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Armed Drones Strike Grain Warehouses near Ukraine-Romania Border in Odesa Conflict

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A Russian drone strike targeted port facilities in Izmail, Ukraine, situated close to the River Danube and adjacent to NATO member state Romania. The attack resulted in the damaging of a grain warehouse, a passenger building, and a grain loading elevator. This comes after Russia abandoned a UN deal that allowed both countries to export grain safely across the Black Sea. The attack has sparked a large fire in the port area, with videos from the Romanian side of the Danube capturing the extent of the blaze.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis condemned the continued attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure near Romania, stating that they are unacceptable. Odesa regional leader Oleh Kiper confirmed that emergency services were responding to the latest attack, but no casualties were reported.

Ukraine, a major exporter of wheat and corn, has been severely affected by the Russian attacks on its port facilities. The River Danube is now seen as an alternative route for exports, but the attacks are causing significant disruptions and logistical challenges. The continuous targeting of Ukrainian ports by Russia is viewed as an attempt to control Ukraine’s grain exports and exert influence in the region.

In addition to the attacks on port facilities, Russia has also launched drone strikes against Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, though no official response has been issued by Russia regarding these reported attacks.

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Russian Missiles Strike Apartment Block and Security Service Building in Dnipro

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On Friday evening, Dnipro, an eastern Ukrainian city, experienced a missile attack that caused injuries to at least nine people, including two children, as reported by officials. A BBC team at the scene confirmed that the top floor of a large residential tower block was severely damaged in the strike. Additionally, a building belonging to Ukraine’s security services (SBU) was also hit, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attributed the attack to “Russian missile terror.” Zelensky shared a video on Telegram depicting the damaged buildings and a street-level fire.

Emergency meetings were convened by President Zelensky with the SBU, interior ministry, emergency services, and local officials in response to the incident. Fortunately, there have been no reported deaths from the attack. However, two children, aged 14 and 17, were among those injured and were receiving treatment at home, according to Regional head Serhiy Lysak. The missile strike occurred at 20:30 local time.

Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov revealed that this was the third time the SBU building had been targeted by Russia. Fortunately, both buildings struck were largely empty at the time. The residential tower had recently been completed, and units were being offered for sale.

In retaliation, Russia claimed that it intercepted two Ukrainian missiles over its southern Rostov region, resulting in 15 injuries from falling debris in the city of Taganrog. The Russian defense ministry stated that the first missile was directed at “residential infrastructure” in the city, while the second missile was downed near the city of Azov, causing debris to fall in an unpopulated area. Taganrog, a coastal city located about 25 miles (40km) from the Ukrainian border, is on the road leading to Mariupol, a strategic port city that had previously suffered significant damage from Russian shelling.

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Ukraine war: Russia attacks grain stores at River Danube ports

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According to local officials, Russian drones have targeted and destroyed grain storage facilities at Ukrainian ports along the River Danube, which are situated just across the river from NATO-member Romania. The River Danube serves as a crucial export route for Kyiv, especially after Russia withdrew from a deal that allowed Ukraine to ship wheat, corn, and other products via the Black Sea.

One such attack occurred in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, where a grain depot was destroyed. The attacks have caused significant damage, with more than 60,000 tonnes of grain being destroyed in the past week. This has resulted in an 8% increase in grain prices in global markets since Russia pulled out of the grain deal on 17 July.

The collapse of the deal has also led to Russia resuming its targeting of port locations in Ukraine, which had been suspended during the deal. Odesa’s head, Oleh Kiper, reported that the infrastructure in the Danube ports of Reni and Izmail was attacked for four hours using Iranian-made drones. Multiple warehouses and storage tanks were destroyed in the attacks.

The situation has raised concerns for regional security and has been condemned by Romanian President Klaus Yohannis, as the attacks occurred very close to Romanian territory. The River Danube, as well as road and rail routes from Ukraine to neighboring countries like Poland and Romania, have been developed as alternative export channels since the Russian invasion. However, these routes have been able to handle only a fraction of Ukraine’s export needs and are more expensive compared to sea transport.

Ukraine’s status as Europe’s breadbasket makes it the world’s seventh-largest wheat exporter, with 71% of its land being used for agriculture. In response to the attacks on Ukraine’s grain exports, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia can replace Ukrainian grain for countries in Africa on a commercial or free-of-charge basis. This comes ahead of a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow.

