Category: War in Ukraine

Russian authorities are planning to start gasoline extraction from the Sea of Azov, citing Soviet-era geological knowledge and figuring out 22 potential offshore fields, together with a number of situated close to the occupied Ukrainian metropolis of Berdiansk, Ukrainian officers advised Suspilne on July 1.

In keeping with the Berdiansk Municipal Army Administration, Russia's Federal Subsoil Assets Company (Rosnedra) has introduced plans to discover and presumably develop gasoline fields such because the Morske, Pivnichno-Kazantypske, and Skhidno-Kazantypske deposits.

"(Russia) has declared business reserves of gasoline within the Sea of Azov, referring to Soviet archives itemizing 22 oil and gasoline buildings," Ksenia Kleshchenko, performing head of communications for the Berdiansk administration, advised Suspilne.

"These embrace the Morske area, found in 1977 (and nonetheless below conservation). It’s essential to conduct additional exploration and pilot operation."

Kleshchenko famous that the Pivnichno-Kazantypske and Skhidno-Kazantypske fields have been found within the late Nineties and early 2000s throughout Ukraine's independence, however haven’t been developed. Ukrainian firm Chornomornaftogaz had carried out surveys on the Pivnichno-Kazantypske and Strilkove websites earlier than Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and seized Ukrainian offshore property.

Ukrainian authorities say the Kremlin's curiosity in mineral assets might have partially motivated the occupation of southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, together with Berdiansk.

"The entire (Russia's) 'plans' are targeted on enriching themselves and the Russian Federation, however not on the welfare of the residents of the occupied territories," the Berdiansk administration mentioned in an announcement. "Whereas residents of Berdiansk face fixed water and electrical energy outages, (Russian authorities) are laying grand schemes to use the area’s assets."

The administration additionally warned of potential environmental penalties. As a result of shallow common depth of the Sea of Azov, round 14 meters (about 46 toes), any extraction may trigger critical ecological harm. The exploratory work is reportedly deliberate for 2026–2030.

Russia's curiosity in resource-rich territories extends past the Sea of Azov. In June, Russian forces took management of a significant lithium deposit close to the village of Shevchenko in Donetsk Oblast, one in every of Ukraine's most beneficial websites for the mineral utilized in electrical automobile batteries.

Ukraine has now misplaced two of its 4 recognized lithium deposits to Russian occupation, together with the Kruta Balka deposit in Zaporizhzhia. In keeping with the Kyiv Faculty of Economics, Ukraine holds about one-third of the European Union's lithium reserves.

Russia seizes Ukraine’s most valuable lithium deposits, but US minerals deal not at risk, investor saysRussian troops have taken over the site of one of Ukraine’s most valuable lithium deposits near the village of Shevchenko, Donetsk Oblast, as Russia ramps up its summer offensive. While Ukrainian troops control territories near the site, the deposit is now under Russian occupation, Roman Pohorilyi, founder of open-sourceThe Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Is there an actual risk toDnipro: Budanov voiced the reply<p>Chief of the Fundamental Intelligence Directorate Kyrylo Budanov reported that Dnipro is threatened solely by missile and drone assaults, rejecting the potential of each day use of 400-500 Shahed drones. At present, the village of Dachne stays below the management of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.</p>

A minimum of two civilians had been killed and 33 had been injured in Russian assaults towards Ukraine over the previous 24 hours, in line with native governors.

Ukraine's Air Drive stated Russia launched 114 Shahed-type and decoy drones in a single day from a number of instructions, in addition to 4 S-300 missiles. Air defenses shot down 40 drones, whereas 39 disappeared from radars or had been intercepted by digital warfare.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces shelled a hospital in Kherson metropolis late on July 1, injuring eight individuals, together with sufferers and medical employees, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin stated.

Two different individuals had been injured elsewhere within the area over the previous day. Assaults broken residential buildings, a farm, a enterprise, and autos throughout greater than 30 settlements.

In Kharkiv Oblast, 4 individuals had been injured in assaults on Kharkiv metropolis and 6 different communities, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Russian forces used guided aerial bombs, numerous drones, and artillery. Civilian infrastructure, together with homes, a transport cease, an emergency medical facility, and companies, was broken or destroyed.

