Friday, July 21

Uprooted - Documentary of Ukrainian Children’s forced deportation to Russia

The documentary, authored by journalist Olesia Bida and directed by Vitalii Havura, uncovers the inner workings of the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine.

The film tells the story of a group of children known as “Group 31” who were taken to Russia from now-occupied Mariupol in May of last year and have not yet been able to return. Among them is Pylyp Holovnya, who was taken into the family of Maria Lvova-Belova, the presidential commissioner for children’s rights in Russia.

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Head of Belarus’ Red Cross admits to deporting **Ukrainian children.**The head of the Belarusian Red Cross, Dzmitryi Shautsou, has admitted that the organization is involved in deporting children from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

Kirby: Ukraine is using cluster munitions ‘effectively.’ Ukraine has started to use cluster munitions within the last week and is using them “effectively,” US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told reporters on July 20.

General Staff: Ukraine continues to repel attacks near Kupiansk. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on July 20 that Russia continues to focus its main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka axes, with around 20 combat clashes taking place during the day.

Ukraine to OSCE: Russia strikes ports that hold over 1 million tons of food.

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea Coast are hitting ports that contain more than a million tons of food, Ukrainian representative Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk told the OSCE Permanent Council on July 20.

Culture minister Tkachenko resigns. Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko announced on July 21 that he had submitted his resignation.

Ryanair announces plans for post-war return to Ukraine, $3 billion investment.

Low cost airline Ryanair announced on July 20 its plans to return to the Ukrainian market within eight weeks Ukrainian air space reopening.

Ukraine moves to nationalize Russian oligarch’s bank. The National Bank of Ukraine submitted a proposal on July 20 requesting the government nationalize the bank of Ukrainian-born Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman.

Defense Ministry: Vessels heading to Russia-controlled Black Sea ports to be considered military targets. The Defense Ministry said on July 20 that from midnight of July 21, all vessels on the Black Sea heading toward Russian or Russia-occupied ports will be treated as carrying military cargo “with all associated risks.”

SBU detains railway employee in Dnipro over spying for Russia. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) informed on July 20 that it detained an employee of the state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia for helping Russia to plan air strikes against Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

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UK Defense Ministry: Russia’s Black Sea blockade at risk from Ukrainian surface drones, missiles The Russian Black Sea Fleet will likely take an active role in blocking trade routes, but the blockade will be at risk from Ukrainian surface drones and cruise missiles, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on July 20.

Wagner, Belarusian military hold joint training near Polish border. The Belarusian military and the contractors of the Wagner Group will hold joint training near the city of Brest, close to the Polish border, the Belarusian Defense Ministry informed on July 20.

Syrskyi: Russian forces in Bakhmut ‘semi-encircled’. Russian forces in Bakhmut have been semi-encircled as Ukraine created conditions to retake the city, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi told the BBC on July 20.

EU chief diplomat: Russian strikes against Odesa to cause large-scale food crisis. Russian attacks against Odesa’s port infrastructure and deliberate destruction of food stocks will lead to a large-scale food crisis in the world, the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said on July 20 as cited by Ukrinform.

Australia slaps new sanctions against Russia, Belarus. Australia announced new sanctions on July 20 against 35 Russian defense, technology, and energy entities, and 10 individuals from Russia and Belarus.

White House: Russia considers attacking ships in Black Sea, blaming Ukraine.

Russia is considering attacking civilian ships on the Black Sea and putting the blame on Ukraine, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge said on July 19. The information is based on declassified intelligence, the Associated Press cited the official.

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Ukraine war latest: Russian forces in Bakhmut ‘semi-encircled,’ says Ukrainian military commander

Land Forces Commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, told the BBC on July 20 that Russian forces in Bakhmut have been semi-encircled as Ukraine created conditions to reclaim the city.

Photo: Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Update: 19 injured in Russian strike against Mykolaiv. The Russian strike against the city of Mykolaiv in the early hours of July 20 left 19 people injured, Governor Vitalii Kim reported. This number includes at least five children, Kim specified. Eight people sought medical help and two, including a child, are hospitalized, he added.

Russian strike against Kharkiv Oblast kills 1. A Russian strike against the settlement of Kozacha Lopan in Kharkiv Oblast killed one resident, the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration reported on July 20.

Russian attacks kill at least 5, injure 38 over past day. Russian forces attacked 10 oblasts over the past day, killing at least five people and injuring at least 38, local officials reported on July 20.

General Staff: Russia has lost 240,010 troops in Ukraine. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on July 20 that Russia had lost 240,010 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24 last year. This number includes 530 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

International response

EU adopts new sanctions against Iran to prevent export of drone components.

The sanctions prohibit the export of components to Iran which are commonly used in the construction of attack drones. Six Iranians involved in supporting the Russian military are subject to an asset freeze and travel restrictions.

UK sanctions Wagner leaders for violence across African states. The U.K. government announced on July 20 a new wave of sanctions against 13 individuals and businesses connected to the Wagner Group’s activities in Mali, Central African Republic (CAR), and Sudan.

New US sanctions target Russian mining corporations, suppliers helping Russia evade restrictions. The U.S. government announced a new sweeping set of sanctions on July 20, which aims to target Russia’s war effort.

Australia slaps new sanctions against Russia, Belarus. Australia announced new sanctions on July 20 against 35 Russian defense, technology, and energy entities, and 10 individuals from Russia and Belarus.

Polish PM: Poland will ‘not open border’ to Ukrainian grain if EU ban not extended. Poland will not open its borders to Ukrainian grain imports unless the EU ban is not extended beyond Sep. 15, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on July 19.

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