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Ukraine Invasion: Part 61

783 replies

MagicFox · 28/04/2026 15:57

Welcome to thread 61 with many thanks to all So many thanks to all contributors and a special salute to those providing daily updates. For the 61st time, Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

**
Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events
B. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content
C. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful
D. Please keep on topic

OP posts:
Thread gallery
369
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 04/07/2026 11:51

Look, I'm as anti-invasion as anyone and worried sick about Russian propaganda, but banning Masha and the Bear is ridiculous !

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 05/07/2026 10:09

@MissConductUS belated Happy Independence Day!

MissConductUS · 05/07/2026 10:12

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 05/07/2026 10:09

@MissConductUS belated Happy Independence Day!

Thank you! It was quite the party here in NY yesterday. We even had a flyover from the RAF Red Arrows.

PerkingFaintly · 05/07/2026 11:07

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 05/07/2026 10:09

@MissConductUS belated Happy Independence Day!

This! 🎂🎉

Sounds like you had a great day!

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 05/07/2026 11:18

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Zelensky congratulates US on Independence Day, thanks Washington for continued support in call with Trump.

⚡️Update: Trump speaks to Zelensky, Putin on Independence Day as leaders congratulate US, discuss war.
Putin also spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call that lasted over an hour, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said, according to Russian media

⚡️Zelensky focuses on American 'Patriots' in US Independence Day message.
"When we ask America for Patriots, we believe that the values of respect for life and for people that prevailed 250 years ago will prevail again today," Zelensky said.

⚡️Kremlin proposes temporary Kostiantynivka ceasefire and handover of bodies to Ukraine, calls for talks in Moscow.
Russia proposed a temporary ceasefire in the front-line city of Kostiantynivka to facilitate a handover of fallen Ukrainian service members' bodies, and the Kremlin said that President Volodymyr Zelensky should travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin instead of meeting in the embattled city.

⚡️Ukraine reportedly strikes Crimea substations, leaving occupied peninsula without power.
Ukraine struck several substations in Crimea overnight on July 5, plunging the Russian-occupied territory into a blackout, social media channels reported.

⚡️Zelensky calls Putin's Kostiantynivka bluff: 'Let's meet there.'
"If Kostiantynivka were currently under Russian control, then surely Putin would have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war," Zelensky said.

⚡️Zelensky meets wounded soldiers, veterans in visit to Odesa.

⚡️Pantheon of Ukrainian heroes to be built at Kyiv's Pechersk Lavra.
The decision to place the Pantheon on the territory of the Kyiv Pechersk-Lavra is associating it with what Metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, calls "one of the holiest places in the Christian world."

⚡️Traffic collision in Mykolaiv region kills 12, injures 6.
Witnesses to the accident claim it was provoked by a driver heading in the wrong direction on the motorway toward the minibus, according to Mykolaiv police.

⚡️Update: Search and rescue operations end in Kyiv with 31 dead, 102 injured.
Search and rescue operations at the site of a Russian strike on a residential building in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district concluded on July 4, Ukraine's State Emergency Service (DSNS) said.
The death toll from Russia's July 2 mass attack on the capital rose to 31, with 102 people reported injured.

⚡️ Russian attacks kill 7, injure 39 in Ukraine over past day.
Russia launched 125 long-range kamikaze long range Shahed-type drones, an anti-radar missile and three guided air missiles overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — JUL 5, 2026
■ 7th-highest engagements (most since end of May) and casualties above average
■ Land-based equipment losses above average, both armored and unarmored
■ Overnight attacks: improved drone interception rate; 3 of 4 missiles shot down and the fourth missed target
■ 🇷🇺 MLRS strikes above average; 13 🇺🇦 strikes; 30-day strike ratio unchanged

Ukraine Invasion: Part 61
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 05/07/2026 11:21

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Putin said that the campaign of massive strikes on the infrastructure of Ukraine’s defense industry and the facilities supporting its operations should continue.

Hungary has agreed to partially unblock Ukraine’s EU accession talks, according to RMF24.
According to the publication, Budapest is ready to send Ukraine and Moldova an official letter launching the procedure to open the sixth negotiation cluster on foreign and trade policy.
At the same time, Hungary continues to block the opening of four other negotiation clusters.

