euromaidanpress.com/…
Media: Joint drone operation by Ukraine’s SBU and Navy hits Russian coast guard facilities in occupied Crimea
Suspilne’s security sources report that military activity in occupied Crimea’s Lake Donuzlav was a Security Service’s operations against a Russian coast guard base, resulting in damaging the command center, ammunition depot, and power station, disrupting planned Russian exercises.
The operation, conducted jointly by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ukrainian Navy, employed a combination of sea and air drones. The report says the attack resulted in significant damage to key infrastructure at the Russian base, including:
- Headquarters with command center
- Ammunition and equipment depot
- Power substation
- Technical facilities
- Russian firing positions
Suspilen published a video, reportedly provided by a security source:
Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt children’s hospital partially reopens after Russian missile strike
The 8 July Russian attack killed two adults, damaged 24 departments, and forced evacuation of 100 young patients.
Kyiv Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, Ukraine’s largest pediatric facility, has partially reopened following a Russian missile strike on 8 July.
- Most oncology departments have reopened, except the bone marrow transplant unit.
- Microsurgery, otolaryngology, and maxillofacial surgery units relocated temporarily.
- Emergency care, various surgical departments, radiology, pediatrics, and intensive care are now operational.
- Neonatal care services have resumed.
- Specialized centers, including HIV/AIDS clinic and blood service center, continue functioning.
- Medical genetics facilities recently reopened.
euromaidanpress.com/…
DeepState: Russian army advances in Kalynivka, near Karlivka, and Zalizne in Donetsk Oblast
The analysis on Russian advances in the Donetsk Oblast by DeepState seems to confirm earlier reports which stated that Russian troops are increasing the pace and intensity of their offensive operations in this particular direction of the front.
Russian Armed Forces managed to advance in Kalynivka, as well as near Karlivka and Zalizne in the Donetsk Oblast, DeepState analysts reported on Thursday, July 18.
As can be evidenced from the DeepState map.
euromaidanpress.com/…
ISW: Kremlin preparing Russians for decade-long war in Ukraine
Russian state media is interpreting comments by a top official to suggest Ukraine will cease to exist by 2034, according to a new report by the Institute for the Study of War.
According to the ISW, Russian media editorialized remarks made by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairperson of the Russian Security Council, in a 17 July interview. While Medvedev did not explicitly state Ukraine would no longer exist by 2034, he implied it when discussing NATO membership, saying “it is quite possible that the notorious country 404 will not exist either.” ISW noted that Russian “derogative use of the 404 computer ‘error’ code meant to suggest that Ukraine is not a real state.”
“Neither Ukraine nor the West can expect to negotiate with Russia on Russia’s terms if Russia’s terms are premised on the eradication of Ukraine and its people in the next ten years,” the ISW concludes.
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Russo-Ukrainian War, day 875: Ukrainian forces might withdraw from Krynky amid reports of hundreds of missing marines
The strategic Dnipro River bridgehead at Krynky faces uncertainty as Ukrainian forces allegedly withdraw, with up to 800 of marines unaccounted for.
euromaidanpress.com/…
52 nations condemn Russia’s UN “multilateral cooperation” meeting amid Ukraine war
Russia assumed its rotating chairmanship of the UN Security Council in July 2024.
52 countries signed a joint statement condemning a UN Security Council meeting held by Russia on 16 July. The event, chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, was titled “Multilateral Cooperation for a more just, democratic and sustainable world order.”
Ukraine’s UN Ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, delivered a joint statement prior to the meeting on behalf of the signatory countries, including the United States. The statement accused Russia of attempting to divert attention from its invasion of Ukraine while falsely portraying itself as a defender of multilateral order.
Lavrov used the meeting to call for peace in Ukraine on terms set by Russian President Putin, which Kyiv promptly rejected as tantamount to surrender.
www.kyivpost.com/…
Has Viktor Orban Merely Become a Pawn in Putin’s Game?
Hungary’s Prime Minister has recently positioned himself as an unlikely peacemaker between Russia and Ukraine but in doing so is he truly neutral?
