Russia launches an overnight drone attack on Kyiv. The European Parliament adopts plans to boost production of ammunition and missiles. Russia detained 13 senior military officers, including Surovikin, in the wake of Wagner’s mutiny.
Russia launches overnight drone attack on Kyiv
Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv overnight on July 13. Iranian-made Shahed drones entered the capital from different directions. Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted about ten targets, head of the Kyiv city military administration Serhiy Popko said on Telegram. Drone wreckage fell on five districts of the capital: Darnytskyi, Solomyanskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Obolonskyi, and Podilskyi, damaging several homes.
According to Popko, in Darnytskyi district, two people, a 19-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man, were hospitalized with shrapnel wounds. Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klychko said that falling debris caused a balcony fire at an apartment building in Shevchenkivskyi district. One person was rescued from the fire. In Podilskyi district, the body of one resident was recovered when emergency services put out a fire. Later the Interior Ministry said the fire had not been started by falling drone debris. It was a domestic fire.
Ukraine’s Air Force said it also intercepted two Russian cruise missiles “in various sectors”. One ballistic missile wasn’t intercepted, and the damage it caused “was being clarified,” the statement added.
EU Parliament adopts plans to ramp up production of ammunition, missiles
On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted plans to increase EU production of ammunition and missiles to address the current shortage, the Parliament’s press service said.
According to the text, agreed upon with the Council of the EU last week, the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) aims to accelerate the delivery of ammunition and missiles to Ukraine and to help member states restock their arsenals.
By introducing targeted measures, including EUR 500 million in financing, ASAP aims to ramp up the EU’s production capacity to address the current shortage of defence products, specifically artillery ammunition, missiles and their components.
During negotiations with the Council, MEPs ensured that a more diverse range of projects receive funding, and that small and medium-sized enterprises would be eligible for a higher funding rate. They secured new financing that should not come at the expense of existing cohesion funding. MEPs also pushed to ensure that EU countries will provide Ukraine with the ammunition funded under this legislation, without it being subject to export restrictions.
The legislation now needs to be endorsed by the Council in order to become law.
Russia detains 13 senior military officers, including Surovikin, in wake of Wagner mutiny
Russia’s domestic security service detained 13 high-ranking military officers, including General Sergei Surovikin in the wake of Wagner’s mutiny. Around 15 were suspended from duty or fired, The Wall Street Journal said.
Surovikin, head of aerospace forces, is being held and interrogated in Moscow, people familiar with the situation said. He hasn’t been charged with a crime. One said Surovikin knew about plans for the insurrection but that the general wasn’t involved in the mutiny.
The Kremlin’s effort to weed out officers suspected of disloyalty is broader than publicly known, according to the people, who said at least 13 senior officers were detained for questioning, with some later released, and around 15 suspended from duty or fired.
Belarus: military and political challenges. Ukraine in Flames #480
Recent developments in Ukraine-Belarus relations have raised concerns, including the dismissal of the Ukrainian ambassador and the potential stationing of nuclear weapons in Belarus. Reports of Belarus being used as a base for Wagner mercenaries add to the unease. These factors contribute to apprehension regarding Lukashenko’s role and manipulation in the war. Watch UIF #480 as experts Maksym Pleshko, Tetiana Gatsura-Javorska, and Yevhen Mahda shed light on these pressing issues further and the future role Belarus will play in the region.
Guests:
- Tetiana Gatsura-Javorska, Director of NGO Zvyano
- Maksym Pleshko, Center of Belarusian Communications, representative of the Kastus Kalinovskyi Regiment
- Vadym Kabanchuk, deputy commander of the Belarusian Kastus Kalinovskyi Regiment