🇵🇱🇺🇦 Former Polish Prime Minister Kaczyński calls for blocking Ukraine’s EU accession.
The leader of Poland’s opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, Jarosław Kaczyński, said he could oppose Ukraine’s European integration because of its policy on historical memory.
In an internal letter to party members, he called for using all political means to block Donald Tusk’s government’s efforts to accelerate Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

China and Russia will conduct joint naval exercises followed by joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean.
The "Joint Maritime Exercise 2026" drills will take place this month in the waters and airspace near the Chinese city of Qingdao in the Yellow Sea.
Following the exercises, forces from the two countries will conduct joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean.
China's Ministry of Defense said the activities are aimed at “maintaining regional peace and stability.” However, Beijing did not specify the exact dates of the exercises or the number of ships, aircraft, and personnel involved.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has once again claimed that the Baltic states provided air corridors for attacks on Russia.
In an interview with the state-run news agency RIA Novosti, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said Moscow has “verified data” allegedly showing that Latvia and other Baltic states allowed Ukrainian drones to use their airspace to strike civilian infrastructure in Russia. As usual, he presented no evidence to support these claims.
[...]
The governments of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have repeatedly denied granting Ukraine permission to use their airspace for strikes on Russian territory, despite recurring claims by Kremlin officials.

President Zelenskyy signed a decree establishing a modern Naval Academy in Odesa, the president announced during a meeting with graduates and cadets of the Naval Institute.
According to Zelenskyy, the academy will combine modern training approaches, the combat experience of the Ukrainian military, and a strong educational and military infrastructure.

On the night of June 26, unmanned systems units of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) struck the Belbek airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea. As a result of the operation, a Russian MiG-29 fighter jet was destroyed.
The strike also destroyed an aircraft launcher that was servicing Russian aircraft at the time of the attack.
Preliminary estimates put Russia’s losses at tens of millions of dollars.

As a result of today’s Russian attack, the Mennonite Girls’ School in Verkhnia Khortytsia—one of the oldest historic buildings in Zaporizhzhia—was damaged, according to the Zaporizhzhia City Council.
The building was constructed in 1904. It is an architectural monument and an important part of the city’s historical heritage. https://t.me/United24media/43931
[it's absolutely ruined]

As a sign of solidarity with the United States, the Motherland Monument in Kyiv has been illuminated in the colors of the American flag to mark US Independence Day.

🕯 Over the past day, Kharkiv and 22 settlements across Kharkiv region came under Russian attack. Three people were killed and eight others, including a child, were injured, according to Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Head Oleh Syniehubov.
In Kharkiv, four civilians were injured: women aged 22, 45, and 60, as well as a 10-month-old girl.
In the village of Velyten, Zmiiv community, two men aged 48 and 52 suffered acute stress reactions.
In the village of Velyten, Vovchansk community, a 54-year-old man was injured.
In the village of Lozova, Vovchansk community, one person was killed (details are being clarified), and a 32-year-old man was injured.
In the village of Vesele, Lyptsi community, a 69-year-old man was killed.
In the village of Dovzhanka, Vilkhuvatka community, a 55-year-old man was killed.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 61
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 05/07/2026 11:24

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

The Russian Ministry of Defense has proposed a temporary, localized ceasefire in Kostiantynivka for Monday, July 6, ostensibly to facilitate the transfer of the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, Russian state media reported.
Moscow proposed a six-hour window from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, stipulating that Ukraine must provide an official response to the proposal by 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 5.

President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss the urgent need for Patriot interceptor missiles, warning that Russia is making its "final bet on missile strikes against Ukraine."

Russia intends to expand its proposed "security zone" to encompass three more Ukrainian regions, Dmitry Medvedev stated, framing the move as a continuation of military objectives outlined by Vladimir Putin.