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Kramatorsk: Alleged Russian spy to be charged over deadly strike

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that a suspected Russian agent involved in the deadly attack in Kramatorsk will be charged with treason. Zelensky emphasized that those assisting Russia in causing harm deserve the harshest punishment. The missile strike on a popular restaurant claimed the lives of twelve individuals, including three teenagers. The Ukrainian authorities claim that the suspect, a resident of Kramatorsk, had sent video footage of the restaurant to the Russian military prior to its destruction. The city of Kramatorsk is under Ukrainian control but is situated near Russian-occupied areas. Rescue efforts are still underway, and the security services have released a photo of the arrested suspect, who could face life imprisonment.

The targeted restaurant, called the Ria lounge, was a frequented venue for international journalists, volunteers, and Ukrainian soldiers taking breaks from the nearby front lines. Several people, including Colombian nationals and a prominent Ukrainian writer, were injured in the attack. One witness described the aftermath of the explosion, mentioning the surreal sight of particles moving in slow motion. A leading Ukrainian writer is in critical condition following the incident.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced the attack on Colombian citizens and instructed the foreign ministry to issue a diplomatic protest. The Colombian peace negotiator who was present during the attack sustained minor injuries. Ukrainian officials have been urging their allies to provide modern fighter jets to enhance their defense capabilities against Russian strikes. The United States recently announced its support for Ukraine by allowing Western allies to supply American-made F16s and training Ukrainian pilots to operate the jets. The Russian government has claimed that its strikes target military installations and alleged the destruction of a temporary deployment of Ukrainian commanders in Kramatorsk without providing further details.

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Belarus leader welcomes Wagner boss Prigozhin into exile

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The leader of Russia’s 24-hour mutiny, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has arrived in Belarus after his Wagner mercenary group’s mutiny ended south of Moscow. Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, claimed credit for arranging Prigozhin’s exile and stated that the Wagner mercenaries were offered an abandoned military base in Belarus if they wanted to join their leader.

As part of the agreement that ended the mutiny, Prigozhin has been promised security, and the Russian criminal case against Wagner has been dropped. The presence of Wagner in Belarus has raised concerns among neighboring NATO members, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania, who fear possible sabotage and infiltration operations. NATO has expressed readiness to defend against any threat from Moscow or Minsk and plans to strengthen its defenses in countries bordering Belarus.

Russia has recently deployed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, stating that they would only be used if Russian territory was threatened. There are mixed reactions among the Belarusian public, with some expressing concern about having someone like Prigozhin in their country. The mutiny has revealed weaknesses in the Kremlin’s control of security in Russia, but President Putin praised Russian security forces for stopping a potential civil war.

Putin also acknowledged that the state fully funded Prigozhin’s private army, which included expenditures on salaries, bonuses, and catering services. The events surrounding the mutiny remain somewhat unclear, with reports of downed military helicopters and conflicting claims about casualties. Lukashenko revealed a version of events in which he acted as an intermediary between Putin and Prigozhin, suggesting that he could play a role in managing the mercenary forces in Africa.

Observers speculate that the crisis has weakened both Putin and Lukashenko, potentially leading to more repression in Belarus in the short term and uncertainty about Russia’s reliability as a pillar of support for Lukashenko in the long term.

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Wagner Mercenaries in Russian Urban Areas Defy Putin’s Accusations of Rebellion

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Russian Private Military Contractor, Wagner Group’s Leader Yevgeny Prigozhin Claims Control of Military Sites in Rostov-on-Don, Defying President Putin’s Accusations of Betrayal

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group, has asserted that his mercenaries have taken over “all military facilities” in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. Reports suggest that they have also been deployed in Voronezh, located further north, following Prigozhin’s threat to march on Moscow and remove Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu from power.

President Vladimir Putin has condemned these actions, referring to them as a “stab in the back” and vowing to punish those who have “betrayed” Russia. Security measures have been tightened in numerous regions, including Moscow.

The Wagner Group, known for its involvement alongside the regular Russian army in the conflict in Ukraine, has been experiencing increasing tensions with the military leadership over their differing approaches to the war. Prigozhin has been openly criticizing Russia’s military command in recent months.

