Tuesday, July 4

Russia’s war against Ukraine

This photograph shows a five-story residential building partially destroyed in a deadly drone attack in the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy on July 3, 2023. Photo: Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images

New body for investigating Russian crime of aggression opens office in The Hague.

The International Center for the Prosecution of Crimes of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) opened an office in The Hague, the European Commission announced on   July 3.

Defense Ministry reports escalation on Bakhmut front line, advances on southern flank.

The battlefield situation has “escalated again” in the Bakhmut area, with two sides trying to gain the initiative, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported on July 3. Ukrainian forces are advancing on the city’s southern flank, near the village of Klishchiivka, said Maliar.

IAEA: Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant reconnected to backup power line.

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been reconnected to its only available backup power line for the first time in four months, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on July 3.

Zaluzhnyi visits Rivne Nuclear Power Plant for ‘information exchange’ on possible nuclear accident.

General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, visited the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant for “information exchange” on possible scenarios and risks at the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the General Staff of the Armed Forces informed on July 3.

Defense Ministry: Ukraine liberates 37.4 square kilometers over past week.

Ukraine has liberated 28.4 square kilometers in the south and 9 square kilometers in the east over the past week, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on July 3.

Ukraine designates Unilever as ‘international sponsor of war’.

Ukraine’s National Corruption Prevention Agency (NACP) added British corporation Unilever to the “international sponsors of war” list for not exiting Russia.

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Zelensky: War not over until Ukraine liberates Crimea.

In an interview with CNN, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine’s ultimate goal is to liberate Crimea and any “peace scenario” with the peninsula remaining under Russian control would “not be victory.”

Russia failed assassination attempt on Crimea proxy head.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that it thwarted a car bombing attempt against a Russia-installed proxy head in Crimea Sergei Aksyonov, Interfax news agency reported on July 3.

China looks to hold regular drills with Russian Navy.

China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu said he hopes for regular joint exercises and patrols by the Russian and the Chinese navies, Reuters reported on July 3.

Shoigu breaks silence on Wagner rebellion.

Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made his first comment on the Wagner rebellion, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on July 3. The minister highlighted the military’s loyalty in the face of “provocations” and “destabilization attempts.”

Prigozhin breaks silence, pledges ‘further victories at the front’.

In his first voice message since June 26, Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed he expects “further victories at the front” without providing any further details.

Exiled mayor: All hospitals in occupied Lysychansk re-purposed for military needs.

All medical facilities in the occupied city of Lysychansk, Luhansk Oblast have been re-purposed as military hospitals for Russian troops, exiled Mayor Valerii Shybiko said on Priamyi TV channel on July 3.

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Ukraine war latest: Russian drone strike on Sumy kills 2, injures 19

The Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on July 3 that a Russian drone strike on the northern city of Sumy had killed two people and injured 19 others.

Photo: Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images

Ukrainians under occupation face deportation, loss of property after Putin’s new order

Putin signed an executive order in late April that set a deadline for applying for Russian citizenship in the occupied areas of Ukraine. Those who elect to hold onto their Ukrainian passports could lose property rights, prison sentences, and deportation.

Photo: Contributor/Getty Images

Human cost of war

Prosecutors: Russian shelling injures 3 in Kherson Oblast village.

Russian troops shelled a village near Stanislav in Kherson Oblast, wounding three civilians, the regional prosecutor’s office reported on July 3.

Death toll of Russian drone strike on Sumy rises to 2.

The death toll of Russia’s July 3 drone attack on the northern city of Sumy has risen to two, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported. Nineteen more people were injured, with four of them still in the hospitals.

Governor: Married couple injured in Russian attack on Kherson Oblast.

Russian troops struck the village of Kindiika on the eastern outskirts of Kherson on July 3, wounding a married couple, reported Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Russian attacks kill 2, injure 13 over past day.

Russian attacks targeted 11 oblasts over the past day, killing two people and injuring 13 more, local officials reported on July 3.

General Staff: Russia has lost 230,260 troops in Ukraine.

The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on July 3 that Russia has lost 230,260 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, with an estimated 600 casualties on July 2.

International response

FT: EU considers concessions for sanctioned Russian bank to protect grain deal.

The EU is considering concessions for a sanctioned Russian bank to keep Moscow in the Black Sea grain deal, the Financial Times (FT) reported on July 3, citing unnamed sources.

Ukraine receives $890 million from IMF.

Ukraine’s state budget has received $890 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement, the Finance Ministry reported on July 3.

Hungary asks EU to extend exemption for its oil company from Russia sanctions.

Hungary will ask the EU for a one-year prolongation of the sanctions exemption for oil refiner Slovnaft, allowing it to export products made from Russian oil to Czechia, Reuters cited Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on July 3. Slovakia-based Slovnaft is a subsidiary of MOL Group, a Hungarian oil and gas company.

Media: Austria wants to join European air defense initiative over Russian threat.

Austria wishes to join the European Sky Shiled initiative to protect against Russian wayward drones and missiles, Euroactiv wrote on July 3. The move has sparked discussions on the country’s long-standing military neutrality.

Papal envoy: No peace plan discussed in Moscow.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi’s mission to Moscow did not involve any discussions about a peace plan, Reuters cited the papal envoy on July 3. His visit focused on humanitarian issues related to the Russo-Ukrainian War, the cardinal told the Italian public broadcaster RAI.

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