The Ukrainian military targeted a Russian helicopter over the Sea of Azov and struck a key railway bridge in the occupied Luhansk region on Saturday, July 4, according to the General Staff.
The extent of the damage to the helicopter is currently being assessed. In a separate operation, the strike hit a railway bridge near Stanytsia Luhanska, which Russian forces heavily utilize to transport personnel, weapons, and ammunition.

Russia’s escalating domestic fuel crisis has reached the Kaliningrad region, threatening the local agricultural sector as harvesting operations intensify, social media reports show.
Local officials and agricultural workers reportedly stated that existing regional fuel reserves will last "only a few days," adding Kaliningrad to a growing list of over 50 Russian regions facing localized fuel rationing.

A $135 million superyacht linked to Vladimir Putin is fleeing European waters for Murmansk, as new intelligence reveals the Russian military is installing anti-drone netting on the vessel and protective cages on its Black Sea submarines.
The 82-meter yacht, currently escorted by the Russian Navy along the Norwegian coast, previously fled Germany just days before the 2022 invasion.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 61
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 05/07/2026 11:26

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlight

Russia is preparing a provocation to undermine relations between Poland and Ukraine — forged documents about the Volhynia tragedy are to be published tomorrow. This was warned by the Center for Countering Disinformation under the NSDC.
They stated that Russian information operations aimed at splitting Ukrainian-Polish relations are overseen by FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov. The fake documents regarding World War II events are to be published by Russian intelligence services and will then be actively spread by Russian state media and bot networks. Incidentally, Poland's Minister-Coordinator of Special Services Tomasz Siemoniak stated that Russia is already using troll farms and bot networks to spread manipulative posts and speculation around state media and bot networks. Incidentally, Poland's Minister-Coordinator of Special Services Tomasz Siemoniak stated that Russia is already using troll farms and bot networks to spread manipulative posts and speculation around

notimagain · 05/07/2026 12:23

MissConductUS · 05/07/2026 10:12

Thank you! It was quite the party here in NY yesterday. We even had a flyover from the RAF Red Arrows.

Oh yes, a belated congrats from me as well...

blueshoes · 05/07/2026 18:31

MissConductUS · 05/07/2026 10:12

Thank you! It was quite the party here in NY yesterday. We even had a flyover from the RAF Red Arrows.

Also late but happy 250th birthday America!

Nice video from the cockpit of the Red Arrows plane flying past the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Centre and Lower Manhattan

www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9l2v37pz2o

blueshoes · 05/07/2026 18:39

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-4-2026/

Key Takeaways

  1. Russian President Vladimir Putin used a staged meeting with several Russian commanders on July 3 to make greatly exaggerated claims of Russian advances that do not match battlefield realities in order to construct a narrative of continuous Russian military successes. [Pootin be delulu]
  2. Putin and other Russian military commanders heavily aggrandized the claimed seizure of Kostyantynivka on July 3 and 4.
  3. The Russian MoD and other Russian sources are publishing large quantities of footage that may be AI-altered to falsely confirm Russian exaggerated claims and complicate individual footage verification.
  4. Putin used the July 3 meeting with Russian commanders to signal his commitment to continuing the war in Ukraine as he has been.
  5. Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces advanced on July 4.
  6. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian oil and energy infrastructure and military assets in Russia on July 4. Russian forces launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile, one Kh-59 guided missile, and 86 drones against Ukraine overnight.
notimagain · 05/07/2026 18:48

blueshoes · 05/07/2026 18:31

Also late but happy 250th birthday America!

Nice video from the cockpit of the Red Arrows plane flying past the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Centre and Lower Manhattan

www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9l2v37pz2o

That looks like fun but I bet it gave ATC a headache, especially at Newark (EWR)...

There's actually an arrival route into EWR from the north that almost does a reciprocal of what the Red Arrows did, albeit at slightly higher altitude, it's truly spectacular on a clear day.

MissConductUS · 05/07/2026 18:54

notimagain · 05/07/2026 18:48

That looks like fun but I bet it gave ATC a headache, especially at Newark (EWR)...

There's actually an arrival route into EWR from the north that almost does a reciprocal of what the Red Arrows did, albeit at slightly higher altitude, it's truly spectacular on a clear day.

