[Korrespondent] 23:18 The counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is going on not only in the south of Ukraine, but also in the Bakhmut region. The Ukrainian military are recapturing the lines previously occupied by the enemy and have achieved strategic success. About why the capture of Kleshcheevka is so important - in the material Claws shrink .
22:43 After the strike on Makiivka, a strong fire at the oil depot, Russian propaganda media reported.
22:21 A second meeting with representatives of foreign diplomatic missions was held in Kiev, aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine, Yermak said in a telephone conversation with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The meeting was attended by the ambassadors of the G7 countries, the EU Delegation to Ukraine and the heads of diplomatic missions of the Republic of South Africa, China, Denmark, Spain, India, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, Slovakia, the Czech Republic , Brazil, Argentina and the Vatican in Ukraine.
The head of the Presidential Office separately thanked Pietro Parolin for participating in today's meeting in Kyiv of the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine and the titular Archbishop of Martana - Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas. Yermak also thanked Pietro Parolin for his willingness to assist in the process of returning Ukrainian children illegally deported by Russia.
22:14 Ukraine again struck Makiivka, local "authorities" report.
22:12 Ukraine is significantly increasing the production of ammunition, said Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin: "We have a significant increase in production, we are starting to produce items that have not been produced for a long time. And still our production capabilities are very far from our needs."
21:58 In Bakhmut, the Russians are trapped - "they can't move around fully, they can't leave the city," said Anna Malyar. According to her, the hottest thing in the East is now in the Liman and Bakhmut directions. Tough battles are going on on Bakhmutsky, the enemy is holding on tightly to their positions. However, the situation can change from time to time. So, on the northern flank around Bakhmut there were battles, as of the end of the day without significant advances. There were some advances on the northern flank today.
The Deputy Minister of Defense noted that the Defense Forces are hitting the enemy in the East so powerfully that in some directions their military units have begun to leave their positions in whole units. "But the stakes have grown so much that the enemy began to use barrage detachments and, with weapons aimed at their backs, is trying to ensure the stamina of the troops," she added.
21:46 The Russians hit residential buildings in Belozerka, Kherson region: one person died, five were injured, including a ten-year-old child, the President's Office reported.
21:19 Governor of the Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov said that a "second territorial self-defense regiment" of 3,000 people is being formed in the region, the issue of equipment and weapons is being resolved.
20:37 On the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius, 46 authoritative Western experts, military and diplomats, including former US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegen and State Department Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker, signed a letter calling for Ukraine to be provided with a roadmap to membership in the Alliance as soon as possible. The signatories believe that the NATO Heads of State and Government should instruct the NATO Council to develop recommendations on the timing and modalities of the Kyiv accession process for decision at the next NATO summit in Washington in 2024.
19:50 Zelensky imposed sanctions on 18 foreign companies, of which seven are registered in the Russian Federation, nine in Cyprus, one in Luxembourg and one in the British Virgin Islands.
19:43 The "mayor" of Volnovakha of the Donetsk region stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly struck a blow at the "administration", the left wing of the building was broken.
19:39 Losses of the Russian army since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine amounted to about 220 thousand killed and wounded, said British Deputy Defense Secretary James Hippie. According to him, the losses of the Russian Federation in armored vehicles amount to more than 6200 units.
19:36 The first meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council will be held on July 12, on the second day of the summit in Vilnius, the UP reports with reference to the official program of the meeting. It is noted that the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council "at the level of heads of state and government, including Sweden" will be held on July 12 at 13:00.
19:32 Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev confirmed preparations for Zelensky's visit: "This visit is important for us, I'm sorry that the information was leaked. I hope that this will not interfere with the arrival of the Ukrainian president."
19:30 Zelensky said in an evening video message that the Ukrainian authorities are in maximum contact with partners "so that no one in the world has even the slightest lack of information about the situation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and the threats created by Russia."
The President also reminded that exactly one week remains before the key day of the NATO summit in Vilnius: "So, a week before the key moment for our common security in Europe. We work with partners to the maximum so that our common security in Vilnius wins. It all depends on the partners."
19:19 On the border with Belarus, all police patrols and counterintelligence units have been transferred to an enhanced combat duty regime, the number of foot and mobile patrol groups has been increased, said Sergei Naev, commander of the Pivnich Joint Strategic Forces Group. In addition, according to him, another plan for training military personnel directly in the border areas has been developed and already approved.
The entire border line was reinforced with means and personnel in those areas where there was at least a minimal threat of enemy penetration. There is also close cooperation with Polish partners: the Polish authorities decided to increase the number of law enforcement officers on the border bordering Belarus.
