Russia-Ukraine war updates: Drone attacks on Moscow and Crimea ‘thwarted’
These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Sunday, July 30.
This blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates for the Russia-Ukraine war on Sunday, July 30.
This blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates for the Russia-Ukraine war on Sunday, July 30.
- Four African heads of state have attended Russia’s annual Navy Day event in St Petersburg.
- Fatalities have been reported in the Ukrainian cities of Sumy and Zaporizhzhia after they were struck by Russian missiles overnight.
- Russian forces have intercepted three Ukrainian drones over the city of Moscow, the country’s defence ministry said, condemning what it called an “attempted terrorist attack”. TASS news agency earlier reported that one person was injured.
- The Russian defence ministry also claims to have downed 25 drones headed for Crimea overnight.
Zelenskyy expects Russia to resume attacks on Ukraine’s power grid
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he expects Russia to resume its attacks on Ukraine’s energy system once cold weather returns later this year.
“It is obvious that this autumn and … in the winter the enemy will try to repeat the terror against the Ukrainian energy industry. We should be ready for this in any case,” Zelenskyy told senior government, security, and regional officials.
“At the government and security level, we will do everything possible.”
Nearly 40 percent of the Ukrainian energy system was damaged in Russian missile and drone attacks over the past winter, which plunged Ukrainian cities into darkness and cold in what Kyiv called a deliberate strategy to harm civilians. Moscow says it launched the attacks to reduce Ukraine’s ability to fight.
Zelenskyy says ‘war’ coming to Russia after Moscow drone attack
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy has warned that “war” is coming to Russia after three Ukrainian drones were downed over Moscow.
“Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia – to its symbolic centres and military bases, and this is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process,” Zelenskyy said on a visit to the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk.
“Ukraine is getting stronger,” he said.
Drones over Moscow brought down by electronic means: AJ correspondent
Al Jazeera’s Daniel Hawkins said at least two of the three drones that had targeted Moscow were shot down by electronic means.
“That implies that these drones didn’t reach their targets,” Hawkins said, speaking from Moscow.
The third drone was shot down just outside of Moscow in the region of Odintsova, about a 40-minute drive to the west of the city’s outskirts, he continued, indicating that the attack came somewhere from that region of Russia, if not beyond.
“We don’t know what exactly these drones were targeting,” Hawkins said, pointing out that there are many high-profile government and commercial buildings in the city.
Had this attack taken place on a weekday, the casualty numbers would have been much higher, he added, due to Moscow’s vibrancy that has led the city’s residents to describe it as a “human anthill”.
Putin announces 30 new warships for Russian navy
The Russian navy is to receive 30 new warships this year, President Vladimir Putin announced during the annual Navy Day parade in St Petersburg.
“Russia is today implementing the tasks of its national naval policy and is resolutely expanding the power of its fleet,” Putin told the parade, a show of naval might traditionally held in St Petersburg and nearby Kronstadt on the last Sunday of July.
Ukraine prepares for possible wintertime attacks on energy infrastructure
Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Ivano-Frankivsk as Ukraine prepares for the potential of Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure during wintertime.
“This is a very important meeting right now, as there is time to prepare for the winter season both at the state level and at the level of regions and communities,” Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.
“We have to be aware that Russian terrorists will try to continue their attacks against the Ukrainian energy sector and against the normal life of people. But our resilience must prevail.”
Today, we held a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Ivano-Frankivsk. This is a very important meeting right now, as there is time to prepare for the winter season both at the state level and at the level of regions and communities. We have to be aware… pic.twitter.com/EIKM41GkIS
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 30, 2023
Steeplejacks dismantle Soviet coat of arms on Motherland Monument in Kyiv
Steeplejacks have begun to dismantle the Soviet coat of arms on the iconic metal Motherland Monument in Kyiv and are set to replace it with the Ukrainian trident.
The State Inspection of Architecture and Urban Planning (DIAM) issued a permit to replace the coat of arms earlier in July.
Work on the monument is due to be completed by August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day.
‘We would be forced to use a nuclear weapon’ if Ukrainian offensive a success: Medvedev
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Moscow would have to use a nuclear weapon if Kyiv’s ongoing counteroffensive succeeds.
The deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, a body chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said in a message on his official social media accounts that Russia would be forced to fall back on its own nuclear doctrine in such a scenario.
“Imagine if the … offensive, which is backed by NATO, was a success and they tore off a part of our land then we would be forced to use a nuclear weapon according to the rules of a decree from the president of Russia.
