Ukraine Invasion: Part 61

[MagicFox]

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 🇺🇦

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I am busy on 17th and 18th but I can do the four usual ones on 19th if it helps, and depending on what time I get home on the Saturday I will look at them, although they may be late. If this helps.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Ukrainian industry group challenges Grossi’s assessment of staffing crisis at occupied nuclear plant.
In a letter dated July 10, the organization said it “cannot agree” with Grossi’s comments, arguing that they do not adequately reflect the scale of the risks created by the plant’s personnel shortage.

⚡️Ukraine’s PM to step down amid government reshuffle.
Yulia Svyrydenko, who replaced former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in July 2025, will now take on a new role leading cooperation with Ukraine’s key partners, Zelensky announced on social media.

⚡️'Expressly prohibited' — Ukraine's largest defense firm illegally stored weapons near civilian targets in Vyshneve, Zelensky says.
"There are designated locations in Ukraine for storing weapons and ammunition — all of which are specified to be located away from residential buildings," Zelensky said on July 11.
The storage of ammunitions in the Kyiv suburb of Vyshneve led to disaster on July 6, when the depots were struck by Russian missiles, triggering massive secondary detonations.

⚡️Lindsey Graham dies from illness after returning from Kyiv trip.

⚡️Update: Zelensky announces accelerated exhumations of Volyn massacre victims.
"Exhumation operations will begin in two days in the villages of Ostrivky and Volia Ostrovetska," Zelensky said on July 11, Poland's National Day of Remembrance for victims of the Volyn massacres.

⚡️Ukraine says it eliminated 14 more Russian shadow fleet vessels overnight.
Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces said that his team had destroyed 10 tankers and four ferries, bringing the total number of destroyed Russian shadow fleet vessels to 90 units this week alone.

⚡️Zelensky plans diplomatic changes amid air defense crisis.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 11 that he is preparing changes to Ukraine’s “diplomatic efforts” to accelerate weapons deliveries from allies, as Ukraine's stockpile of Patriot air defense missiles has run dry.

⚡️Commander of Ukraine's scandal-hit 155th brigade wanted for kidnapping, murder.
Stanislav Luchanov, commander of Ukraine's 155th "Anne of Kyiv" brigade, has been charged with the kidnapping and murder of two civilians in Kyiv Oblast. Several other brigade members have been detained in connection with the crime, the military said on July 11.

⚡️Ukraine's ambassador to Poland commemorates Volyn massacres as history unsettles Kyiv-Warsaw relations.
"It is our shared duty to honor the memory of each victim with dignity," the Ukrainian embassy said on July 11, Poland's National Day of Remembrance for victims of the Volyn massacres.

⚡️Key Russian oil refinery struck in Ukrainian attack.
Ukraine's military reportedly struck a major Russian oil refinery in the city of Syzran in Samara Oblast overnight on July 12, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

⚡️Zelensky urges energy sector to speed up winter preparedness.

The Ankara NATO Summit — A reality check on words and deeds
“European funding cannot substitute for U.S. production capacity or override Washington’s divergent priorities,” writes Nadiia Koval, Policy Fellow at the European Policy Institute in Kyiv (EPIK), in this op-ed.

German photo prize shortlists Kremlin media-linked photographer for occupied Mariupol series
A Russian photographer with ties to Kremlin-backed media has been shortlisted for one of Germany’s leading photography awards for his series on occupied Mariupol, raising concerns about how Russian narratives are reaching Western audiences through major cultural institutions.

⚡️Over 230,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation.
Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian service, has confirmed the identities of 230,624 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine.

⚡️Update: Russian attack on Sumy kills 5, injures 32.

⚡️Russia kills at least 5 people and injures 35 others in last 24 hours.
Overnight, Russian forces fired a total of 13 missiles and 115 drones across the country. Ukraine’s air defense downed or suppressed seven missiles and 95 drones, Ukraine's Air Force reported.

‪Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 7h
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — JUL 12, 2026
■ Engagements and casualties slightly below the 7-day average
■ Drone and land-based equipment losses above average
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: 7 of 13 missiles intercepted; 4 more failed; drone interception rate could be better
■ 🇷🇺 shelling slightly above avg; 20 🇺🇦 strikes reported and 300 🇺🇦 strike UAVs launched into 🇷🇺

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

❗️Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine must recognize the occupied territories as part of Russia for the war to end.