18:35 The IAEA asks for additional access to the ZNPP to "confirm the absence of mines or explosives at the site," said the agency's director general Rafael Grossi. In particular, according to him, it is important for experts to have access to the roofs of the third and fourth power units, as well as to parts of the turbine halls and some parts of the cooling system at the station.
18:13 Britain plans to start training 20 Ukrainian pilots in August, Deputy Defense Minister James Hippie said.
17:48 In the Bakhmut direction, the Defense Forces are successful, Syrsky said. According to him, the assault units of the 10th Edelweiss Brigade are storming the positions of the Russians on the northern approaches to Bakhmut. A number of territories were recaptured and a significant amount of enemy manpower was destroyed.
17:27 Russia can produce about 100 missiles of various types per month, Oleksiy Gromov, deputy head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, said in an interview with Ukrinform. According to him, every month the Russians manage to produce more than ten Iskanders, up to 30 Calibers, up to 60 air-launched cruise missiles, including Kinzhals.
16:39 CIA officers are constantly in Ukraine, but their activities are strictly regulated, and their number is limited, Newsweek writes, citing sources. In particular, their tasks include working with weapons, communication with the Ukrainian special services, control over "the situation does not go beyond certain limits."
According to the publication, the American intelligence service is working not only to help Ukraine (mainly by passing intelligence), but is also trying to find out the true plans of Zelensky and Putin. In addition, the CIA oversees significant amounts of American military assistance to Ukraine, which are kept secret.
15:45 Each of the lanes of the defense system in depth, built by the Russians, reaches a length of 10-40 km, and they are located close to each other, head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff Oleksiy Gromov said in an interview with Ukrinform.
14:56 The positions of Italy and Poland in relation to Ukraine coincide, Rome stands for real security guarantees for Kiev, Prime Minister George Meloni said.
14:31 Medvedev said that "any war can be ended quickly - either by a peace treaty, or by doing what the US did in 1945 by using nuclear weapons."
14:27 IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that during the latest checks, the agency's specialists did not find signs of mining at the ZNPP: "During our last checks, we did not reveal any mining activity, but we continue to remain vigilant."
14:06 The presence of nuclear charges in Belarus is currently unlikely, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff Alexei Gromov said in an interview with Ukrinform. According to him, the storage of nuclear weapons is a very complex technological process that requires special conditions and a deployed base for their maintenance.
13:55 Peskov called the Kremlin "fiction" Financial Times information that Xi Jinping personally warned Putin against the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
13:14 Zelensky announced that he had held an expanded meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander. We discussed the protection of nuclear power plants, the situation at the front, and the further increase in our own production of equipment and ammunition, and the acceleration of the pace of repair of Western-style equipment. As a result of the meeting, Zaluzhny was instructed to strengthen the Northern direction.
12:36 Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is sure that at the NATO summit in Vilnius it will be possible to agree on such obligations to Ukraine, "which will not disappoint her."
11:55 Russia is deliberately aggravating the situation with the ZNPP and may resort to terrorist actions on its territory in order to turn the tide of the war in its favor, Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar said: "Both scenarios - both intimidation by terrorist actions, and their direct commission - are for the Russian Federation is a tool for achieving military goals." Malyar urged to remain calm, trust only official sources of information and follow their recommendations.
11:32 Chinese Special Representative Li Hui, during a visit to Kiev, did not believe the Ukrainian authorities that the Patriot complex was able to intercept the Russian Dagger, and left without waiting for evidence, Reznikov said in an interview with the Financial Times. He also acknowledged that Russian electronic warfare systems can suppress GPS-guided munitions and HIMARS MLRS.
11:23 Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrsky said in an interview with ABC News that Prigozhin's rebellion did not affect the situation on the battlefield and, in general, does not matter. He also claims that, despite the strong defensive positions of the Russians, the counter-offensive of the Defense Forces is advancing according to the agreed plan.
"We all want to achieve the desired results, but in general the counteroffensive is moving according to plan, as we expected. I would call this process a natural achievement of our victory without creating pressure and pushing from anyone," summed up Syrsky. He added that the losses of the Russian Federation are 8-10 times higher than the Ukrainian ones.
10:48 Russia is preparing to send even more prisoners and "Kadyrovites" to the front in the coming weeks to replace Wagner PMC mercenaries, writes Bloomberg with reference to representatives of European intelligence. According to them, now there are about 15,000 fighters from among the prisoners in the Russian army, and it is not yet known how many more will be attracted. Chechnya, according to analysts, will not send many soldiers to the war - there are already 7,000 of its fighters at the front, and another 2,400 are being trained.