“There would simply be no other option. So our enemies should pray for our warriors’ [success]. They are making sure that a global nuclear fire is not ignited,” he said.
Medvedev appeared to be referring to part of Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which sets out that nuclear weapons can be used in response to aggression against Russia carried out using conventional weapons, which threatens the existence of the Russian state.
Russian military bloggers pushing Kremlin narrative after Girkin arrest: ISW
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says segments of the “Russian pro-war ultranationalist information space” appear to be increasingly unified in towing the Kremlin’s line that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is “a failure”.
The ISW believes that these segments increasingly “overstate Ukrainian losses” and write less about Russia’s losses and challenges than they had been.
Certain military bloggers “may be shaping their depiction of the wider Ukrainian counteroffensive for fear of Kremlin punishment following the arrest of prominent pro-war critic Igor Girkin”, the ISW wrote in a tweet.
“The Kremlin’s ability to establish a more cohesive narrative about the war within the Russian information space remains uncertain, and subsequent Russian failures or significant Ukrainian successes could disrupt the Kremlin’s progress in this effort.”
NEW: Segments of the Russian pro-war ultranationalist information space appear to be coalescing around the #Kremlin’s narrative effort to portray the Ukrainian #counteroffensive as a failure, increasingly overstating Ukrainian losses and writing less about #Russia's losses and… pic.twitter.com/PX89t56p3g
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) July 29, 2023
Ukrainian MoD posts footage of strikes on Sumy and Zaporizhzhia
The Ukrainian defence ministry has tweeted videos from the cities of Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, which were hit by deadly Russian missile strikes overnight.
Yesterday, russia attacked Ukrainian cities with ballistic missiles. One person was killed, ten were injured in Sumy. Two people died and two were injured in Zaporizhzhia. pic.twitter.com/D9ZPCOtDte
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) July 30, 2023
Photos: Navy Day in St Petersburg
UNESCO team arrives in Odesa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has announced on Twitter that a UNESCO team arrived in the southern city of Odesa to “examine the damage caused by Russian invaders of World Heritage”.
In recent weeks, the city has been subjected to waves of missile and drone attacks which have destroyed and damaged several important architectural monuments.
“Russians deliberately aimed their missiles at the historic city centre of Odesa, which is under the UNESCO protection. Everything that was built with hard work by great architects is now being destroyed by cynical inhumans,” Oleh Kiper, governor of the Odesa region, said on Monday.
One of the cultural sites damaged in recent attacks is the House of Scientists which the ministry referenced in its tweet.
📷 Vienna State Opera,🇦🇹Austria and the House of Scientists,🇺🇦#Ukraine destroyed by #Russia.@UNESCO’s mission arrived to #Odesa to examine damages caused by #Russian invaders to World Heritage. pic.twitter.com/znsd40kLkz
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) July 30, 2023
Pope Francis appeals to Russia to restore Black Sea grain deal
Pope Francis has called on Russia to revive the grain deal, which allowed the safe shipment of Ukrainian grain through its ports in the Black Sea.
The deal, which Russia withdrew from earlier this month, has been credited with helping curb food prices worldwide in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. The two countries are two of the world’s largest agricultural producers.
“I appeal to my brothers, the authorities of the Russian Federation, so that the Black Sea initiative may be resumed and grain may be transported safely,” Francis said during his Angelus message.
Two killed in Russian rocket attack in Sumy: Ukrainian media
Suspline, the national public broadcaster in Ukraine, reports that two people were killed and 20 injured in the northeastern city of Sumy after a Russian rocket hit a vocational school on Saturday night.
The broadcaster cited the city council as the source and published photos of buildings damaged in the attack.
In addition to the school’s main structure, dormitories and high-rise buildings were damaged by the explosion. A temporary residence was provided to 13 people.
Four African heads of state attend Navy Day in St Petersburg
Four African heads of state have attended Russia’s annual Navy Day event in St Petersburg while five other African countries sent representatives, according to the Kremlin.
Forty-five ships, submarines and other vessels took part in the event, a traditional show of military might which takes place in the Gulf of Finland and on the River Neva in St Petersburg. About 3,000 navy personnel also participated in a parade on land, the Kremlin said.
Putin, accompanied by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, the head of the navy, inspected some of the ships from a launch boat on the Neva before making a speech.
The African leaders and representatives were invited after a Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg which concluded on Friday, at which delegates discussed grain supplies and potential peace talks on Ukraine.