In Donetsk Oblast, two civilians had been killed and 10 others injured by Russian assaults on July 1, in line with Governor Vadym Filashkin. Within the metropolis of Sloviansk, a mail terminal operated by Nova Poshta, Ukraine’s largest postal service, was destroyed. No workers had been injured, in line with an official assertion.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, 5 individuals had been injured, 4 of whom had been hospitalized, after a drone strike on Nikopol, Governor Serhii Lysak stated.

Russian assaults broken a personal enterprise in Kryvyi Rih and a farm within the Samar district. Fires had been reported in each places. Drone and artillery strikes additionally hit residential and infrastructure targets in Nikopol and Pokrovske communities.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, 4 civilians had been injured in Russian assaults on Vasylivka and Polohy districts, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported. Over the day, Russian forces launched 376 strikes throughout 14 settlements, utilizing plane, drones, a number of rocket launchers, and artillery.

Why Norway is investing billions in Ukraine’s victoryThe Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sat down with Eivind Vad Petersson, state secretary to the Norwegian foreign minister and co-chair of the joint Norwegian-Ukrainian Working Group on Nuclear Safety and Security.The Kyiv IndependentOleksiy Sorokin

"Nova Poshta" terminal in Sloviansk hit by Russia – CMA<p>In a single day, Sloviansk was attacked by UAVs, hitting a "Nova Poshta" terminal. One other hit was recorded, with no casualties.</p>

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on July 1 that the choice to provide Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine stays into account however burdened that Germany won’t change into a celebration to the struggle.

"It has at all times been clear that if we provide the Taurus, this weapon shall be used not by German troopers, however by Ukrainians," Merz instructed Tagesschau. "By the best way, the identical applies to different cruise missiles provided by the UK or France."

The Taurus is a robust cruise missile able to putting targets at a distance of 500 kilometers (300 miles) — a larger vary than the long-range weapons Ukraine has acquired from different companions.

Talking to the outlet, Merz highlighted the complexity of the Taurus system, noting that it requires intensive coaching earlier than Ukrainian forces can function it. By way of vary, velocity, and payload, the Taurus missile is just like the Storm Shadow, which is produced by MBDA’s French division. The important thing distinction lies within the warhead design — Taurus could be programmed to detonate after penetrating fortified targets, similar to bunkers or strengthened amenities.

“The issue for us is that this technique is extraordinarily advanced, and coaching troopers on it takes a minimum of six months. Are they already being educated? We haven't agreed on that but,” he stated. “I mentioned this with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, and I additionally raised it inside the coalition. We haven’t began but. It’s and stays an choice.”

The chancellor additionally added that Germany would not publicly disclose particulars about its navy help to Ukraine with a purpose to stop Moscow from assessing the complete scope of Western help.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has supplied Kyiv with roughly 47.8 billion euros (about $51.8 billion) in complete bilateral help, making it Ukraine’s second-largest nation donor. This assist contains navy gear, humanitarian help, help for refugees, infrastructure restore, and monetary assist for power and winter aid, with navy help alone totaling round 28 billion euros ($30 billion).

Ukraine to exit mine ban treaty, citing war demands, realities on the groundUkraine looks to withdraw from a major international treaty on anti-personnel landmines to bolster its defense on the battlefield, where its troops are trying to hold off Russia’s intensifying offensive. President Volodymyr Zelensky, on June 29, had requested that Ukraine withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Treaty that banned the productionThe Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Russian military shelled a hospital in Kherson with artillery: 8 individuals injured (picture)<p>Russians attacked a hospital in Kherson, because of which 5 sufferers and three nurses have been injured. The constructing of the healthcare facility was destroyed.</p>

A Russian missile assault killed the commander of the a hundred and tenth Separate Mechanized Brigade, Serhii Zakharevych, and injured 30 individuals in Huliaipole in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on July 1, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his night tackle.

The Russian military struck the Kamianske district, the place the village of Huliaipole is situated, within the morning on July 1, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Huliaipole, with a pre-war inhabitants of round 1,200, lies within the western a part of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, roughly 70 kilometers (40 miles) from the entrance line.

