Russians pull back from Vovchansk, Ukraine at 19:47
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Withdrawal of Russian Forces in Wowsiansk, Charkiw Region: According to Nasar Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Chortyzja- Group, a Ukrainian military formation, Russian forces are pulling back from the Wowsiansk area in Charkiw. This was reported on state television and confirmed by "The Kyiv Independent". The recent offensive by Russia in the northern Charkiw region began on May 10th, and Wowsiansk has witnessed some of the fiercest fighting.
83rd Anniversary: Putin's Commemoration of Nazi Germany's Attack on Soviet Union: Russian President Vladimir Putin is participating in a commemorative event marking the 83rd anniversary of the Soviet Union's attack by Nazi Germany on June 22, 1941. The event, named "Barbarossa", also includes the newly appointed Russian Defense Minister Andrei Removich Belousov, military veterans, active military personnel, and graduates of military universities.
Russian Attack Damages National Technical University in Ivano-Frankivsk: The National Technical University for Oil and Gas in Ivano-Frankivsk has suffered significant damage due to a Russian attack, as reported by "Ukrainian Pravda". The university campus, which houses 14 buildings, was affected. However, there were no reported fatalities or injuries. Naftogaz, the state Ukrainian energy company, has pledged to aid in the repair and reconstruction of the university.
Russian Air Defense System Shoots Down Ukrainian Drone over Bryansk Region: A Ukrainian UAV was shot down by Russian air defense systems over the western Russian region of Bryansk, as reported by the Russian news agency TASS, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
US Government Closes Two Russian Visa Centers: The US government is closing two Russian visa centers in New York and Washington. This news was shared by the Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoli Antonov, who also mentioned that the American government is revoking tax privileges for Russian diplomats. Antonov described this move as "another small, evil attack on Russian diplomats", and hinted at potential retaliatory measures from Russia. In Germany, there are Russian visa centers in Berlin, Bonn, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Munich.
Three Dead in Russian Attack on Charkiw: Following a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Charkiw, three fatalities have been reported, as announced by the governor of the Charkiw region, Oleg Synegubov, on Telegram. The number of injuries has also increased to 37, with four of the injured still in critical condition. Earlier, the mayor of the city, Igor Terekhov, reported two deaths and 18 injuries on Telegram. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed for a stop to the Russian terror with guided air bombs, urging bold decisions from their partners to destroy Russian terrorists and combat aircraft.
German Paramedics Healing Children in Ukraine: Marc Friedrich, founder of "Ambulance for Kids", and his team are providing medical aid to sick and wounded children in Ukraine. They describe their dangerous and emotional work and the challenges they face in an interview with ntv.
Fighting in Donetsk Results in Five Deaths: At least five people have been killed in the Donetsk region, due to fighting in both Russian and Ukrainian controlled areas. Wadym Filaschkin, governor of the Dnepropetrovsk region, reported five fatalities and seven injuries due to Russian attacks on Telegram. Denis Puschilin, head of the Russian-installed administration in Donetsk, had previously reported three deaths and four injuries due to Ukrainian shelling.
Satellite Image Shows Destruction of Oil Depot in Southern Russia: Following a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil depot in Russia's Asow, three of the six fuel tanks were reportedly burned down. Mark Krutov, correspondent of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), reported this based on satellite images, showing the destruction in a before-and-after comparison. Krutov mentioned that it took three days to extinguish the fire in the Asow oil depot. In recent months, the Ukrainian armed forces have been launching attacks to damage the Russian oil industry, from whose profits Moscow funds the war.
2:29 PM Sunak Slams Farage's Alleged Coordination with Putin
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lashed out at Nigel Farage, leader of the newly-formed Reform UK party, for seemingly collaborating with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. In previous remarks, Farage had insinuated that the West was partly responsible for the war, stating, "We have provoked this war." However, Farage also acknowledged Putin's guilt as the war's perpetrator, but claimed he was using the West's actions as justification. Sunak fiercely opposes this notion, asserting, "It's completely unfounded" that the West provoked Putin into engaging in hostilities. Sunak further criticized Farage, emphasizing that Putin has employed chemical weapons on British soil, conducts business with rogue nations like North Korea, and that Western appeasement endangers Britain's security, as well as that of its allies and encourages Putin further.