10:39 The Russian army during the war against Ukraine has lost almost half of its combat capability, said the head of the British Defense Staff, Tony Radakin. According to him, last year the Russian army fired 10 million artillery shells, but at best it can produce 1 million shells a year. In addition, the Russian Federation has lost 2,500 tanks and, at best, can produce 200 tanks a year.
Also, Radakin does not agree that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is moving slowly. At the same time, he acknowledged that the “stronger than expected” density of Russian minefields, the lack of Ukrainian air cover and “not all the equipment they wanted” complicated the campaign. Radakin stressed that it is unfair to tie Ukraine to a specific time frame. And Russia, he said, "now is so weak that it does not have the strength for its own counteroffensive."
10:10 Unknown partisans attacked Russian troops in the Bryansk region - a kamikaze drone destroyed the Diabazol electronic warfare complex at the Ural base, the State Border Service of Ukraine reported.
10:07 British intelligence drew attention to the fact that generals Sergei Surovikin and Yunus-bek Yevkurov do not appear in public after Prigozhin's rebellion. According to analysts, this may be a sign of a split in the Russian national security system. The intelligence service also recalled that the video caught a conversation between Yevkurov and Prigozhin during the capture of military facilities in Rostov-on-Don by the PMC Wagner.
British intelligence officials do not confirm Surovikin's arrest data, but at the same time suggest that he may be under suspicion due to long-term ties with Wagner since his service in Syria since 2017. Intelligence calls Surovikin one of the most authoritative officers in the Russian army, and also notes that any official sanctions against him are likely to cause a split.
09:46 Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a visit to Moscow in March personally warned Putin against the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, writes the Financial Times, citing Western and Chinese officials. Deterring Putin from using such weapons has been a central element of China's campaign to repair damaged ties with Europe, a senior Chinese government adviser said.
Western intelligence officials said Putin was disappointed after Xi's visit failed to produce any tangible results for Russia, such as the approval of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline. The condemnation of the use of nuclear weapons in their joint communiqué was almost certainly added at China's request, officials said.
09:08 In the Kherson region over the past day, as a result of Russian shelling, two people were killed, another one was injured. In the Donetsk region, two wounded, according to the IVA.
08:57 The defense forces are successful in the Kleshcheevka area in the Bakhmut direction, they are gaining a foothold on the achieved lines, said Andrei Kovalev, spokesman of the General Staff. To the north and south of the city of Bakhmut, Ukrainian troops continue to put pressure on the enemy, knocking them out of the previously captured lines. The enemy puts up powerful resistance, uses reserves, and suffers heavy losses. There are heavy battles.
At the same time, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the Limansky, Avdeevsky and Maryinsky directions.
08:51 In the evening and at night, the Russians fired from the S-300 with. Bely Kolodets, Chuhuivsky district, Kharkiv region, two people were injured, Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA, said. In Pervomaisky, out of 43 injured as a result of yesterday's missile attack, seven people remain in hospitals, in a moderate condition.
08:24 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of July 5.
- personnel - about 231,700 (+670) people liquidated,
- tanks - 4062 (+3),
- armored combat vehicles - 7917 (+9),
- artillery systems - 4288 (+36),
- MLRS - 656 (+9),
- air defense systems - 395 (+1),
- aircraft - 315 (+0),
- helicopters - 309 (+0),
- UAV operational-tactical level - 3614 (+12),
- cruise missiles - 1264 (+0),
- ships/boats - 18 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tankers - 6865 (+22),
- special equipment - 598 (+8).
07:49 The Russian army is concentrating its main efforts on the Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdeevsky and Maryinsky directions, there are heavy battles. During the day, there were 40 combat clashes, the General Staff said in the morning summary .
According to the General Staff, in the occupied Skadovsk and Genichesk, Kherson region, an increase in the number of cases of infectious diseases with acute intestinal infections was noted. By the nature of the course, the disease has signs of cholera. The occupying "authority" does not recognize the increase in the incidence rate, tries to hide the deterioration of the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the region, began covert cholera vaccination of representatives of their "administrations" and their immediate environment.
07:25 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes that Ukraine is now focused on attrition of the enemy, maintaining manpower, at the cost of slow territorial advance. According to analysts, this does not indicate that the counter-offensive has reached a dead end. ISW emphasizes that the current Ukrainian counter-offensive is not as bright and lightning-fast as in the Kharkiv region, but more successful than the failed Russian winter offensive. In general, in terms of their pace and progress at the initial stage, Ukrainian actions are similar to the slower, but eventually successful Kherson scenario, experts say.
03:39 The Economist published an article Vladimir Putin's Useful Idiots , which ranked the countries that are accomplices of the Russian regime. It is led by Hungary and Austria, among the "useful idiots" are also Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and Serbia.