It was clear weather yesterday, just beastly hot. There were lots of USAF and USN flights as well, but they all had to follow the Hudson River, which would have simplified things a bit for ATC.

PerkingFaintly · 05/07/2026 18:59

blueshoes · 05/07/2026 18:31

Also late but happy 250th birthday America!

Nice video from the cockpit of the Red Arrows plane flying past the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Centre and Lower Manhattan

www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9l2v37pz2o

Oh I love the way they did that!

Laid red and white stripes for a distance and then put in a blue square at the corner!

Awesome!

MissConductUS · 05/07/2026 19:02

Russian President Vladimir Putin used a staged meeting with several Russian commanders on July 3 to make greatly exaggerated claims of Russian advances that do not match battlefield realities in order to construct a narrative of continuous Russian military successes.

The Russian tendency to punish bad news from the battlefield is legendary, and leads to more bad news. You can’t call for artillery strikes on a village you already reported captured, for example. And your reserves get deployed elsewhere, as HQ thinks you no longer need them. The Ukrainians have become very skilled at exploiting this particular Russian military weakness.

fronts.co/article/exaggerating-its-advances-is-costing-the-russian-army-dearly-heres-how/

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 05/07/2026 19:09

PerkingFaintly · 05/07/2026 18:59

Oh I love the way they did that!

Laid red and white stripes for a distance and then put in a blue square at the corner!

Awesome!

They are good at what they do.

We quite often used to see them practising when we drove across the Cotswolds to my parents' house and passed very near the airfield where they were based.

DdraigGoch · 06/07/2026 01:45

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 05/07/2026 19:09

They are good at what they do.

We quite often used to see them practising when we drove across the Cotswolds to my parents' house and passed very near the airfield where they were based.

Blimey, how long ago was that? They've been based in Lincolnshire since 1983. Or shouldn't I ask that particular question?

notimagain · 06/07/2026 02:59

DdraigGoch · 06/07/2026 01:45

Blimey, how long ago was that? They've been based in Lincolnshire since 1983. Or shouldn't I ask that particular question?

I was stationed alongside them in the mid/late eighties.

It was Interesting to say the least watching their pre-season work ups but sadly they hit a bit of a rough patch around the time I was at Scampton and in one of the accidents they had a good friend of mine was killed.

He wasn't the only colleague I lost when serving - military flying was a bit brutal back in the day, even in peace time - but that one really sticks in the memory for all sorts of reasons.

blueshoes · 06/07/2026 09:05

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-5-2026/

Key Takeaways

  1. The Kremlin appears to be conducting a targeted information campaign that aims to highlight the claimed Russian seizure of Kostyantynivka to the Trump administration and Western information space.
  2. Russia is using a short-term ceasefire proposal it knows Ukraine will logically reject as part of Russia’s expanded cognitive warfare effort to falsely portray Ukraine as the unwilling negotiator.
  3. Russia continues to face mounting manpower allocation challenges as it struggles to build out a robust air defense umbrella to defend Russia’s vast rear.
  4. Russian forces launched 4 missiles and 125 drones against Ukraine on the night of July 4 to 5.
  5. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces made confirmed advances on July 5
AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 06/07/2026 10:54

DdraigGoch · 06/07/2026 01:45

Blimey, how long ago was that? They've been based in Lincolnshire since 1983. Or shouldn't I ask that particular question?

In that case it must have been in the seventies and very early eighties, I guess. Certainly we were driving that road fairly regularly any time between 1972 and my father's death in 2005.

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 06/07/2026 12:47

Live:Ukraine

⚡️In Chișinău, Moldova, the "Russian House" has been closed.

The Russian Center for Science and Culture had been operating since 2009, promoting Russian culture, language, art, and science. However, in November, Moldova withdrew from the intergovernmental agreement on cultural centers signed with Russia in 1998.

Part of the center's functions will be transferred to the Russian embassy. Meanwhile, the so-called Minister of Foreign Affairs of the unrecognized Transnistria, Vitaly Ignatiev, said that a similar institution is planned to be opened in Tiraspol.