On July 4, the more than 46 million registered voters in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland were urged to cast their ballots in elections for the British Parliament.
2:02 PM Russia Reports Casualties from Ukrainian Attack in Donetsk
As reported by the Russian administration occupying Donetsk, three individuals were killed in a Ukrainian HIMARS rocket strike on the city of Donetsk. Additionally, three people were injured by a drone attack near Horliwka, and one person was hurt by the detonation of a mine in Donetsk. Russia claims that the Donetsk region, which borders the industrialized Donbass region, has been annexed by them.
1:36 PM Russia Suspected of Sabotaging European Infrastructure
Russia appears to be systematically sabotaging critical infrastructure across Europe, including GPS disruptions in the Baltic region. Furthermore, over 56,000 dead Russian soldiers have had their identities confirmed in battles in Ukraine. Security expert Frank Umbach shares his insights on the situation.
1:05 PM Ukraine Orders Additional French Radar for Air Defense
Ukraine has placed an order for another ControlMaster 200 radar system from France to bolster its air defense capabilities. The system, which includes the ControlView GBAD C2 electronic system, is designed to analyze all radar data and provide accurate guidance and targeting information to Ukraine's air defense systems. Ukraine reportedly received a similar system last year.
12:30 PM Civilian Casualties Resulting from Russian Attacks
Eight civilians were killed and 19 were injured in various regions of Ukraine following the previous day's Russian attacks, according to the Kyiv Independent. The city of Selydowe in the Donetsk region was particularly targeted, resulting in two deaths and three injuries, as well as damage to several buildings and homes.
12:00 PM Energy Outages Expected in Ukraine due to Russian Attacks
Energy supply companies in Ukraine have announced power outages due to increased airstrikes on the country's energy infrastructure by Russian forces. Outages are expected to last from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM (local time) on July 4.
11:25 AM ISW: Russia Failing to Advance near Kharkiv
According to the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces have struggled to make headway in their offensive in the Kharkiv region, as reported by the Ukrainian General Staff. The Ukrainian military states that Russian forces executed ground attacks north of Kharkiv at Lyptsi and northeast of Kharkiv at Wowtschansk and Tyche (located immediately east of Wowtschansk) on July 3. However, these attacks ceased on July 4, with Russian forces instead opting to focus on aerial bombardments.
11:00 AM Russian Armored Personnel Carrier Found to be Poorly Built
Russian soldiers' main means of protection in the fighting against Ukraine is armored personnel carriers (APCs). One such APC was seized by the Ukrainians, apparently in Donetsk. Ukrainian specialists are now examining their new acquisition and uncovering its weaknesses and strengths.
10:35 AM US Diplomat Anticipates Increased Support for Ukraine
US Diplomat John Bass anticipates additional support from Western allies for Ukraine in the coming weeks. "I am confident they'll see additional steps in the coming weeks, when they meet with their European partners in the coming week, and when we welcome President Zelenskyy and other high-ranking Ukrainians in Washington next month," stated Bass, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the US Department of State, to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. Bass also pointed out that the US is breaking new ground by delaying the delivery of military equipment to other countries and sending it directly to Ukraine instead.
10:07 AM Ukraine Reportedly Destroys over 28 Russian Artillery Systems in One Day
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Ukraine successfully destroyed a total of 28 Russian artillery systems on July 3, along with the loss of 1100 soldiers. The total number of Russian personnel losses now stands at 533,090, as reported by the Ukrainian military. In addition, eight tanks and eleven infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed.