The situation escalated dramatically after Prigozhin accused the Russian military of targeting his group’s base in Ukraine, a claim that Moscow denies.

Prigozhin insists that this is not a military coup, but rather an attempt to overthrow Russia’s military leadership. However, President Putin, in his address, described the situation as an act of “treason.”

While Prigozhin was not mentioned by name, President Putin warned that those who engaged in betrayal, armed rebellion, blackmail, or terrorist methods would face severe consequences under the law and before the Russian people.

In response, Prigozhin, for the first time directly criticizing the Russian leader, stated that his troops were “patriots of our motherland” and argued that President Putin was “profoundly mistaken” to accuse them of betrayal.

In a video shared on his Telegram channel, Prigozhin claimed that his fighters had entered Rostov-on-Don after crossing the border from Ukraine, asserting that his forces would eliminate anyone obstructing their path. However, the location and veracity of his claim regarding shooting down a Russian military helicopter that allegedly fired upon a civilian convoy remain unverified.

President Putin acknowledged the challenging situation in Rostov-on-Don, where Wagner forces reportedly control military installations. The city of Voronezh, en route to Moscow, is also said to be under their control, prompting the governor to initiate a “counter-terrorism operation.”

Previously, Prigozhin and President Putin had a close relationship. However, this latest challenge, combined with the complications arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has presented a headache for the Russian leader. Consequently, Putin has taken a firm stance, declaring “enough is enough.”

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Ukraine strikes Chonhar bridge to Crimea, says Russia

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According to Russian officials, Ukraine has launched an attack on a bridge that connects southern Ukraine to the Crimean peninsula using long-range British missiles. The two Chonhar bridges were both damaged, but there were no casualties reported. The governor of occupied Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, claimed that the attack was likely ordered by London and carried out using British Storm Shadow missiles. The bridge is a crucial route from Crimea to the front line in the south and serves as a significant link to the occupied city of Melitopol. Photographs shared by Vladimir Saldo revealed a significant hole in one of the bridges, but he assured that repairs would be made promptly and temporary alternative routes would be provided for vehicles.

Russia relies on this road as a land connection to Crimea, and Melitopol is believed to be one of the targets of Ukraine’s counter-offensive, which commenced in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia earlier this month. In 2014, Russian forces seized the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine and subsequently invaded Ukraine’s southern coastal region in February of the following year. Last autumn, Ukraine recaptured the Kherson region situated north of the Dnipro river. However, this month, the Kakhovka dam on the river was destroyed in a suspected Russian sabotage attack, which has impeded a Ukrainian offensive across the Dnipro.

Ukraine’s offensive has been progressing slowly, with the recapture of eight villages thus far. Russian forces have continued targeting Ukrainian cities, including residential areas in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyih Rih and the southern port of Odesa. President Zelensky informed the Ukrainian people that intelligence services had received information about Russia planning a “scenario of a terrorist attack” on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which was seized during last year’s full-scale invasion. The plant, the largest in Europe, has all its reactors shut down; however, the United Nations’ atomic energy agency warned about the “extremely fragile” safety and security situation there. Water levels in the channel used to cool the reactors have decreased due to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, and tensions have risen around the plant amid reports of Ukraine’s counter-offensive. The Kremlin swiftly dismissed President Zelensky’s comments as “another lie.”

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Putin confirms the transfer of nuclear weapons to Belarus during the Ukraine war

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Vladimir Putin has announced that an initial batch of tactical nuclear weapons has been deployed in Belarus, emphasizing that they would only be utilized if Russia’s territory or sovereignty faced threats. The US government has stated that there are no indications suggesting Russia’s intention to employ nuclear weapons against Ukraine.

Belarus, a crucial ally of Russia, served as a launchpad for Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February the previous year. Putin confirmed that the transfer of tactical nuclear warheads would be completed by the end of the summer, highlighting that it was a measure of “containment” to deter those considering a strategic defeat against Russia. These tactical nuclear weapons are designed for limited strikes and battlefield use, targeting specific areas without causing extensive radioactive fallout.

Putin is set to meet with African leaders in St. Petersburg following their visit to Kyiv as part of a peace initiative. However, while they were in the city, it came under Russian missile attack. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa called for de-escalation and peaceful negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed the need to diplomatically isolate Russia and condemned its invasion. Putin reiterated his belief that Ukraine’s counter-offensive would not succeed and suggested that the country was running out of military equipment. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister reported advances in recapturing territory in the south of the country.

