Key developments on July 4:
- 'Nothing however terror and homicide' — Russia kilos Kyiv with file in a single day drone, missile assault, 1 lifeless, 26 injured
- Zelensky, Trump talk about air protection, joint drone manufacturing amid Russian strikes
- 'There’s additionally excellent news' — Ukrainian drones hit key navy optics plant in Russia, Normal Employees confirms
- Russia intensifying use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, Dutch intelligence studies
- Ukraine, Denmark signal deal to launch Ukrainian navy manufacturing on Danish soil
- Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW trade
Explosions rocked the town of Kyiv for greater than seven hours in a single day on July 4, as Russia launched a file missile and drone assault concentrating on the capital and different cities throughout Ukraine.
At the least one individual was killed, and 26 others have been injured in Kyiv, the State Emergency Service reported.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated 14 folks had been hospitalized, whereas Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Metropolis Navy Administration, within the afternoon confirmed a physique had been discovered throughout rescue operations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Russia launched a file 550 drones and missiles in the course of the seven-hour barrage. Kyiv Impartial journalists on the bottom heard a number of rounds of explosions within the metropolis starting round 8 p.m. native time on July 3 and persevering with into the early hours of July 4
The assault broken condominium buildings, companies, a faculty, a medical facility, railway strains, and different civilian infrastructure in a number of districts. Fires blazed throughout the town, making the air harmful to breathe.
"Russia, a terrorist nation, has wreaked havoc," Tkachenko wrote on Telegram. "The Russians carry nothing however terror and homicide. That could be a truth."
Ukraine's Air Power reported that Russia had launched a ballistic missile in direction of Kyiv at round 12:30 a.m., after which extra missiles round 2:30 a.m.
As officers reported real-time updates on injury and casualties amid the continued assault, Kyiv Impartial reporters within the metropolis stated that smoke from explosions clogged the air even in neighborhoods removed from the assault websites.
"The primary air raids in our cities and areas started yesterday, virtually concurrently with the beginning of media discussions of President Trump's cellphone name with Putin," Zelensky stated in a put up on social media on July 4.
"This was one of many largest-scale air assaults — intentionally huge and cynical… Russia is as soon as once more demonstrating that it isn’t going to finish the struggle and terror."
Polish International Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that the consular part of Poland's embassy in Kyiv was broken throughout Russia's assault on Kyiv. "I simply spoke with Ambassador (Piotr) Lukasiewicz; everyone seems to be protected and unhurt," Sikorski stated.
He added that Ukraine urgently wants air protection programs.
Russia additionally focused different areas of Ukraine with in a single day assaults. Downed drones struck property and a automobile within the metropolis of Poltava, regional Governor Volodymyr Kohut reported. The strike injured two folks.
Kyiv and different main Ukrainian cities have confronted intensified drone and missile strikes in current weeks, with Russia deploying Iranian-designed Shahed drones in file numbers.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna HodunovaZelensky, Trump talk about air protection, joint drone manufacturing amid Russian strikes
President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump held a cellphone dialog on July 4, agreeing to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses, Zelensky introduced on Telegram.
The decision got here as Russia escalated its aerial marketing campaign throughout Ukraine.
"At present we mentioned the scenario: Russian air strikes and, extra broadly, the scenario on the entrance strains. President Trump may be very effectively knowledgeable," Zelensky stated.
"We mentioned air protection choices and agreed to work on rising airspace safety. We agreed on a gathering between our groups."
Zelensky stated the 2 leaders additionally mentioned Ukraine's protection trade potential and explored prospects for direct cooperation with U.S. companions.
"We’re prepared for direct tasks with America and imagine that that is extraordinarily needed for safety, particularly with regard to drones and associated applied sciences," he added.
Trump advised Zelensky that the U.S. is prepared to help Ukraine with air protection amid intensified Russian strikes, Axios reported, citing unnamed sources. The decision between the 2 presidents reportedly lasted about 40 minutes.
This dialog adopted a cellphone name between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 3, throughout which the Kremlin stated Putin reaffirmed that "Russia will proceed to pursue its targets" in its struggle towards Ukraine regardless of U.S. requires a ceasefire.
