The most deadly missile strike on Lviv: 10 killed, four dozen wounded. Russia to put one more unit at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant into hot shutdown, Energoatom says. Ukrainian troops destroy Russia’s logistics.
Most deadly missile strike to hit Lviv: 10 killed, four dozen wounded
On the night of July 6, an air raid alert was declared all across Ukraine. Russian missiles hit an apartment building in Lviv, killing 10. A few dozen civilian structures were destroyed or damaged.
Russian forces fired Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea, the joint press center of the defense forces of southern Ukraine said. Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted seven of ten missiles.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said three Kalibr missiles hit Lviv overnight.
“A Russian terrorist attack on Lviv claimed five lives [the death toll from the strike later increased to seven] and injured more than 35. More than 35 houses were damaged or destroyed, including 250 apartments, 10 dormitories, a children’s house, two universities and other civilian structures,” the General Staff said.
The missiles were flying toward Kyiv before abruptly changing course to Lviv, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Command Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said. Ukraine needs F-16 fighter jets to be able to intercept all 10 missiles, he added. “It is not easy to protect the whole country from missiles. They were launched from the sea, the enemy planned the route,” Ihnat said.
Russia to put one more unit at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant into hot shutdown, Energoatom says
Russian forces prepare to put reactor unit 4 of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant into hot shutdown. They deliberately do not put unit 5 into cold shutdown, said Energoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear company.
“Russian-installed head of the plant Yuriy Chernichuk has issued the decision. After the Russians blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, the Kakhovka reservoir has become depleted. If more units are put in operation, water supply could become insufficient to cool the reactors,” Energoatom said.
Russian forces go against the decision by the Ukrainian regulating authority to put unit 5 into “cold shutdown.” If two units are put into “hot shutdown,” there is a threat of a nuclear disaster,” Energoatom said.
Ukrainian personnel at the plant cannot affect the situation, Energoatom said. “They have to constantly withstand threats and intimidation by armed Russian soldiers.
Ukrainian troops destroy Russia’s logistics
Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted a series of missile strikes targeting Russian rear positions along the entire front overnight and during the day on July 5. A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian fuel and lubricants depot in Makiyivka and that Ukrainian forces are regularly launching missile strikes against rear Russian targets in Ukraine. The footage and claims of these Ukrainian strikes suggest that Ukrainian forces launched a coordinated series of strikes aimed at degrading Russian logistics and ground lines of communication throughout the theater, the Institute for the Study of War said in a report on July 5. Ukrainian forces are conducting an operation to “starve, stretch, and strike” Russian forces to break down Russian defensive lines, the Institute for the Study of War said, quoting United Kingdom Chief of the Defense Staff Admiral Sir Antony David Radakin.
Here are some other conclusions from the report. Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove line. Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to engage in combat around Kreminna. Ukrainian forces conducted successful offensive operations in the Bakhmut area. Russian milbloggers reported that Ukrainian forces liberated an important height near Klishchiivka (7km southwest of Bakhmut). Russian and Ukrainian forces continued ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line. A Ukrainian official confirmed that Ukrainian forces maintain positions in the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast.
Vilnius and Washington NATO summit: what political decisions to expect. Ukraine in Flames #477
Anticipating the forthcoming NATO summits in Vilnius and Washington, there is an expectation that these events will serve as a catalyst for Ukraine’s invitation to join NATO. It is hoped that once the war concludes, the accession process will begin promptly and reach its completion as soon as possible. It is crucial that Ukraine is not excluded from Europe’s security framework post-war, as its inclusion in NATO would not only bolster the strength of the North Atlantic Alliance but also represent a significant move towards establishing lasting peace in Europe. Watch Ukraine in flames #477 to find out about political decisions that can be made at Vilnius and Washington summits and why Ukraine should get an invitation to join NATO on one of those summits.
Guests:
- Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union
- Valeriy Chaly, Chair of the Board of UCMC, Former Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA
- Oleksandr Merezhko, People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation
