Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting civilian infrastructure with drones. Among them is Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport, says Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. She describes this as „another terrorist act”. Airport takeoffs and landings have been temporarily restricted in the morning. According to official information, several drones were intercepted in the vicinity of the Russian capital.
+++ 07:41 Ukraine reports heavy fighting near Bachmut +++
According to her statements, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled several Russian attacks on the outskirts of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. Under heavy fire, the defenders managed to stop nine Russian attack attempts, according to the current General Staff report from Kiev on the situation near Bakhmut. Mentioned are the villages of Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, the terrain west of Jahidne and east of Ivanivske, and the battle area southeast of Bila Hora. In these areas, the Ukrainians have recently gained more territory and, among other things, have also approached the cities of Kleshchevka and Kordyomyvka.
+++ 07:02 ISW: Ukraine is leading in at least four areas +++
Ukrainian forces advanced in at least four areas of the front line on Monday and made little progress, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The soldiers are said to have advanced southwest of Pashmut.
+++ 06:17 Russia reports that two drones were shot down near Moscow +++
According to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, drones were shot down again over the Russian capital region of Moscow in the morning. Russia’s air defense repelled „another attempted attack by Ukrainian drones,” Sobyanin wrote on his Telegram channel. There were no dead or injured. All missiles have been destroyed. According to the rescue services, there were four drones. For security reasons, air traffic from Vnukovo Airport, located southwest of downtown Moscow, has been diverted to other airports. According to the Russian Aviation Authority, flight operations resumed at 8 am Moscow time.
+++ 05:29 Report: The Kremlin wants more surveillance technology in Russia +++
According to a report in the New York Times, the Kremlin wants to expand production of surveillance technology in Russia. It added that Moscow is providing Russian law enforcement agencies, as well as the domestic intelligence agency the FSB, with more tools to track cellphones or track activities in encrypted apps such as Telegram, Whatsapp or Signal.
+++ 01:17 Zelenskyj: German Iris-T systems are very effective in protecting airspace +++
After a phone call with Chancellor Schultz, Ukrainian President Selinsky praised Germany’s assistance in air defense. „The impressive Iris-T systems have proven to be very effective in protecting our airspace,” Zelensky said in his evening video message. In addition, Germany gave Ukraine the highly effective US Patriot air defense system. „Ukraine is very grateful for that,” Zelensky said. But more help from the West is needed: „Unfortunately, our country does not have enough high-quality air defense systems to fully protect our region and destroy all enemy targets.”
+++ 23:55 Czech Foreign Minister: Russia has been a threat to Europe for decades +++
In light of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky sees his country as threatened as well. „Our threat is not imaginary. Russia will pose a threat to the European continent for decades to come,” he told the Tagesspiegel newspaper. He is glad that Germany’s new security strategy expresses this clearly. Because of similar problems, danger for the Czech Republic also meant danger for Germany. „Our national economies are very dependent on each other (…) We have created a common area economically. If we are in danger, then so is Germany,” the minister continued. With the NATO summit looming on July 11-12 in Lithuania, Lipavsky does not see Ukraine as ready to join the defense alliance or the European Union. „But it has to be. It is in our interest to help Ukraine.”
+++ 23:03 Zelensky demands „rescue” from prisoner Saakashvili +++
Ukrainian President Zelensky once again called on the Republic of Georgia in the South Caucasus to rescue former head of state Mikheil Saakashvili, who is sick in prison. Zelensky said in his daily video message that the 55-year-old Ukrainian man should be extradited to Ukraine to receive the necessary treatment and care. He appealed to the international community not to ignore the situation but to „save this man”. „No government in Europe has the right to execute people. Life is a basic European value.” Zelensky had repeatedly claimed that Saakashvili was being „being slowly killed” in Georgian custody. Despite the arrest warrant, the former president returned to Georgia in 2021 and was arrested. In the pictures he looked emaciated recently.
+++ 22:14 China wants to work closely with the Russian Navy +++
China is intensifying its military contacts with its neighbors and, above all, with Russia. Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu met with the commander of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevminov, in Beijing, and the Chinese and Russian media published a unanimous report. He told Li Yevminov, according to the Chinese Ministry of Defense, that he hopes the two countries’ navies can strengthen communication at all levels and regularly organize joint exercises and patrols. Just two days ago, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that two Russian warships had been spotted near Taiwan and the Japanese island of Okinawa. The Russian Navy has repeatedly conducted military activities near the Japanese maritime area in the past month. Last week, China also announced closer military cooperation with neighboring Vietnam.
+++ 21:42 US Ambassador to Moscow meets Correspondent Gershkovich in prison +++
The US State Department stated that US correspondent Ivan Gershkovich, who is being held in Russia, is „in good health”. The US ambassador to Moscow, Lynn Tracy, said Gershkovich remains „strong” despite the circumstances. She was able to visit the journalist who works for the American Wall Street Journal in prison. This is the first time since April 17 that US embassy officials have been allowed entry to the consulate. She added that „all reasonable support” would continue to be given to Gershkovitch. The correspondent was arrested in March in Yekaterinburg by the FSB. He is accused of collecting classified information about the Russian military-industrial complex for US agencies. The Wall Street Journal denies this. Gershkovitch continued his work with official accreditation.
+++ 21:10 Diplomats: Stoltenberg’s mandate will be extended on Tuesday +++
The mandate of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will be extended according to information received from the diplomats. And four diplomats say that NATO member states must formally agree to this at a meeting on Tuesday. This means that the 64-year-old Stoltenberg must remain in office for another year. NATO countries have not yet been able to agree on a successor, which is why Stoltenberg has called for a continuation. Stoltenberg’s mandate has already been extended once. He wanted to be the head of the Norwegian Central Bank. In June, Stoltenberg said he had no intention of renewing his term as NATO’s secretary general.
You can read all previous developments here.