Trump advised reporters on July 3 that he was "very upset" by the dialog with Putin.
"I don't suppose he's there… I don't suppose he's trying to cease this preventing."
The decision additionally adopted the U.S. Protection Division's resolution to pause shipments of key weapons programs to Ukraine, together with Patriot missiles and precision-guided artillery rounds. Kyiv has warned that the delay threatens to weaken its air defenses and emboldens Moscow.
Regardless of repeated expressions of frustration about Russia's continued aggression, Trump's administration has but to impose new sanctions or approve extra support for Ukraine since taking workplace in January.
Whereas Russia and Ukraine resumed direct talks in Istanbul this yr, the 2 rounds of negotiations — on Might 16 and June 2 — have yielded solely prisoner exchanges and no progress towards a ceasefire.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
'There's additionally excellent news' — Ukrainian drones hit key navy optics plant in Russia, Normal Employees confirms
Drones struck a number of targets in Russia in a single day on July 4, together with a high-value protection facility within the southern Rostov Oblast, based on Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation middle at Ukraine's Nationwide Safety and Protection Council.
Kovalenko stated a drone hit the Azov Optical and Mechanical Plant within the city of Azov, Rostov Oblast. The power reportedly manufactures essential elements for the Russian navy, together with sights, rangefinders, thermal imaging programs, and fireplace management tools for tanks, infantry preventing automobiles, ships, and plane.
"Regardless of the tough evening, there’s additionally excellent news. There have been assaults on services in Russia, notably in Moscow and Rostov oblasts," Kovalenko wrote. "That is the place the 'eyes' for Russian armored automobiles are assembled."
In a single day on July 4, Russia launched a large drone and missile assault on a number of Ukrainian cities, with Kyiv as the first goal. At the least 23 folks have been injured within the capital amid widespread destruction and excessive ranges of air air pollution.
Ukraine's Normal Employees later confirmed that its drone models struck the Scientific Analysis Institute of Utilized Chemistry (FNTs NIIPKh) in Sergiyev Posad, Moscow Oblast.
The navy stated the power is concerned within the manufacturing of thermobaric warheads for Shahed-type drones and performs a essential function in Russia's airstrike capabilities.
Russia's Protection Ministry later claimed that air protection programs had intercepted or destroyed 48 Ukrainian drones in a single day. In response to the ministry, 26 have been downed over Rostov Oblast, 12 over Kursk Oblast, six over Belgorod Oblast, three over Oryol Oblast, and one over Lipetsk Oblast.
The Kyiv Impartial couldn’t independently confirm these claims.
The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
Russia intensifying use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, Dutch intelligence studies
Russia is escalating using chemical weapons towards Ukrainian forces, the Netherlands Navy Intelligence (MIVD) reported on July 4.
Russian troops use banned chemical brokers as psychological warfare to panic Ukrainian forces, forcing troopers from dugouts and trenches with fuel grenades dropped by drones, making them straightforward targets for subsequent drone or artillery assaults.
In response to MIVD report, it was beforehand recognized that Russia used tear fuel, however now intelligence has confirmed using chloropicrin — a substance that may kill in excessive concentrations in enclosed areas.
Use of of chloropicrin, banned beneath worldwide regulation, was found by the Netherlands Navy Intelligence and Safety Service (MIVD) and Normal Intelligence and Safety Service (AIVD) along with the German overseas intelligence service BND.
The Kyiv Impartial beforehand reported rising chemical assaults, however Ukraine couldn’t precisely determine the chemical substances resulting from lack of apparatus.
The U.S. State Division had already reported in Might that Russian forces have used the chemical agent chloropicrin in Ukraine. The Might 1 announcement was half of a bigger assertion concerning the introduction of recent U.S. sanctions towards greater than 280 people and entities.
For now, the unique assertion has been faraway from the U.S. State Division web site.
Russia is utilizing one of these weapon extra often and "with ease," says MIVD Director Vice Admiral Peter Reesink.
Dutch Protection Minister Ruben Brekelmans, who introduced the information to the Dutch parliament, known as the scenario "completely unacceptable," calling for "extra sanctions, isolation of Russia and unwavering navy help for Ukraine."