🇸🇰Yesterday, a referendum was held in Slovakia on the abolition of the lifetime pension for Prime Minister Robert Fico. The referendum was declared invalid because only 16.3% of voters turned out — more than half was required.

Previously, lifetime payments only applied to the country's president. However, after Fico returned to power, the ruling coalition passed a law on pensions for the prime minister and the speaker of parliament. To qualify, an official must have been in office for at least 10 years, and currently only one person meets this criterion — Fico himself, who has led the government for a total of over 12 years.

The referendum also included questions on restoring the Special Prosecutor's Office and the National Agency for the Investigation of Criminal Offenses — bodies that previously combated organized crime and corruption. Fico abolished them after returning to power. Over 90% of those who voted supported both proposals.

⚡️ The Russians struck a gas station in Izium and attacked the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

Kharkiv region. A man was killed in a strike on a gas station in Izium, and three other people were injured. The attack damaged vehicles and caused a fire.

Zaporizhzhia region. In Zaporizhzhia, two people were injured. The strike damaged a store and an enterprise. Two people were also injured elsewhere in the region.

Kherson region. A man was injured in Kherson. In Tomyna Balka, another man was also injured.

⚡️ In Moscow, a Russian streamer waved at a Ministry of Internal Affairs patrol car, after which a security officer jumped out and detained him.

After the arrest, the blogger reported that he had been "roughed up" with hands, feet, and struck with a stun gun.
https://t.me/liveukraine_media/41390 (This is something else 🤯)

⚡️ Russia has destroyed all gas stations along the Dnipro—Kharkiv highway: drivers are being urged to refuel in Dnipro before heading out, — social media

According to eyewitnesses, not a single gas station along this route has survived, so drivers are advised to stock up on fuel before departure.

⚡️ The Russians struck an apartment building in Zaporizhzhia and attacked the Dnipropetrovsk region.

In Zaporizhzhia, one person was killed. Nine others were injured, including police officers and a child. The attack damaged the apartment building and other structures.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, one person was injured. The strike damaged apartment buildings, vehicles, and an enterprise. A wheat field caught fire as a result of the attack.

🇨🇳🇷🇺China and Russia will hold joint naval and air exercises near Qingdao.

After completing their maneuvers, the military forces will head to the Pacific Ocean for a joint maritime patrol.

The exercises are part of the annual plan for military cooperation between China and Russia. The statement said the aim is to learn to jointly respond to security challenges and support peace and stability in the region.

▪️China and Russia regularly conduct joint military exercises. In May, Reuters reported that at the end of 2025, China's armed forces secretly trained approximately 200 Russian military personnel, who then went to fight against Ukraine. The countries also signed an agreement on secret drone-related exercises.

⚡️ As a result of the Russian attack on Kyiv overnight, 9 people were killed and 46 others were injured, reported the head of the City Military Administration, Tymur Tkachenko.

Among the wounded are five children. In the Holosiivskyi district, a non-residential building reportedly caught fire as a result of the attack.

In the Podilskyi district, the Russians struck a nine-story building, destroying floors 5 through 9. Rescuers evacuated 17 people, and 28 others were rescued from the upper floors using ladders.

At other addresses, the roof cladding and an elevator shaft on the roof caught fire. A 19-story building was damaged, and debris also struck the 16th floor of a 25-story building.

Rescue workers are currently searching for victims in a 21-story residential building where the attack destroyed floors 2 through 5. Three buildings in the Darnytskyi district were also damaged.

⚡️ In Vyshneve, Kyiv region, there is a risk of secondary detonation of debris following the Russian attack, the city council reported.

All necessary services have been deployed to address the aftermath of the strike. Police and emergency services will evacuate people from hazardous areas if needed.

Residents are urged not to enter areas where debris has fallen or where rescue operations are ongoing, and not to touch suspicious objects — instead, they should call the police.

In the event of further explosions, it is best to take shelter or stay away from windows. In open areas — lie down in a depression and cover your head with your hands.

▪️As a result of the Russian attack in the Kyiv region, one person was killed. 15 people were injured, 11 of whom are hospitalized. Among the wounded is a 9-month-old girl.