❗️Putin has a “window of opportunity” until September, after which he may be forced to significantly raise the stakes, according to The Independent.
Military analyst Robert Fox told the publication that the Kremlin appears to be aiming to achieve a turning point in the war within the next two months and is therefore acting increasingly aggressively, both against Ukraine and elsewhere.
According to the report, this includes increased Russian provocations involving NATO countries, heightened naval and intelligence activity in European waters, and intensified information campaigns targeting the Baltic states.
At the same time, The Independent notes that Russia is facing growing domestic challenges, including fuel shortages, as well as disruptions to communications and internet services.
Fox argues that if Russia fails to achieve its objectives by the autumn, the Kremlin could resort to more drastic measures, such as a new wave of large-scale mobilization, the introduction of full martial law, and an even broader transition to a wartime economy.
⛴️❌Russia has suspended shipping through the Don–Azov Canal, which connects the Don River with the Sea of Azov, following a Ukrainian attack on 13 Russian vessels, Reuters reported, citing three sources in Russia’s grain export industry.

🇪🇪Estonia plans to build a military camp for 200 permanent servicemembers in the border city of Narva, ERR reported.

🇺🇸🇺🇦U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham visited the production facilities of Ukrainian drone manufacturer SkyFall during his trip to Ukraine.
According to the company, Graham was shown the development and production of Vampire bomber drones, Shrike FPV drones, and P1-SUN interceptor drones.
The senator also toured the company’s latest developments and visited the SkyFall Academy, where drone pilots, technicians, and instructors are trained. [His last tour, sigh. RiP, Senator Graham]

Deeply saddened by the news of the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world a safer place, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine’s General Staff says an oil refinery, 10 tankers, four ferries, and other Russian military assets were hit.
▫️ Overnight on July 12, Ukrainian forces struck the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara region. Explosions and a fire were reported at the facility. The extent of the damage is still being assessed.
▫️ Ukrainian forces also struck 10 Russian tankers and four ferries in the Sea of Azov.
According to the General Staff, the tankers were used to transport Russian oil and petroleum products in circumvention of international sanctions, while the ferries supported Russian military logistics and cargo transportation.
▫️ On July 11, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian train carrying fuel and lubricants near Tokmak in the Zaporizhzhia region. A locomotive was damaged.
Updated battle damage assessments:
▫️ July 10, 2026 — Damage to the NOVATEK Ust-Luga oil processing complex in Slobodka, Russia’s Leningrad region, has been confirmed following a post-strike assessment, the General Staff said.

💥Germany will finance the purchase of 50,000 Ukrainian-made Shrike FPV drones, Reuters reported.
According to the agency, citing sources, the contract is worth €90 million, making it one of the largest publicly known drone procurements for Ukraine by a Western ally. Some of the drones have already been delivered, with the remainder expected to arrive by the end of the year.
The Shrike is a Ukrainian-developed FPV drone produced by SkyFall and equipped with the U.S.-made Auterion operating system. Using computer vision and artificial intelligence, the system enables the drone to automatically track and engage a moving target during the final phase of flight, even if communication with the operator is lost or disrupted by Russian electronic warfare.
According to the report, this significantly increases the likelihood of successfully hitting a target compared with conventional FPV drones.

❗️Temporarily occupied Crimea’s Dzhankoi district has been without electricity for the seventh consecutive day, while access to drinking water has become extremely limited, according to Refat Chubarov, chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.

🕯️Two people have died as a result of the Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia that took place the previous day. Rescuers recovered the body of a man from beneath the rubble. In total, 33 people were injured, according to the State Emergency Service.

❗️Russian forces struck port infrastructure in the Odesa region, killing two truck drivers and injuring two other people.
The attack also damaged a civilian cargo ship flying the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis, causing a fire to break out on board.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has nominated pro-Western businessman Vasile Tofan as the country's new prime minister.
Tofan now has 15 days to present his cabinet and governing program to parliament, focusing on accelerating Moldova’s EU integration.

Italian authorities dismantled a Russian GRU espionage network in Rome that targeted classified data on Western air defense systems provided to Ukraine
Italy has expelled two Russian military attachés following the arrests.

Poland is ready to assist Ukraine in modernizing MiG-29 fighter jets, provided Kyiv or allied nations cover all financial costs.
The offer is part of talks to exchange the jets for access to Ukrainian drone tech.

Authorities in Russia's Krasnodar region have ordered school teachers to monitor gas station queues during their summer break – under threat of dismissal.
Fuel rationing and odd/even day sales systems are rolling out across multiple regions.

Russia launched a coordinated aerial assault across Ukraine overnight, hitting industrial, food, and residential sites.
At least 3 people were killed in Kryvyi Rih factory and in Nikopol. Separate drone strikes in Kharkiv injured three civilians.

Romanian authorities have destroyed five unmanned naval vessels in the Black Sea, some rigged with explosives.
Defense Minister Radu Mîruță confirmed the operations, which occurred amid heightened maritime risks linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Australian Army has tested the German-made Vector AI reconnaissance drone during military exercises.
The platform's advanced AI software and electronic warfare resistance were directly refined through thousands of combat flight hours in Ukraine.

Russian drone strikes targeted emergency workers and transit in Kharkiv & Kherson regions.
A "Molniya" drone hit a fire station in Bohodukhiv, injuring 3 rescuers, while separate strikes in Kherson hit public transportation, wounding 6 civilians.

US Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch ally of Ukraine, passed away on Saturday evening following a brief and sudden illness.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇯🇵Russian spies are smuggling components from Japan for the Russian army, the NYT reports, citing sources.
This is because Japan has weak espionage laws and, at the same time, a strong technology sector. Russian spies, who were expelled from Western countries after the start of the full-scale invasion, are taking advantage of this.
Sources say that a GRU military intelligence unit — the so-called 20th Directorate — operates in Tokyo. Posing as diplomats or businessmen, the spies purchase or steal components, which are then shipped to Russia via third countries.
The GRU operation in Tokyo is run by 49-year-old Maxim Filchenkov, who operates under the cover of an employee of the Russian airline Aeroflot. Among other things, he is involved in sourcing equipment.
▪️According to Ukrainian authorities, approximately 90% of Russian missiles and drones contain Japanese components. Following a Russian strike on a residential building in Kyiv in May, investigators found a Japanese computer module in an Kh-101 missile that was banned for export to Russia.

[10-11 July 2026]
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian military training ground in the Donetsk region and drone control points in the Belgorod and Zaporizhzhia regions. Additionally, the General Staff detailed the results of previous attacks, including:
🔴Titan-Barrikady in Volgograd — the June 27 strike on the facility, which manufactures artillery and missile equipment, caused $105 million in damage.
🔴Oil terminal in St. Petersburg — the July 4 strike damaged eight different tanks, a technological pipeline trestle, and other equipment.
🔴 Slavneft-YANOS refinery in Yaroslavl — during the July 6 attack, Ukrainian forces struck the AVT-6 unit and damaged pipelines of two other units.
🔴Borisoglebsk airfield in Voronezh region — the attack took place on July 8. It caused 28 tanks with aviation kerosene, totaling 1,600 m³, to catch fire.
🔴TAIF-NK refinery in Nizhnekamsk (Tatarstan) — on July 8, Ukrainian forces struck a delayed coking unit, which caught fire. Cable trestles, pipelines, and technical buildings were also damaged.
🔴Ilsky Oil Refinery in Krasnodar Krai — yesterday's attack caused two oil processing units to catch fire. Pipelines were also damaged.

🇵🇱Polish President Karol Nawrocki has called for a legislative ban on the red-and-black UPA flag in Poland, claiming that these colors embody "the entire ideology of the Ukrainian nationalist."
At an event commemorating the victims of the Volhynia tragedy, he stated that he would do everything "to ensure this flag is not present in Poland."

Too much for me to summarise properly, but this article is .

'I'm dying laughing' - what leaked messages tell us about global hacking gang
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9lz8zp04po

Basically a prolific ransomware gang called Conti was behind serious worldwide hacks of large companies and institutions, including local councils and hospitals (they locked Ireland's hospitals and healthcare system out of its computers during Covid).

Conti was mostly composed of Russians and the boss was a Russian named Vitaly Nikolayevich Kovalev aka Stern, but the gang also had members from other countries including Ukraine.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, a message briefly appeared on Conti's dark web site pledging allegiance to Russia, triggering a massive rift: two days later, a member of Conti leaked more than 300,000 of its secret communications .

It was a jaw-dropping day for Joe Wrieden, a cyber threat intelligence leader for UK security firm Cyjax.
[...]
"Finally," Joe says, "we get almost that full understanding of what's been going on for years in one of the most notable groups in the ransomware space."

The trove contains extraordinary stuff.

Like what happened when Conti ransomed the international jeweller Graff and leaked Graff's customers' personal data. They included Beckham, Trump, etc. But stunningly the leaking of Gulf royal families' personal data triggered messages like:

"They'll find you and that's it [...] You're gone."
[...]
"You just have to understand the line," one said, adding: "The ruling families are a friend."
In a highly unusual move, the gang released an apology, saying: "Any information pertaining to members of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar families will be deleted without any exposure and review."

Worth reading the whole article, because I really can't do it justice. It's all .

That Conti article is just bizarre @PerkingFaintly . What a bunch of low lifes.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-12-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukrainian forces have struck 90 Russian oil tankers in the Sea of Azov since July 6 as part of their intensified campaign to isolate occupied Crimea.
2. Ukraine’s successful long- and intermediate-range strike campaigns continue to fuel Russian milblogger concerns about Russia’s inadequate air defense capabilities and the Kremlin’s poor decision-making that have left Russia and occupied Ukraine vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced forthcoming changes to the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, including the reassignment of the current prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko.
4. Russian forces launched nine Kh-59/69 guided cruise missiles, four Kh-31 anti-radar missiles, and 115 drones against Ukraine overnight.
5. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.

Is it true that the "state of the art" Skyfall drone factory which the late Senator Lindsey Graham visited has since been destroyed by Russian Missiles hours after his visit?