09:31: Black Sea Naval Struggles: Russia's DefeatIngenious innovations, pins - and a military strategy derived from this, which repels an almost invincible opponent: Nowhere is Ukraine's battle against the Russian colossus as victorious as in the Black Sea. ntv.de shows how Moscow lost its ships and control.
09:05: Ukraine Destroys Most of Russian MissilesUkrainian claims suggest they've intercepted roughly seventy-five percent of all Russian missiles from the previous night. Seven out of ten X-101/X-555 missiles were allegedly shot down by the Ukrainian Air Force, according to Telegram. Four Kalibr missiles and one out of two Iskander missiles were also reportedly destroyed. Thirteen Shahed drones were also brought down. The missile attacks were apparently launched from the Black Sea, occupied Crimea, and the Russian mainland, according to Ukrainian sources.
08:18: Mediazona Confirms More Than 56,000 Russian Soldier DeathsIn collaboration with the BBC, the independent Russian platform Mediazona has confirmed the deaths of over 56,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine since February 2022. The Kyiv Independent reports this. The journalists note that the actual numbers are likely much higher, as the verified information comes from public sources such as obituaries, family members' posts, regional media reports, and local authorities' statements.
07:43: Civilian Injuries in Russian Rocket AttacksTwo individuals were injured in a Russian rocket attack on energy infrastructure in the south and west of the country. Two technicians were injured and taken to the hospital following the attack in Zaporizhzhia, according to the national energy company Ukrenergo via Telegram. Two of the company's facilities in Lviv and Zaporizhzhia were damaged by the attack.
07:07: Critical Russian Airbases Out of Ukraine's ReachDespite US approval for the use of Western weapons against targets in Russia, key Russian airbases remain out of Ukraine's reach. This was reported by The Washington Post, citing two unnamed Ukrainian officials. The military installations house the Russian jets that drop bombs over Ukrainian cities, it was noted.
06:31: Energy Infrastructure Targeted in Russian Rocket AttacksRussian forces conducted rocket and drone attacks on multiple Ukrainian regions throughout the night. In the Lviv Oblast, a Russian rocket hit the energy infrastructure and caused a fire, according to the Kyiv Independent, quoting Lviv Governor Maksym Kozytskyi. The extent of the damage is currently unknown. Civilian infrastructure was also damaged by Russian attacks in other cities.
05:43: New Drone Attacks from Russia in Western UkraineThe Ukrainian air defense is reporting new drone attacks from Russia in the night. Explosions are reported in the Ivano-Frankivsk region in western Ukraine. The regional military administration is urging the population via Telegram not to publish photos of the damage, "to not aid the enemy." No further information is available about the potential targets of the launched missiles in Ukraine by morning.
04:59: Poland Deploys Jets amidst Russian Missile AttacksDuring a nighttime Russian missile attack on Ukraine, Poland deploys military jets into the air. The operational command of the Polish armed forces on platform X states: "We alert you to the fact that, in the southern part of the country, the possibility of an increase in noise levels in connection with the takeoff of Polish and allied aircraft in our airspace exists", the message reads. According to the information, an intensive long-range air activity of the Russians is being observed at night, which is associated with attacks with cruise missiles, Shaheed type drones, and ballistic missiles. The target is the western Ukraine.
03:59: US Sanctions Kaspersky Lab ExecutivesThe US government imposes sanctions on twelve executives of the software company AO Kaspersky Lab. "Today's action against Kaspersky Lab management 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 trading and financial transactions with the affected executives. Their assets in the US are frozen. On Thursday, the US government had already banned the sale of Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software from September 29. The company denies any connections to the Russian military or intelligence services.
02:58: Russian-Occupied Power Plants Attacked by DronesRussian authorities report a Ukrainian drone attack on two power plants in Enerhodar, which also supply power to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. According to the authorities, the power plants are now out of service. Most of the city's residents are now without power. According to reports from Russian news agencies, the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was not affected. The agencies refer to the head of the communications department of Zaporizhzhia. He states that the drone attack had no effect on the nuclear power plant. The power plant can be repaired. The Ukraine has not yet commented on the report. Independent confirmation is not available.