⚡️ In Yaroslavl, Russia, an oil refinery has been attacked, while in Crimea — a port and an airbase have been hit, monitoring channels report.

A large-scale fire broke out at the refinery in Yaroslavl. Meanwhile, in temporarily occupied Crimea, several fires are being reported — at the "Hvardiyske" airbase, in the port of Kerch, and at electrical substations in Simferopol.

⚡️ Overnight, Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 UAVs at Ukraine. Air defense neutralized 37 missiles and 326 drones.

Specifically, the Russians launched 6 Tsirkon/Onyx anti-ship missiles, 23 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, 33 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and 6 Kalibr cruise missiles.

Preliminary reports indicate that 29 ballistic missiles and 18 UAVs struck 34 locations, with debris falling at 16 sites.

In Kyiv, the attack killed 11 people and injured 46.

In addition to Kyiv and the region, the Russians attacked Odesa. A 23-year-old man was injured, and multi-story buildings and a parking lot were damaged.

In Kherson, the Russians struck the Korabelnyi and Dniprovskyi districts. A 56-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were wounded, sustaining shrapnel injuries.

🇷🇺🇬🇧Russian hackers have compromised the email accounts of British officials, with access being sold for up to $60,000, The Telegraph reports.

The hackers exploited a vulnerability in over 80,000 firewalls and stole credentials from employees of the British Foreign Office, local authorities, and staff of diplomatic missions in Thailand and Mauritius. The cyberattack also affected the National Health Service, energy companies, and medicine suppliers.

Analysis of the code showed it was written in Russian, and access to the hacked accounts is being sold by a user under the alias SantaAd. However, no direct evidence linking it to the Kremlin has been found.

⚡️ "To shoot down ballistic missiles, you need to have the means to do so," — Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat on why not a single ballistic missile was intercepted overnight.

According to Ihnat, there is currently a serious shortage of interceptor missiles in Ukraine and globally, and the Russians are taking advantage of this by launching more ballistic missiles.

He added that the result on cruise missiles this night was close to 100%, while the success rate against ballistic missiles was significantly lower.

Live: Ukraine

In Moscow, a Russian streamer waved at a Ministry of Internal Affairs patrol car, after which a security officer jumped out and detained him. After the arrest, the blogger reported that he had been "roughed up" with hands, feet, and struck with a stun...

https://t.me/liveukraine_media/41390

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 06/07/2026 12:56

Kyiv Independent:

️Update: General Staff, Brovdi confirm major strikes across occupied Ukraine, Crimea.

Ukraine’s General Staff and Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, confirmed the overnight operations on July 5, stating that Ukrainian forces successfully hit the Hvardiiske airfield, key logistics bridges, and 16 power stations across the occupied peninsula, triggering widespread blackouts.

⚡️Zelensky warns Russia preparing 'new massive strike' on Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia is preparing another large-scale attack against Ukraine, calling on allies to accelerate deliveries of Patriot air defense missiles.

⚡️Trump, Zelensky to meet on sidelines of NATO summit in Turkey, US official says.

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey as part of a renewed effort to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

⚡️Breaking: Explosions heard in Kyiv as Russia launches large-scale missile, drone attack.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv at 1:40 a.m. local time, according to a Kyiv Independent journalist on the ground, amid the Air Force's warning that dozens of missiles were reported approaching the Ukrainian capital.

⚡️More explosions, damage reported to residential infrastructure in Kyiv as Russia launches large-scale attack.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, reported that at least one building was partially destroyed between the 7th and 9th floors in the Podilskyi district of Kyiv, amid Russia's latest large-scale overnight attack.

No information has been immediately reported on any casualties sustained, although Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that residents are trapped in the damaged building.

⚡️Ukraine reportedly strikes Russian oil refinery in Yaroslavl.

Ukraine's military carried out an attack on the Russian city of Yaroslavl overnight on July 6, reportedly striking the city's oil refinery, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

⚡️Update: Death toll rises to 11 following Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv, region.

The number of people killed in Russia’s overnight missile and drone attack has risen to 11, local authorities reported on July 6, after emergency crews recovered more victims from the rubble of struck residential buildings.

