War Day at a Glance Putin Wants to Upgrade the Navy – Experts: Russia Lost 5,000 Military Vehicles
07/31/2022, 20:20
Russia celebrates its Navy. In a grand parade away from Ukraine, President Putin announces a new naval strategy. Meanwhile, the military is again taking Mykolaiv under heavy fire – and killing a grain businessman. The 158th day of the war at a glance:
Mykolayiv heavy bombing – Kyiv: Businessmen killed in a targeted way
The Russian army is again under heavy fire in the city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. The city was “massively” and “probably heavier than ever before” bombed in the morning, Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych said on the Telegram online service. About half of the nearly 500,000 residents are in the shipbuilding town. According to Ukrainian sources, several residential buildings were damaged in the regional capital of Mykolaiv and several fires started.
One of Ukraine’s most important grain traders was killed in the Mykolaiv attacks. According to Ukrainian authorities, Oleksiy Vadaturskyj, owner of grain logistics company Nibulon, died in his building along with his wife Raisa. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on Telegram that Vadaturskyi was killed on purpose. The bullet hit the bedroom of the family home, “there is no doubt”: “Vadaturskyj was the target.”
The southern regional capital, Mykolayiv, has been attacked almost daily in recent weeks. The Ukrainian army recently launched a counter-offensive in the neighboring region of Kherson, which was conquered by Russia.
Russia cancels parade in Crimea – Contradictory information about drone attack
On the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, traditional “Navy Day” celebrations have been canceled in the port city of Sevastopol. In other regions of Russia, however, there were celebrations, in St. Petersburg, President Vladimir Putin participated. The reason for the cancellation was a night drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters, Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Rasvoschajew wrote on Telegram. Six people were injured in the explosion in the barracks courtyard. He attributed the alleged attack to Ukraine, but his navy denied it. The Russian allegations are “a deliberate provocation”, a spokesperson for the Odessa regional administration said in a video posted on Telegram. “The liberation of occupied Ukrainian Crimea will be done in a different and much more effective way.”
The Russian Black Sea Fleet is stationed in Sevastopol. She already lost her flagship “Moskva” in the war. Other ships were withdrawn from the naval port for fear of anti-ship missiles, according to Ukrainian sources.
Putin announces new naval doctrine
At the celebrations of “Navy Day” in St. Petersburg, Russian head of state Vladimir Putin put into practice a new military doctrine for the country’s naval force. Russia’s maritime boundaries, including in the Arctic and the Black Sea, were also defined there. “We will guarantee protection by all means and by all means,” the Kremlin chief emphasized in a parade of warships. Above all, the US and NATO are mentioned as threats to Russia’s security.
The new doctrine expressly emphasizes that Russia can use military force to assert its interests on the high seas, once all attempts to resolve the conflict through diplomatic channels have been exhausted. According to the document, the presence of a “sufficient number” of naval bases outside Russia’s borders must be expanded. In addition, the construction of modern aircraft carriers is planned. Individual fleets must be expanded. Putin also announced that the new hypersonic naval missile “Zirkon” would enter service soon. The frigate “Admiral Gorshkov” will be the first to be equipped with it.
Experts: Russia lost 5,000 vehicles
According to military experts Stijn Mitzer and Jakub Janovsky, the Russian army has lost more than 5,000 vehicles, planes and ships since the invasion of Ukraine began. The two begin documenting and listing lost equipment in Ukraine and Russia early on. They just confirm losses that are also documented with photos or videos. Russia is said to have lost 5,010 vehicles and aircraft since February 24, including 916 tanks. Ukraine, on the other hand, reportedly lost nearly 1,400 vehicles, aircraft and ships.
Red Cross: No access
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) waited in vain for access after dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war died in a Russian-controlled camp. A spokesman in Geneva said there was no access to the site until Sunday afternoon. The Russian Defense Ministry, on the other hand, said in Moscow that it had invited the ICRC for a visit.
According to Russian information, 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed and dozens were wounded in Olenivka prison near Donetsk on Friday night. The Defense Ministry speaks of a targeted rocket hit by the Ukrainian army. However, the first photos of the region speak a lot against this version. Ukraine talks about a war crime; Russian forces reportedly killed the prisoners.
Grain landing from Monday?
Turkey expects to start exporting grain from Ukraine via the Black Sea on Monday. The likelihood of a grain-laden ship leaving a Ukrainian port on Monday morning is very high, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Channel 7. There are only one or two details to be worked out, according to Ibrahim Kalin. .
On July 22, opponents of the war, Ukraine and Russia, signed an agreement with the UN and Turkey to allow Ukraine to export grain from three ports. According to Ukrainian sources, more than 20 million tonnes of grain from last year’s crop is still waiting to be exported. After the Russian invasion at the end of February, port operations were suspended for security reasons – Moscow is accused of blocking the grain. The UN increasingly fears hunger crises in the world due to the lack of grain delivery.
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