In a geopolitical landscape full of tension and controversy, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has recently put himself forward as the broker of peace between Russia and Ukraine. However, due to his extensive ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the international community is not convinced of Orban’s true intentions. Far from being a neutral arbiter, Orban appears to be acting as Putin’s emissary, causing serious concerns about his credibility and influence on European unity.
Since taking office in 2010, Orban has pursued a pro-Russian agenda, such as the controversial Paks II nuclear deal, which was largely financed by Russian loans. The project not only deepened Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy, but also symbolized Orban’s defiance of EU energy diversification strategies aimed at reducing dependence on Moscow.
However, Orban’s achievements undermine his suitability for the role. His government has repeatedly thwarted EU efforts to present a united front against Russian aggression, from blocking joint statements to vetoing sanctions. These actions not only encourage Putin but also undermine the EU’s collective bargaining and jeopardize the bloc’s ability to influence the resolution of the conflict.
www.kyivpost.com/…
In UK, Zelensky Calls for European Unity
European leaders gathered in the United Kingdom at Bleinheim Palace as part of the European Political Community meeting hosted by new UK PM Keir Starmer.
Can’t copy link in article
Today at Blenheim, a place associated with Winston Churchill, I addressed leaders at the European Political Community Summit. I stressed the importance of unity, bravery, and decisive action in defending our values and ensuring a peaceful, secure, and prosperous future for Europe.
www.kyivpost.com/…
EU Chief Von Der Leyen Wins Second Term
Von der Leyen’s first term was full of crises including the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday won a second five-year term that she vowed would tackle the EU’s challenges head-on, including bolstering its defense capability and strengthening Europe’s industry.
The German ex-defense minister, who became the first woman leader of the European Commission in 2019, had presented herself as the best and most experienced captain to steer the commission.
Von der Leyen however faces another difficult five years, with rising expectations that former US president Donald Trump will return to the White House after elections later this year.
And with conflicts in and near Europe, von der Leyen insisted on the need for a “strong Europe” during a “period of deep anxiety and uncertainty.”
Von der Leyen vowed earlier on Thursday to boost Europe’s competitiveness by ensuring major investment in key industries including defense.
But she also insisted the EU would not deviate from ambitious climate goals that entail reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040.
www.kyivpost.com/…
Ukraine Requires Network Operator to Ensure Service for at Least 10 Hours During Blackouts
Officials updated the availability from the four hours required previously, likely after President Volodymyr Zelensky requested an audit into operators’ readiness during blackouts.
Ukraine is now requiring cellular operators to ensure service availability nationwide for at least 10 hours during blackouts from the current four-hour requirement.
By Oct. 1, at least 60 percent of base stations, also known as cell towers, need to be equipped with backup power sources, increasing to 70 percent by Nov. 1, 80 percent by Dec. 1, and 100 percent by February next year.
Russia’s renewed strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure since March have destroyed much of the country’s remaining power generation capacity with less than a fifth of the pre-war capacity remaining, leading to extensive rolling blackouts, as a recent Kyiv Post report established.
www.kyivpost.com/…
British Defence Intelligence Update Ukraine 18 July 2024
- The Russian government has initiated further restrictions on the use of digital telecommunications in Russia. On 12 July 2024, Russian State Duma Deputy Anton Nemkin stated in an interview that Russian authorities had begun to slow down traffic on the encrypted messaging app WhatsApp. The public explanation is to limit the ability of extremist groups to communicate. Under Russian government definitions this likely also includes constraining the ability of opposition activists and those opposed to the war in Ukraine to organise and communicate
- Separately on 12 July 2024, Russian independent media reported that disruption to the YouTube online video platform was due to deliberate slowdowns in traffic by the Russian government. The Presidential Administration is reportedly likely to block YouTube altogether in September 2024. YouTube is relatively popular in Russia, and has been used by opposition activists, most notably the late Alexei Navalny, to disseminate criticism of the Russian government.