Photos: Overnight drone attack on Moscow
‘Several thousand’ Wagner troops in central Belarus: UK intelligence
According to its latest intelligence update, the UK Ministry of Defence estimates that thousands of Wagner troops are now stationed in central Belarus.
The ministry also stated that most vehicles accompanying the troops are not armoured combat vehicles but minibuses and trucks.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 30 July 2023.
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/0CBY94s2zG
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/bRGavK9Nny
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) July 30, 2023
Russian Navy to receive 30 new ships this year: Putin
Vladimir Putin spoke at a ceremony in St Petersburg to mark Russia’s annual Navy Day.
After reviewing a parade of warships on the Neva River, he announced that the Russian Navy would receive 30 new ships this year.
“Russia is today implementing the tasks of its national naval policy and is resolutely expanding the power of its fleet,” Putin told the parade.
Dozens of drones downed in overnight attack on Crimea: Moscow
Moscow claims to have thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to attack Russia-annexed Crimea with 25 drones overnight.
“Sixteen Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed by air defence fire,” the Russian defence ministry said, referring to unmanned aerial vehicles.
“Another nine Ukrainian drones were suppressed by means of electronic warfare and, without reaching the target, crashed into the Black Sea,” the ministry said, adding that there were no victims.
Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, has been targeted by Kyiv since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Attacks have become more frequent in recent weeks.
Kyiv has repeatedly stated that it plans to take Crimea back.
Can ensure supplies during heating season: Ukraine’s energy minister
On Saturday, Ukraine’s energy minister, reflecting on what he has portrayed as the largest repairs campaign to a power system in modern history, expressed confidence that the country could meet its generation needs during the cold months.
Between October 2022 and February 2023, Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was targeted by Russian missiles and drones, resulting in rolling blackouts across the country and water outages for millions of Ukrainians during the winter.
Asked in a televised interview whether the country could meet its goal of providing 1.7 gigawatts of generation capacity by this year’s heating season, German Galushchenko said, “We will manage to do it.”
He said he could not give details now but that the country was adding power in ways it had never done before. “I am very confident that the symbiosis of all actions will lead to the fact that we will be able to reliably ensure supplies during the heating season.”
Galushchenko said that while the scale of any new Russian attacks was hard to predict, Ukraine would be able to carry out repairs.
African peace initiative can be foundation for ‘peaceful resolution’: Putin
Vladimir Putin has said that an initiative presented by African leaders could be a basis for peace in Moscow’s war on Ukraine but claimed that attacks from Kyiv made a cessation of hostilities “virtually impossible”.
The Russian leader made the comments in Moscow on Saturday after meeting leaders from Africa in St Petersburg and hearing their calls for Russia to move ahead with their plan.
“There are things that are virtually impossible to implement, like a ceasefire – but Ukraine is advancing, they’re on a strategic offensive, how do we hold our fire when they’re advancing on us?” Putin told reporters.
“This can only be a bilateral initiative. But the [African] initiative in my opinion can become the foundation of certain processes towards a peaceful resolution, just like China’s initiative, there’s no competition or contradiction here,” he said.
Putin said, “We did not reject them”, but that “in order for this process to begin, there needs to be agreement on both sides”.
Saudi Arabia to host a Ukrainian-organised peace summit
Saudi Arabia will host a Ukrainian-organised peace summit in early August seeking to find a way to start negotiations over Russia’s war on the country, an official said on Saturday night. Both Riyadh and Kyiv did not immediately acknowledge the planned talks.
The summit will be held in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, said the official, who spoke anonymously as no authorization had been given to discuss the summit publicly.
Those taking part in the summit will include Ukraine, as well as Brazil, India, South Africa and several other countries, the official said. A high-level official from US President Joe Biden’s administration is also expected to attend, the official said. Planning for the event is being overseen by Kyiv, and Russia is not invited, the official said.
Ukrainian drone attack ‘thwarted’: Russian MoD
Russian forces have intercepted three Ukrainian drones over the city of Moscow, the country’s defence ministry said.
The drone assault on the Russian capital early on Sunday is reported to have injured a security guard, damaged two office blocks and briefly forced the closure of an airport in the city.
“The Kyiv regime’s attempted terrorist attack with unmanned aerial vehicles on objects in the city of Moscow was thwarted,” the ministry said on Telegram.
It said one of the drones was shot down, while two, “suppressed by electronic warfare”, crashed into a building complex in Moscow’s business district.