"We’re making this public now as a result of Russia's use of chemical weapons should not develop into normalized," Brekelmans stated. "If the brink for utilizing one of these weapon is lowered, it’s harmful not just for Ukraine but additionally for the remainder of Europe and the world."
For the reason that begin of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has performed over 9,000 chemical assaults. At the least three Ukrainian troopers have died straight from publicity to poisonous substances, based on Ukraine's Protection Ministry.
Dutch intelligence has established that Russian navy management actively facilitates chemical assaults, and using banned substances has develop into customary follow for Russian forces.
Moscow can be rising investments in chemical weapons packages, increasing analysis, and recruiting new scientists, MIVD and AIVD observe.
The U.S. has accused Russia of deploying chloropicrin, typically utilized in agriculture and extensively weaponized as a "vomiting agent" throughout World Warfare I.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
Ukraine, Denmark signal deal to launch Ukrainian navy manufacturing on Danish soil
Kyiv and Copenhagen signed a landmark settlement on July 4 that permits Ukrainian protection corporations to open manufacturing services in Denmark, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin introduced.
"This can be a distinctive case of worldwide cooperation for the Ukrainian protection trade," Smetanin wrote on Fb, following the signing ceremony in Copenhagen alongside Danish Trade Minister Morten Bodskov.
The deal marks the primary time Ukrainian protection applied sciences will likely be exported overseas particularly for provide to Ukraine's personal Armed Forces, he stated.
A yr in the past, Denmark turned the primary nation to fund weapons manufacturing by Ukrainian producers. Now, it has develop into the primary to host Ukrainian arms manufacturing strains on its territory, Smetanin added.
"At present, it has develop into the primary nation to which Ukraine exports its personal protection applied sciences for manufacturing, scaling, and provide to the Ukrainian military," he stated.
The settlement is a part of Ukraine's broader effort to internationalize its protection manufacturing. President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced on June 21 that Kyiv would quickly start exporting protection applied sciences and opening weapons manufacturing strains in companion international locations.
To scale up home and worldwide manufacturing, Zelensky has known as on overseas companions to finance new tasks and match Ukraine's quickly rising manufacturing capability.
Denmark has been a key backer of Ukraine for the reason that begin of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. In February 2024, Copenhagen signed a 10-year bilateral safety settlement with Kyiv, pledging long-term protection cooperation till Ukraine secures NATO membership.
The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir
Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW trade
A brand new prisoner of struggle (POW) trade with Russia has taken place, bringing house one other group of Ukrainian troopers held in Russian captivity, many since 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on July 4.
"Our individuals are house. Most of them had been in Russian captivity since 2022," Zelensky stated in a press release.
In response to Ukraine's Land Forces, the group contains prisoners categorized as "wounded and significantly sick," these "beneath the age of 25," and civilians.
The trade follows 5 swaps that occurred in June beneath the Istanbul deal reached between Ukraine and Russia on June 2. The settlement supplied for the common launch of severely sick and wounded POWs from either side, in addition to the repatriation of the our bodies of fallen troopers.
Earlier swaps have introduced house service members from the Armed Forces, Nationwide Guard, and State Border Guard Service, lots of whom have been captured in 2022 in the course of the begin of Russia's full-scale invasion.
"Exchanges should proceed, and I thank everybody who makes this doable," Zelensky stated. "Ukraine's purpose is to free all our folks from Russian captivity. I thank everybody who helps make that occur."
Russia'sDefense Ministry confirmed the trade on July 4, with out disclosing the variety of troopers returned.
Earlier exchanges have centered on people with critical medical wants ensuing from accidents and harsh situations in captivity. Some beforehand launched prisoners had defended Mariupol in the course of the 2022 siege, whereas others fought in areas together with Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Kyiv oblasts.
The Istanbul settlement adopted months of stalled negotiations and was hailed as a humanitarian breakthrough regardless of the dearth of broader political progress.
Ukraine continues to advocate for a full-scale "all-for-all" trade, a proposal that Russia has up to now rejected. Nonetheless, either side have carried out smaller, phased swaps, generally a number of in a single week.
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