20:05
NYT: Kiev lost 20% of its weapons in the first days of the counter-offensive
In the first two weeks of the counter-offensive launched from Kiev, up to 20% of Ukraine’s weapons were damaged or destroyed. American and European officials report this to the New York Times. The losses also include equipment sent from the west, such as tanks and armored vehicles, with which the Ukrainians tried to repel the Russian advance. Now losses have dropped to around 10%, also thanks to the fact that Ukraine has changed tactics and is more focused on artillery and long-range missiles.
17:20
The Wagner Group moves from Russia to Belarus
An impressive convoy of the Wagner paramilitary group, consisting of at least 60 vehicles, arrived in Belarus from Russia today: this was announced by the Belarusian surveillance group Gayun, as reported by UNIAN. According to Rbc-Ukraine, the arrival of the Wagner mercenaries was confirmed by the Belarusian authorities. “This morning, July 15, a large convoy of cars and trucks with the number plates of the so-called DPR/LPR (the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, ed.) was sighted – says Gayun’s report –. Some factors indicate that it is a Wagner convoy that entered Belarus from the Russian Federation at night in the Krychau area. According to Gayun, the convoy drove through Rohachiv in the direction of Bobruysk and then to Osypovych. The group believes the mercenaries moved into a tent city in the village of Tsil. At least 60 vehicles were spotted, including pickups, trucks, vans and at least three buses with passengers. The vehicles were escorted by cars of the Belarusian traffic police. The spokesman for the Ukrainian border guard Andriy Demchenko, in turn, confirmed that “Belarus has begun to monitor individual groups of representatives of private military campaigns who are leaving the territory of Russia.” He added that border guards are monitoring the situation to determine the whereabouts, number and role of the mercenaries.
10:49
Russia and China will soon hold joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan
Russia and China will soon hold joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan, the Russian news agency TASS reported, citing the Chinese Defense Ministry. “As part of the annual cooperation plan between the armed forces of Russia and China, the Russian armed forces will soon send their navy and air force to participate in Interaction/North-2023 in the Sea of Japan,” the statement said. -. The exercises were organized by the Northern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army of China and will take place in the Sea of Japan in mid-2023.
09:25
Russian drones over the city of Zaporizhia: one injured
One civilian was injured in the attack by Russian forces on Zaporizhia last night, City Council Secretary Anatoly Kurtev announced on Telegram, as reported by Rbc-Ukraine. The injured man is a 52-year-old man and the city was attacked with drones, the local military administration said. The attack damaged unspecified infrastructure and four blocks of flats, Kurtev added. According to the city’s military administration, the Russian army shelled the Zaporizhia region 45 times yesterday, destroying 27 buildings in 15 villages.
08:29
Russia, nuclear fuel factory accident: one dead
One person died in an accident at a nuclear fuel power plant in Russia’s Ural region, about 1,600 kilometers east of Moscow. “The accident was quickly localized and does not pose a threat to the population,” the Russian nuclear authority Rosatom said on its Telegram channel, stating that there was no release of radioactivity.
Rosatom explained that the accident, which occurred in Novouralsk, 50 kilometers northwest of Yekaterinburg, involved a cylinder containing about one cubic meter of depleted uranium and that one worker died due to the loss of pressure in the container. The other employees were sent home after a doctor’s visit and their health is of no concern, according to an official statement.
08:28
Podolyak: “No to territorial compromises for NATO accession”
The hypothesis of those who believe that joining NATO could make Ukraine more open to a territorial compromise is “absolutely out of the question, even offensive” because it “would only fuel Russia’s desire for expansion”. “Ukrainian territories will not be negotiated” and “our membership of the Atlantic Front will not be an object of negotiation with Russia,” he said. Mykhailo Podolyakthe best-known political adviser to President Zelenskyy, in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
Speaking in the Kremlin, Podolyak said: “They are afraid of the prospect of Ukraine’s membership in NATO because it will destroy the basic myths about Russia, as they understand it, in order to control the population.” Regarding the recent alliance summit in Lithuania concerned, the consultant considers that this was carried out “in a predictable, rational and pragmatic manner”. As long as we’re at war, we’ll get the help we need to fight. After the war, the legal requirements will come. Although there was no clear invitation from Vilnius for our legal membership in the alliance, we nevertheless registered long-term guaranteed military support.”
“Unfortunately, we note that the bureaucratic quirks and the lack of willingness to take on basic responsibilities have partially diminished,” added Podolyak, specifying that “in the midst of the war, Ukraine continues to work to meet NATO requirements .” The rest depends on the allies: we are waiting, but that waiting will be paid for with the blood of our military and civilians.” Kiev’s entry into the alliance, he concluded, “is part of the historic process: it will be the most just end point of an absolutely unjust war.” It will take place immediately after the end of hostilities. And it will be the symbol of the transformation of the global security system.”
08:21
Kyiv: Three kamikaze drones shot down in Mykolayiv region
Ukrainian forces shot down three Russian kamikaze drones in the Mykolayiv region in the south of the country last night, spokeswoman for the Southern Defense Forces Natalia Gumenyuk announced on United News channel, as reported by Rbc-Ukraine. The Zaporizhia region was also attacked, Gumenyuk added. There are currently no reports of injuries or damage.