01:57: Farage Blames West for Provoking PutinThe British right-wing populist Nigel Farage holds the West responsible for the Russian attack war on Ukraine. "We have provoked him," says the head of the Reform UK party in a BBC interview. In reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he adds: The "constant" expansion of the EU and NATO has given Putin a justification for the war. Putin could tell his people that "the West is behind us." At the same time, Farage sees Putin as the aggressor: "Of course, it's his fault." The long-term EU parliamentarian Farage had driven the Brexit process forward significantly.
Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev Advocates for Non-Politicized Ukraine Refugee Aid
Makeiev, Ukraine's Ambassador, voices concerns against politicizing the assistance for Ukrainian refugees. He stated this during a conversation with the German Press Agency (RND), citing the claim that an insufficient number of refugees—both men and women—are working and an excess are relying on benefits as a political tool. Makeiev explained that language proficiency requirements in German often slow down employment opportunities. He noted that many of these refugees are university graduates, some even possessing doctorates, yet struggle to find jobs. Makeiev has been in regular contact with German Labor Minister Hubertus Heil to facilitate their integration into the workforce.
Zelenskyy: EU Negotiations Commence
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that negotiations with the EU can now commence. In his evening address, he indicated that the EU has sanctioned the framework for discussions with Ukraine. Zelenskyy said this is a "notable achievement," and Kiev has already organized a delegation for the accession negotiations, expressing optimism about the talks.
Second Peace Conference Planned in Ukraine
Ukraine is set to host a second international peace conference this year, as reported by the Vice President of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration, Igor Schowkwa, to Interfax Ukraine. He mentioned that Ukraine aims to bring about peace as quickly as possible and that there's a strong likelihood that the next conference will occur in a nation in the global South. The first conference took place in Switzerland on June 15 and 16. Schowkwa suggested that Ukraine would start negotiations with Russia immediately if they promptly withdraw their troops from Ukrainian territory.
The Netherlands to Cooperate on Patriot Air Defense System Delivery to Ukraine
The Netherlands will collaborate with another country to deliver a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine, as per Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren's comments to the Dutch news agency ANP. Although she did not reveal the partner country or the delivery timeline, Ollongren confirmed that all components for the Patriot system have been assembled. Their intention to quickly build and deliver the system to Ukraine was earlier reported in May.
Estonia Temporarily Closes Narva Border Crossing for Security Reasons
Estonia has decided to temporarily shut down the Narva border crossing with Russia due to substantial delays in border controls on the Russian side. This decision was made for the preservation of public health and order, as individuals had to endure long waiting periods to cross over on Thursday and Friday. The media suspect that the delayed controls could be linked to the upcoming Estonian Victory Day celebrations against the Red Army, which takes place on June 23, 1919, in Narva.
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Read also:
- President Zelenskyy calls for international action against Russia's cyberwar on Ukraine: In response to the increasing number of cyberattacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged global leaders to cooperate in combating Russia's cyberwarfare tactics, emphasizing the threat to global security.
- NATO conducts military exercises near Ukraine's border: Due to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, NATO commenced military exercises near Ukraine's border, including the use of drones and cybersecurity training, aimed at demonstrating their commitment to protecting the sovereignty and security of their member states and allies in the region.
- Western diplomats appeal for ceasefire and peace talks: As tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated, high-level Western diplomats called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to peace talks, emphasizing that a diplomatic resolution was essential to maintaining stability in the region and preventing the escalation of the conflict.
- Volodymyr Selenskyy meets with European leaders to discuss military aid: With Russia continuing its offensive in the Ukraine conflict, President Zelenskyy traveled to Brussels to meet with European leaders to discuss potential military aid and increased sanctions against Russia, in an effort to bolster Ukraine's defenses and deter further aggression.
