Russia fires more than 20 missiles at northern Ukraine from Belarus, Black Sea
On the morning of July 28, Russia conducted a massive missile strike on northern Ukraine – on Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. Some of the missiles hit the Kyiv suburbs, including a military base in Vyshhorod district.
Between 5:20am and 6:30am, the Russian forces fired more than 20 rockets from Belarus, the operational command Pivnich (North) said. The main target for the missiles was the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Honcharivske, Chernihiv region. Russia also struck a military base in Lyutizh, in Vyshhorod district of Kyiv region, launching six Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the military casualties resulting from the attacks. Fifteen civilians were wounded.
© t.me/andrii_nebytov 
© t.me/andrii_nebytov
Russian missile strike on Kropyvnytskyi kills five, wounds 26
“[The missiles] hit twice the hangars of the flight academy of the National Aviation University,” head of the regional military administration Andriy Raykovych said. “Two civil aircraft and an An-26 were damaged,” he added.
Russia also launched attacks against Mykolayiv in the south and Bakhmut in the east. An artillery strike in Bakhmut killed three and wounded three more people.
U.S. Senate calls for Russia to be named terrorism sponsor
The Senate unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution on Wednesday calling for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism for actions in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria and Ukraine that resulted “in the deaths of countless innocent men, women and children,” The New York Times said.
A similar measure had been introduced in the House, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to be a strong supporter of its passage. However, the power to designate a state sponsor of terror resides with the State Department. A list of state sponsors of terrorism now includes Cuba, North Korea, Iran and Syria.
Religion during the Russian war and Orthodox Church dilemma in Ukraine. Ukraine in Flames #140
July 28th marks one of the most important religious holidays in Ukraine – Christening of the Kyivan Rus. As many other institutions, Ukrainian church is faced with many challenges in the midst of war. These challenges are further complicated by a sophisticated system of religious institutions in the country, where even Orthodox Christianity is embodied in different churches. Some of them, like the relatively newly established Orthodox Church of Ukraine, independent from Russian influence, have been taking active part in defending the country at their own home front – first and foremost, assisting in evacuation and help for children. There are, however, darker aspects to the religious issue amidst the war – Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), a subsidiary of the Russian Orthodox Church, finds itself torn between different loyalties. While many bishops and parishioners leave Moscow Patriarchate in disagreement with its long dependence on the aggressor state, some have decided to collaborate with the enemy. Ukraine in Flames #140 tries to tackle the challenging issue of religious institutions and their roles during Russian war against Ukraine.
Speakers:
- Mark, Bishop of Kropyvnytskyi and Holovanivsk, Orthodox Church of Ukraine
- George Kovalenko, orthodox priest, rector of Open Orthodox University of the Saint Sophia the Wisdom.