"We will certainly reply to the Russians for this assault," Zelensky stated, including that the investigation into the Russian assault is at present underway and he’s ready for a report from the navy command.

Zakharevych graduated from the Odesa Institute of the Floor Forces. After commencement, he led a platoon in a reconnaissance firm of the thirtieth Separate Mechanized Brigade and the first Tank Brigade.

In February 2025, he was appointed commander of the a hundred and tenth Separate Mechanized Brigade. Previous to that, he served as deputy commander of the thirty third Mechanized Brigade.

Zakharevych was concerned in making ready three qualification programs for the Ukrainian Particular Forces and headed the forty seventh Particular Forces detachment. He participated in a number of fight missions on the entrance.

"Our military has misplaced one other consultant of a brand new technology of Ukrainian officers who grew up in fight and have become fashions of braveness and proactive navy management," the Normal Workers's assertion learn.

Ukraine’s new interceptor UAVs are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the skyRussia’s Shahed drone swarms are pummeling Ukraine on a nightly basis, inflicting ever more death and destruction in cities that had managed to carve out some sense of normalcy amid wartime. Civilian alarm has grown. With traditional air defense stockpiles running low, the government is banking on newly createdThe Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Kharkiv area attacked by Russian UAVs: there’s a useless particular person, an injured particular person, fires broke out<p>On Wednesday, July 2, within the Kharkiv area, because of an assault by Russian "Geran-2" kind drones, fires had been recorded at agricultural enterprises within the Kupiansk district. One particular person died, one was injured.</p>

Ukraine appears to withdraw from a significant worldwide treaty on anti-personnel landmines to bolster its protection on the battlefield, the place its troops are attempting to carry off Russia's intensifying offensive.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, on June 29, had requested that Ukraine withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Treaty that banned the manufacturing and use of indiscriminate anti-personnel mines. Although acknowledging the "complexities" that Ukraine might face in exiting such a treaty throughout warfare, he pressured that these explosives are an irreplaceable device in defending the nation.

"Russia has by no means been a celebration to this treaty and makes use of anti-personnel mines with excessive cynicism," Zelensky mentioned in his handle afterward.

Anti-personnel mines are extremely controversial explosive units that may be set off by small strain, posing a grave long-term risk to civilians. Often buried or hid on the bottom, they’re utilized in warfare to incapacitate or kill the foe's personnel.

Kyiv's transfer to withdraw the Ottawa Treaty follows the same motion from nations neighboring Russia, comparable to Finland, the Baltic states, and Poland, who’ve introduced their intention to withdraw or have already exited the treaty.

Worldwide observers comparable to Human Rights Watch are scrutinizing Ukraine's choice to withdraw from the treaty, which the war-torn nation signed in 2005, 17 years earlier than the beginning of the all-out warfare.

"Provided that Ukraine is within the midst of a warfare, it is a symbolic transfer aimed toward giving Ukraine political cowl to flagrantly violate long-standing prohibitions on growing, producing, and utilizing anti-personnel mines," mentioned Mary Wareham, deputy director of the Disaster, Battle and Arms Division at Human Rights Watch.

"It is crucial for Ukraine, particularly in solidarity with the Baltic and Jap European nations, which perceive the threats from Russia."

Citing Article 20 of the Ottawa Treaty, Human Rights Watch pressured that it takes half a 12 months after the state submits a discover to the United Nations for the withdrawals to return into impact, and that it isn’t allowed to exit the treaty if the state continues to be in an armed battle on the finish of that interval.

"Bringing again anti-personnel mines is a alternative that dangers inflicting much more struggling and casualties, over the brief and long run," Wareham instructed the Kyiv Impartial.

Refraining from commenting on "who lays what the place" and the switch of weapons between nations, U.Ok.-based demining nonprofit HALO Belief pressured that the treaty has been "instrumental in saving thousands and thousands of individuals's lives."

Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko, who has pushed authorities establishments to withdraw from the treaty for the previous six months, mentioned the parliament would contemplate the exit from the treaty in mid-July. He doesn't anticipate there to be an impediment to attaining parliamentary approval regardless of the preliminary hesitation within the earlier months.

"It is crucial for Ukraine, particularly in solidarity with the Baltic and Jap European nations, which perceive the threats from Russia," Kostenko instructed the Kyiv Impartial.