At least 56 others have been reported injured across the capital and the surrounding region.

⚡️ UK intercepts Russian Bear-F aircraft after it buzzed carrier strike group in Norwegian Sea.

“This activity was unsafe and unprofessional,” a U.K. Defense Ministry spokesperson said.

⚡️ These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of July 6, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 61
DesdamonasHandkerchief · 06/07/2026 13:00

United 24 Media:

⚔️ Russia is trying to turn Pokrovsk into a major logistics hub for a future offensive on the Kramatorsk–Sloviansk agglomeration.

This was stated in a comment to NV by a Defense Forces officer fighting in the Pokrovsk direction.

According to the officer, instead of launching large-scale assaults, Russian forces are now concentrating personnel, equipment, command posts, and UAV crews in the city while continuing to infiltrate small infantry groups in the areas of Hryshyne, Rodynske, and north of Pokrovsk.

The Ukrainian military is focusing on disrupting Russian logistics. Drones that regularly destroy transport along the Selydove–Pokrovsk route, as well as missile strikes targeting supply routes in the enemy’s operational rear, have proven particularly effective.

Despite constant pressure, Russian forces have not achieved a major breakthrough in the Pokrovsk direction. According to the officer, the Defense Forces’ main objective is to prevent the enemy from turning Pokrovsk into a rear base and logistics hub for a further offensive.

🔹 “We assume that by 2029, Putin could be in a position to risk an attack—even a limited one—on NATO territory. Whether he will actually decide to do so is unknown,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in an interview with Bild.

According to Pistorius, the German military is now more combat-ready than it was four years ago.

Starting at the end of 2027, 4,800 German troops will be responsible for NATO’s defense in Lithuania, with most serving on a voluntary basis.

At the same time, he acknowledged shortages among enlisted personnel and specialists, saying that compulsory assignments to certain positions may be necessary in some cases. According to Pistorius, this would affect fewer than 1,000 people.

“Today, the priority is speeding up procurement and abandoning solutions with excessive specifications or unnecessary bells and whistles. One of the main problems now is that deliveries are not keeping pace with orders,” the minister added.

🤭 The Kremlin has complained that the so-called “special military operation” has turned into a “real war.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that the so-called “special military operation” had effectively become a “real war,” blaming Western support for Ukraine.

He claimed that Ukraine’s allies were assisting with weapons targeting and intelligence, including through satellites and other infrastructure.

Despite the Kremlin’s official insistence on describing the invasion as a “special military operation,” the use of the word “war” can result in criminal prosecution in Russia—even though senior Russian officials, including Peskov, periodically use the term themselves.

🔸 “The prospects have never been better than they are now,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said when commenting on the situation on the front in Ukraine.

“The situation has never looked as favorable as it does now. There is almost no movement on the battlefield. Sometimes a few kilometers in one direction, sometimes in the other, but always at an enormous cost to the Russian armed forces.

Most importantly, Ukraine is increasingly able to strike targets inside Russian territory, destroying oil refineries and military logistics,” the minister said in an interview with Bild.

In his view, continued funding for Ukraine remains critically important.

Asked about the possible delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, Pistorius said that “Kyiv does not need them right now,” arguing that Ukrainian drones are already effectively striking Russian oil refineries and logistics infrastructure.

🔹 “Our soldiers achieved good results today in intercepting drones and cruise missiles, but, unfortunately, not Russian ballistic missiles. The reason is the insufficient supply of interceptor missiles,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

“Kyiv came under a massive Russian attack overnight. Russia launched 68 missiles and another 351 attack drones. The consequences are still being dealt with. Damage has been recorded at more than 10 locations across the city, including residential buildings. All emergency services are on the ground, doing everything possible to save lives and provide assistance to everyone in need. As of now, 64 people, including two children, have been rescued. Sadly, 11 people have been confirmed killed in the attack. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Around 60 more people were injured.

In Kyiv region, 16 people were injured and three were killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. In Vyshneve, firefighters are continuing to battle a blaze at the site of the missile strike. Residents of the private sector are being evacuated. More than 400 rescuers and police officers are involved in the response.

