The Ukrainian governor of the Donetsk region wrote on Telegram that "the Russians attacked Kramatorsk." All three injured individuals were journalists, citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom. An attack on Kramatorsk was confirmed in pro-Russian blogs, which claimed that heavy glide bombs and military facilities were hit.
09:54 US Export Regulations: Criticism from China over US Electronics Ban on RussiaChina has criticized the tighter US export control measures against dozens of exporters from the People's Republic. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce confirmed that these actions disrupt the international trade order and hinder normal trade exchanges, and that China will take appropriate measures to protect the legitimate rights of their companies. The Ministry of Commerce's reaction follows the US government's decision, announced last Friday, to place 105 companies (42 Chinese, 63 Russian, and 18 from other countries) on a list of restricted exporters. These companies, which had been targeted for reasons such as supplying US electronics to the Russian military, must now obtain difficult-to-obtain licenses to trade.
09:29 "250 Potential Targets Within Reach" for Ukraine: ISW Urges Unlimited Use of Long-Range MissilesThe American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is advocating for the unrestricted use of long-range weapons on Russian soil by Ukraine. According to their assessment, despite the relocation of air forces to deeper rear locations, numerous military targets continue to fall within the range of US ATACMS missiles that Ukraine already possesses but hasn't been authorized to utilize against Russian territory due to restrictions from Washington. "ISW estimates that at least 250 military and paramilitary objectives within Russia are within reach of the ATACMS missiles supplied by the United States to Ukraine," a recent report mentions. However, only attacks via HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and GLMRS missiles are currently permitted. "This means Ukraine can strike at most 20 of the 250 targets," ISW explains.
09:06 Kyiv: 1190 Russian Soldiers 'Lost' in a DayThe casualties on the Russian side remain high, as reported by official figures from Kyiv: within a day, 1190 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the conflict. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, a total of 607,680 Russian soldiers have been 'lost' since the commencement of the conflict in February 2022. The ministry announced in its daily statement on Russian casualties that the enemy had lost five more tanks (8,547 in total) among other things. Since the commencement of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has reported more than 16,600 armored vehicles and around 14,000 drones that are no longer under the control of the Russian military or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be verified independently. Moscow remains silent regarding its losses in Ukraine.
08:39 Ukrainian Air Force: Most Russian Missiles and Drones Thwarted OvernightAs per Ukraine, Russia launched several missiles and drones at the northern and eastern parts of the country overnight. "Most missiles failed to hit their targets," the air force stated. Russia deployed a ballistic missile of the Iskander-M type, a cruise missile of the Iskander-K type, and six guided missiles. The number of intercepted targets was not disclosed. Meanwhile, eight out of nine Russian attack drones were thwarted.
08:08 Six Injured in Overnight Russian Rocket Attack on KharkivThe number of casualties in a overnight Russian rocket attack on the Slobidsky district in the Kharkiv region has risen to six, according to a Telegram message from the mayor of the city of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform.
07:32 Zelensky Applauds Debut of Newly Manufactured Ukrainian Palianytsia Missile DronesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commended the new Palyanytsia missile drones produced in Ukraine. The Ukrainian head of state dubbed the missile drones and other military advancements of Ukraine as crucial for the country given the delays in decisions from some of its international partners. "Today, the first successful deployment of our new weapon took place," he said, as reported by "Kyiv Independent". "A new class of Ukrainian missile drone, Palianytsia."
06:55 Asov Commander Criticizes Prisoner Exchange: No Asov Fighters ReleasedAccording to Ukrainian reports, no Asov soldiers were included in yesterday's prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. Brigade Commander Denys Prokopenko expressed his frustration, as reported by The Kyiv Independent, regarding the latest prisoner exchange and the exclusion of Asov fighters who have been held captive by Russia for over two years.