Opposite to Human Rights Watch, Kostenko mentioned that he believes Ukraine can use the Vienna Conference on the Legislation of Treaties, which permits a rustic to withdraw from worldwide agreements if circumstances change, as it’s Russia that attacked Ukraine in 2014 and 2022.

Anti-personnel mines in warfare

Navy consultants mentioned that anti-personnel mines, usually fired from artillery methods or planted by sappers mechanically, assist Ukraine inflict casualties on advancing Russian troops from afar. Already utilized in fight regardless of the treaty, the anti-personnel mines have made it tougher for Russian troops to method, particularly well-protected positions.

Ruslan Gorbenko, a lawmaker from the ruling Servant of the Individuals who often travels to the war-torn east and retains in contact with the army, confirmed that Ukraine already makes use of anti-personnel mines as a needed measure to defend towards advancing Russian troops that additionally use them.

Gorbenko instructed the Kyiv Impartial that Ukraine's transfer to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty is "a logical choice on the official degree," exempting Ukraine from the worldwide obligations it has undertaken throughout peacetime.

Russia has by no means proven an intention to signal or abide by the treaty, making the banning of such weapons throughout the present warfare extremely unlikely.

Whereas Kostenko, secretary of the parliament's committee on nationwide safety, protection and intelligence, mentioned he couldn’t affirm Ukraine's utilization of the small landmines, he mentioned that it might enable Ukraine to formally produce the anti-personnel mines and to obtain them from non-signatory nations, such because the U.S.

The Biden administration in 2024 accepted the switch of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine in a shock transfer to assist the nation stand up to an more and more powerful scenario on the entrance.

Kostenko mentioned that anti-personnel mines would assist Ukraine enhance fortification, along with engineering obstacles, making it tougher for Russian troops to method Ukrainian positions.

Serhiy Hrabskyi, a retired Ukrainian colonel and army analyst, mentioned anti-personnel mines are "purely defensive weapons" which might be "critically harmful for everybody" however needed to assist outnumbered Kyiv's troops grind down overwhelming Russian manpower.

"It’s troublesome to cease the enemy otherwise," Hrabskyi instructed the Kyiv Impartial, stressing that Ukraine has no alternative however to mine its personal territory.

Russian troops have struggled to launch an offensive in some areas of Donetsk Oblast, such because the southern half between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka, regardless of the "large troop utilization," due to the landmines, together with anti-personnel mines launched from a distance, based on Hrabskyi.

Ukraine's want for a big amount of anti-personnel mines turned clear when Russia switched its ways and commenced relying closely on direct prices, based on Serhiy Kuzan, co-founder and chairman of the native assume tank Ukrainian Safety and Cooperation Middle.

Kuzan instructed the Kyiv Impartial that he believes the official withdrawal wouldn’t have an effect on the scenario on the entrance in any method, since it’s extra of a diplomatic transfer reasonably than a sensible one.

With Western capitals exhibiting no pushback to the choice, worldwide humanitarian organizations stay cautious.

The Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross (ICRC) mentioned it was "deeply involved" by any steps that would improve the utilization of anti-personnel mines, stressing that they’ve brought about "horrible struggling for civilians all around the world."

"We name on all nations to remain dedicated to a world with out anti-personnel mines and to maintain strengthening the principles that defend folks throughout warfare," Pat Griffiths, ICRC spokesperson in Ukraine, instructed the Kyiv Impartial.

Not tied to Ukraine's withdrawal, Russia, nevertheless, has by no means proven an intention to signal or abide by the treaty, making the banning of such weapons throughout the present warfare extremely unlikely.

‘Talk about an invasion is everywhere’ — How Lithuania is preparing for war with RussiaThroughout Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, repeated and escalating warnings of the potential for a wider war have only raised fears in the Baltic states that they could be next in the crosshairs of the Kremlin. Talk about a potential Russian invasion is “very common at parties, gatherings, lunch breaks,The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

Russians attacked Izmail district: port and vacationer infrastructure broken<p>On the evening of July 2, Russian troops attacked the Izmail district of Odesa area with kamikaze drones, damaging port and vacationer infrastructure. There have been no casualties.</p>