- As with recent proscription of independent media organisations, and the restriction of other secure communication means these measures represent an acceleration in the long-standing trend increasing government control over access to media and information in Russia. These restrictions in access to social media platforms are likely designed to ensure that the Russian population are only able to access media that conforms to government-controlled narratives.By restricting more secure means of private communication, government surveillance of potential dissenters will be easier, and will create a climate of fear and self-censorship among those who might be critical of the regime.
www.kyivpost.com/…
Kremlin Prepares New Offensive in Zaporizhzhia
Russia is gathering troops together from different regions, which has all the appearance of preparations for a new counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia.
Russian troops are being assembled from different regions, primarily from the areas of Novoazovsk and Donetsk.
“They are moving towards the Zaporizhzhia region not through Berdiansk or Prymorsk. Most often it is from the direction of Rozivka-Pologi, Tokmak. Areas that are closer to the front line,” Andriushchenko says.
He has the impression that such steps by the Russians are aimed at amassing strong reserves to launch a new wave of its offensive against the Zaporizhzhia region.
meduza.io/…
Soldier shooting wounded comrade in video is Russian, not Ukrainian as pro-Kremlin media claimed, journalists find
Last month, drone footage of a soldier shooting one of his fellow servicemen in the head was shared widely by Russian state-funded and pro-Kremlin media, with Russian propagandists claiming the soldiers were Ukrainian. But a new investigation from RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit Systema and the news outlet Current Time, which relies on a higher-resolution version of the video and interviews with the drone operators involved, indicates that the men in the clip are actually Russian soldiers. Meduza breaks down the evidence.
The video shows three soldiers in camouflage clothing with no identifying marks running down a road. A drone explodes next to one of them, causing him to fall to the ground, apparently wounded. One of the other servicemen then walks up to the wounded soldier, who points to his own head. The standing soldier then shoots the wounded serviceman in the head. The soldier who is wounded and then killed in the video does not appear to have any weapons at any point.
The drone operator recounted:
“It was clear that he wasn’t going to get back up, that his legs were broken, and that there was no way an evacuation team would reach him. His comrade was running next to him, and he gestured with his hand: “Please kill me.” I was a bit shocked. I mean, that’s your brother in arms. And you kill him, just like that. You could have at least pulled him over into the bushes.”
meduza.io/…
Former Moscow culture minister notorious for purging independent, anti-war figures is jailed on corruption charges
On Wednesday, a judge jailed former Moscow Culture Minister Alexander Kibovsky on charges of bribery and fraud after police arrested the conservative official for allegedly helping businesses win city contracts in exchange for more than 100 million rubles (about $1.1 million) in kickbacks. Kibovsky currently serves as an adviser to the Moscow Mayor’s Office on issues of cultural cooperation with the four most recently annexed regions of Ukraine.
Soon after he took over for Kapkov, Kibovsky made a speech to the Moscow City Duma where he promised stricter discipline and was receptive to some council members’ complaints that the capital’s cultural institutions needed more “patriotic” and “spiritual” leaders.
In 2022, after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kibovsky launched another round of dismissals, this time targeting cultural figures suspected of disloyalty to the state.
tvrain.tv/...
Pskov journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva has been declared wanted
It is not specified under which article of the Criminal Code the journalist is being sought. In a conversation with Mediazona, she herself suggested that it could be a question of repeated "discrediting" of the army. She had previously been fined under a similar administrative article.
Prokopyeva does not live in Russia. She left the country in the spring of 2022 after she was detained and taken away for questioning in a case of slander against the governor of the Pskov region, Mikhail Vedernikov. Formally, the journalist was a witness in the case. In the summer of 2023, Prokopyeva was recognized as a "foreign agent" in Russia.
tvrain.tv/…
Moscow court bans sale of toilet paper with 1,000-ruble note for 'insulting religious feelings'
The local prosecutor filed a complaint against the online stores. He explained his demands by the fact that the banknote features a monument to Yaroslav the Wise, "classified as a saint and revered by the Russian Orthodox Church." The court agreed with his arguments:
“In a free democratic society, the dissemination of information materials of an illegal nature that can offend the religious feelings of believers cannot be protected by freedom of thought, speech, opinion and information,” the court ruling states.
“Free democratic society” You’re kidding, right?