Our soldiers performed well today in intercepting drones and cruise missiles, but, unfortunately, not Russian ballistic missiles. The reason is the insufficient supply of interceptor missiles. It is critically important that the world—primarily the United States and our European partners—emerge from the NATO summit in Ankara with strong decisions to strengthen our air defense and, therefore, protect the lives of ordinary people. As long as Patriot missiles remain in allies’ warehouses, they only encourage Russia to continue striking residential buildings. The United States and Europe have enough capability to stop this terror.”

❗️Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced talks to be held today with the defense ministers of countries that have Patriot missiles in stock.

“Russia is deliberately increasing the number of ballistic attacks, using missiles on a scale that was previously unprecedented and taking advantage of the acute shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles. Fewer Patriot missiles are produced worldwide each month than Russia launches against Ukraine over the same period,” the defense minister emphasized.

According to him, Ukraine has contracted and continues to contract Patriot missiles, with deliveries set to begin in 2027.

“Our appeal to partners is to transfer missiles from their stockpiles now and later replace them with missiles from our future deliveries. A simple decision by partners to temporarily allocate these missiles from their stockpiles will save many lives. We cannot allow bureaucratic delays to become a barrier to protecting human life,” Fedorov said.

❗️In Omsk, drones struck the Omsk Oil Refinery.

Located nearly 3,000 km from Ukraine’s state border, it processes about 5 million tons of gasoline annually and is Russia’s largest gasoline supplier.

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 06/07/2026 13:08

Kyiv Post:

⚡️ Ukrainian forces struck a Russian drone training base in Pokrovsk, eliminating 10 to 15 personnel and destroying key equipment, the 7th Air Assault Corps reported. One targeted site reportedly contained ammunition with toxic chemical substances.

⚡️ President Zelensky spoke with Emmanuel Macron to coordinate diplomatic tracks and pressure on Russia.

Zelensky stressed that "Europe's voice must matter" in peace efforts and discussed Ukraine's urgent need for additional air defense.

⚡️ Russia launched roughly 2,200 drones, 1,730 guided bombs, and 106 missiles at Ukraine in just one week, Volodymyr Zelensky reported. While air defenses intercept 90% of drones, the president urged partners for more anti-ballistic missiles.

⚡️ A political controversy has erupted in Poland over allegations that the government secretly transferred advanced Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition, local media reported.

⚡️ German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed the need to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles, arguing that Kyiv is already effectively striking targets deep inside Russia using its own long-range drones.

⚡️ “Entirely in Putin’s style” — Zelensky, citing intelligence reports, warned that Russia is preparing a new large-scale strike on Ukraine.

“It is entirely in Putin’s style — right after America’s Independence Day and ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara. Russia wants to add more evil and kill more people. Please stay safe and pay attention to air raid alerts.”

⚡️ Ukraine will NOT receive newly contracted Patriot missiles until next year, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said, urging partners to urgently provide interceptors from their existing stockpiles.

Russia is firing more ballistic missiles than the world produces Patriot interceptors over the same period, according to Fedorov.

Ukraine has already contracted new missiles and is asking allies to temporarily transfer interceptors from their stocks now, with replacements to be delivered later.

“Ukraine needs these missiles NOW — in Ukraine’s air defense system,” Fedorov said.

⚡️ The death toll from Russia’s overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv has risen to 17.

Rescue crews continue searching through the rubble of collapsed residential buildings, and officials warn the number of victims could still increase as recovery operations continue.

“Putin’s message to Ankara is simple: he is going to point ballistic missiles at sleeping children and continue the murder as long as he can,” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

⚡️ Ukraine has reached one of Russia’s most important energy targets.

For the first time, Ukrainian drones struck the Omsk Oil Refinery — Russia’s largest — more than 2,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, according to RBC-Ukraine.

⚡️ In June, Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign hit 11 Russian oil refineries, 8 defense industry facilities, 7 fuel logistics sites, space communications centers, ships, and ferries.

Ukrainian long-range strikes reached targets more than 2,000 km inside Russia, targeting the infrastructure that fuels Moscow’s war machine.

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