1:14 p.m .: The counter-offensive “will take time,” warns the Ukrainian Prime Minister
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal warned Thursday that the army’s counter-offensive against Russian forces “will take time,” but said he was “optimistic” about its success.
“We will conduct smart offensive operations, and for that reason [la contre-offensive, NDLR] will take time,” Denys Chmygal told a news conference in London, where an international conference on Ukraine’s reconstruction is taking place.
12:11 p.m .: The Russian judiciary is holding the American journalist Evan Gershkovich in custody
A Moscow court on Thursday rejected the application for the release of the American journalist Evan Gershkovich and confirmed the extension of his pre-trial detention until August 30 on charges of espionage which he had denied.
After a closed hearing, a Moscow City Court judge decided “not to agree” to Evan Gershkovich’s appeal against his detention, a local AFP journalist said. In late May, the Wall Street Journal reporter appealed the extension of his pre-trial detention.
11:47 a.m.: Ukrainian army reports “partial successes” at the front
The Ukrainian army on Thursday reported a “partial success” in fighting in the south-east and east of the country where its troops would continue the offensive, reinforcing claims made the previous day.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly indicated on Wednesday that progress on the counteroffensive is “slower than desired” but that there is no pressure on Kiev to speed it up.
For his part, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Thursday that the Ukrainian armed forces would reduce their activities at the front and regroup, but that they still had the opportunity to conduct offensive actions.
11:25 a.m.: “Plan of attack” on nuclear power plant: The Kremlin denounces a “lie” by Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The Kremlin on Thursday called a “lie” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s claim that Russian forces were planning a radioactive leak at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine that they occupied.
“It’s a new lie. We just had contact with the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the press.
11:15 am: Moscow says Ukraine is regrouping forces over casualties
Russia said Thursday that Ukrainian forces had scaled back operations in southern and eastern Ukraine and were “regrouping” after suffering casualties in their counteroffensive.
“Having actively engaged in hostilities and suffering significant casualties over the past sixteen days, the enemy has reduced activity and is in the process of regrouping [ses forces]According to Russian authorities, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said during a meeting of the Russian Security Council.
11:01 a.m.: Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Moscow of preparing “a terrorist attack” on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Thursday of preparing a “terrorist attack” involving a radioactive leak at the Zaporizhia power plant in southern Ukraine, which was occupied by Russian troops.
“Our intelligence has received information that Russia is considering the scenario of a terrorist attack on the Zaporizhia power plant, an attack with the release of radiation. They have prepared everything for it,” he said on Telegram.
10:45 am: IAEA director visits Russia on Friday
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi will visit Russia on Friday, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported on Thursday.
It is very likely that Rafael Grossi will address Ukraine’s Russian-controlled nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia.
According to Interfax, the head of the IAEA is expected to meet with the general director of Russia’s state-owned nuclear company Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
9:19 a.m .: Scholz calls on NATO at the Vilnius summit to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities
Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday urged the heads of state and government of the NATO countries, who will meet in Vilnius in July, to focus on stepping up military aid to Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian government has itself declared that NATO membership is out of the question as long as Russia is at war with Ukraine,” Olaf Scholz told the Bundestag. “Therefore, I suggest that in Vilnius we focus on what is now the top priority, namely strengthening Ukraine’s combat capability.”
8:22 am: Russia doesn’t want ‘enemy’ country at BRICS summit
The presence of a leader pursuing “hostile” policies towards Russia at a BRICS summit is inappropriate, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday, citing the RIA agency.
During a visit to South Africa this week, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron is “considering[ait]if an invitation him [était] asked to attend the next summit of the BRICS, a group made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, to be held in Johannesburg in August.
7:20 am: Bridge between annexed Crimea and Ukraine damaged by Ukrainian attack
A bridge connecting annexed Crimea and an area in southern Ukraine partially held by Russian forces was damaged by a Ukrainian attack, Russian local authorities said on Thursday.
“During the night Changar Bridge was hit by a strike. There were no casualties,” said Crimea’s Russian governor Sergei Aksionov, adding that the damage was being estimated. This bridge connects Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, with an area of ​​Ukraine’s Kherson region occupied by Russian forces.
Kiev forces “bombed civilian infrastructure: bridges on the administrative border between the Kherson region and Crimea near Chongar,” said Vladimir Saldo, who was deployed by Moscow to head the occupied territories in Kherson.
He published photos showing the same bridge with a crater in the dam and claimed that according to “first estimates” the Kiev forces used British Storm Shadows missiles.
The United States will provide $1.3 billion in additional aid to support Ukraine’s economy, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced at an international conference in London on Wednesday.
On the ground, Russian authorities said they shot down three drones in the Moscow region, while Kiev announced “partial successes” in southern Ukraine.