06:14 Governor: Five Dead in Ukrainian Strike on Russian Border Region BelgorodFive civilians were killed and 12 injured, four severely, in a Ukrainian airstrike on the Russian border region of Belgorod last night, as reported by local authorities. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated that three minors were also injured, two of whom were hospitalized. Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian territory and advanced into the Kursk region bordering Belgorod in early August. Belgorod has been a constant target of Ukrainian airstrikes and drone attacks in retaliation for attacks from the Russian side.
05:47 Russia: Civilians Killed in Ukrainian ShellingFive civilians were killed and 12 injured in an artillery shelling in the city of Rakitnoe in southwestern Russia, according to the region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, on Telegram. The reports could not be independently verified, and Ukraine has not commented.
04:26 City of Sumy Reports Rocket Strikes and CasualtiesThe city of Sumy has been struck by rockets, the regional military administration reports. Two rocket strikes are mentioned, injuring seven people, two of them seriously. Russia attacked the civilian infrastructure in Sumy on Saturday evening, it is said.
03:06 Ukrainian Air Defense Issues Alert for Combat DronesThere's an alert issued in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine during the wee hours. The Ukrainian air force issues warnings, including a group of Shahed combat drones making their way over the Black Sea towards Mykolaiv, a southern Ukrainian region. Anticipated increased Russian attacks near Ukraine's Independence Day, which was on Saturday, are underway. However, a major attack wave has yet to unfold.
01:32 Hungary Blames Brussels for Oil Supply DisruptionHungary suspects the EU Commission for orchestrating the suspension of Russian oil supplies. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto states, "The EU Commission's declaration of not willingness to assist in securing Hungary and Slovakia's energy supply hints at instructions coming from Brussels to Kiev to cause energy supply issues for Hungary and Slovakia." The EU Commission initially refuses to comment. In June, Ukraine implemented sanctions against Russian oil producer Lukoil and obstructed the Druzhba pipeline, causing significant disruptions to Hungary and Slovakia's primary oil source.
22:12 Russian Troops Injure Four Women in Kupyansk Village AttackRussian troops attacked the village of Novoosynove in Kupyansk, Kharkiv region, injuring four women, according to Oleh Syniehubov, head of the military administration of the Kharkiv region. He stated, "At around 12:00, Russian forces attacked the village of Novoosynove in the Kupyansk district. Subsequently, a private building was engulfed in flames due to the attack." The injured women were transported to a medical facility. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the attack are ongoing.
21:03 UK Defense Secretary: "Ukraine Has Faced Long Odds Against Russia’s Powerful Forces"UK Defense Secretary John Healey celebrated Ukraine's Independence Day, which marked 33 years of independence, on European Pravda's portal. He expressed, "Exactly 33 years ago, Ukraine declared its independence, promising a brighter, prosperous future as a sovereign democracy, liberated from Russian Soviet's control." Despite facing Russian annexation attempts, Ukrainians commemorated their independence under tough circumstances. "Ukraine has consistently fought against Russia's extensive forces and resources. Today, we honor the Ukrainian people," Healey wrote, saluting their bravery, both military and civilian. The British remain committed to supporting their Ukrainian allies for as long as necessary. Consequently, the UK launched a campaign today, urging the British public and others to express their support for Ukraine via social media outlets. Healey further highlighted, "We're appealing to the British to share our solidarity messages and posts utilizing the hashtag #MakeNoiseForUkraine."
20:05 Zelensky Promotes Syrsky to Highest Military RankUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has bestowed the rank of General upon Oleksandr Syrsky, head of the Ukrainian army. The promotion is official, as stated in Zelensky's decree. Previously, Syrsky was a Colonel General. The reason behind this promotion is the Ukrainian forces' success in advancing in the border region of Kursk, Russia.
The Ukrainian conflict continues to cause significant damage to civilian infrastructure, with the Russian military conducting 261 attacks on the Sumy region of Ukraine in a single day, resulting in causalities and structural damage.
Despite these challenges, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains resilient, using his country's Independence Day celebration to ridicule Russian leader Vladimir Putin and highlight Ukraine's defensive capabilities.