Putin also addressed economic matters, claiming that Western sanctions failed to isolate Russia and instead facilitated expansion in trade with “the markets of the future.” He praised new partnerships with Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American countries as reliable and responsible.

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A senior Russian officer has been killed in the Ukraine counteroffensive

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Major-General Sergei Goryachev, chief of staff of Russia’s 35th Army, was killed in a missile attack in the Zaporizhia area, according to reports.

According to a Russian-backed figure in Ukraine, a top Russian officer was killed in a Ukrainian missile strike during Kyiv’s counteroffensive against Russian soldiers.

On Tuesday, Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in a part of the southern Zaporizhia region under Moscow’s control, said that Russian Major-General Sergei Goryachev, Chief of Staff of Russia’s 35th Army, was killed a day earlier on the Zaporizhia front, where Ukrainian forces have been retaking some territory.

The Russian Defence Ministry had no immediate confirmation of Goryachev’s death.

Goryachev, 52, was a renowned soldier. According to Reuters, he served in the Second Chechen War, commanded a tank brigade, controlled a Russian military facility in Tajikistan, and led Russian soldiers in Moldova’s breakaway pro-Russian province of Transdniestria.

If true, Goryachev’s killing represents the first Russian senior commander killed in Ukraine in almost a year. “Voenkor Z,” a Russian combat journalist and military blogger, broke the news of his death first.

“The army has lost one of its brightest and most effective military commanders, who combined the highest professionalism with personal courage,” Rogov said on his official Telegram channel. “Our heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s family and friends!”

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with 18 famous Russian military bloggers and war journalists in an effort to boost his narrative about the conflict’s favourable development in Ukraine.

The meeting, in which Putin stated that Ukraine had suffered “catastrophic” losses in its counteroffensive, comes amid “widespread discontent in the Russian information space” following drone attacks on Russian territory and border incursions by pro-Ukrainian but Russian armed groups, according to a leading war monitor on Wednesday.

The Washington, DC-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted in a daily briefing paper on the Ukraine war that Russian “milbloggers” who have been more critical of Putin’s war operations were not invited to the conversation.

“Putin is likely setting information conditions to prevent potential lines of attack against the Kremlin in the event of Russian failure” in Ukraine, the ISW said, adding that the Russian president may be aware “that committed pro-war figures” and the influence of military blogging are “his key constituency as he calls on the Russian public to prepare for a protracted war in Ukraine”.

“Putin’s engagement with these milbloggers may suggest that the Kremlin will increasingly rely on the wider ultranationalist community to maintain support for the war effort,” the ISW said.

According to the ISW, Russian claims of Major-General Goryachev’s death in the Zaporizhia area show that “some Russian senior military commander officials continue to operate close to the front line and remain vulnerable to accurate Ukrainian strikes.”

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‘Massive’ Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine

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At least six people were killed and more than 30 were injured in a Russian missile strike on the city of Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine.

According to Serhiy Lisak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, where Kryvyi Rih is located, a multistory residential building was among the civilian infrastructure targeted in the early morning attack on Tuesday.

“A five-story building was demolished. Three of its occupants perished, according to preliminary accounts. “25 people were injured,” Lisak claimed early Tuesday morning on the Telegram chat service. “A massive missile attack on Kryvyi Rih,” he announced.

Oleksandr Vilkul, the city’s mayor, subsequently upped the death toll to six, despite previously warning that people were likely buried beneath the wreckage of buildings damaged in the attack.

“Unfortunately, six people have already died. “The rescue operation is still ongoing,” Vilkul wrote on the Telegram chat service.

Ukraine’s senior military command claimed air forces destroyed ten of the fourteen cruise missiles fired by Russia on Ukraine on Tuesday, as well as one of four Iranian-made drones.

It was unclear how many missiles targeted Kryvyi Rih or where the drones hit their objectives.

A drone struck civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

“According to preliminary reports, a utility company in the Kyivskyi district and a warehouse in the Saltivskyi district were both damaged.” “As a result of the explosion on the latter, a fire broke out,” he explained.

The current round of airstrikes comes as Ukraine claims to have retaken numerous villages and made significant progress in its counteroffensive against Russian soldiers.

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