Sunday, July 30

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A howitzer is fired as Ukrainian artillery division supports soldiers in a counteroffensive on the Zaporizhzhia front line with M777 in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on July 16, 2023. (Gian Marco Benedetto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Ukrainian military confirms striking bridge between Kherson Oblast and Crimea.

The Ukrainian military confirmed on July 29 that it had struck the Chonhor Bridge, connecting Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast and the occupied Crimean peninsula in the morning.

IAEA: Reactor 5 at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant switched to cold shutdown.

Reactor unit 5 at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was successfully switched to cold shutdown status to conduct maintenance only possible in that state.

Defense Ministry: Russian forces aim to maintain control over land corridor into occupied Crimea. Russian forces are focusing on maintaining control of the land corridor to occupied Crimea in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, the Defense Ministry’s Military Media Center reported on July 29.

Russia hits front-line Orikhiv with guided bombs. Russian forces attacked the front-line town of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast with KAB guided bombs over the past day, the regional police department reported on July 29.

Polish PM: Wagner mercenaries in Belarus ‘may try infiltrating Poland’. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on July 29 that the Wagner Group mercenaries could infiltrate Poland from Belarus, where they are currently stationed.

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Ukraine’s counteroffensive lurches forward: Key moment looms as more forces committed. Fresh videos of Western-made armor rolling across open fields, a new settlement liberated, and a lot of noise on Russian military blogger Telegram channels heralded to the world on July 28 that the Ukrainian summer counteroffensive had upped its gear.

Top Russian proxy claims Ukraine attacked railway connecting occupied Crimea, Kherson Oblast. Russia-installed proxy in Kherson Oblast Volodymyr Saldo claimed that Ukrainian forces attacked the railway connecting Dzhankoi in occupied Crimea and Hehichesk in Kherson Oblast with cruise missiles overnight on July 29.

International fencing to change rules after disqualifying Ukrainian fencer for refusing to shake hands with Russian opponent. The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has decided to change the rules following its controversial decision to disqualify Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan.

Zelensky visits soldiers near front line in Donetsk Oblast. President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Ukrainian soldiers from special operation units in Chasiv Yar on July 29, his press service reported.

Ukrainian intelligence: Saboteurs blow up warehouse in occupied Crimea.

The ammunition warehouse explosions in Crimea on July 28 were the result of sabotage, Ukraine’s military intelligence said.

UK Defense Ministry: Uptick of fighting in southern Ukraine. In the south, fighting is currently focused near the village of Robotyne, located near Orikhiv, according to the report.

This Week in Ukraine Ep. 18 – How Putin cracks down on former allies

Human cost of war

Update: Russia shells 9 communities in Sumy Oblast, killing 1. Russian forces shelled nine communities in Sumy Oblast on July 29, killing one and injuring five more people, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration and the Interior Affairs Ministry reported on Telegram.

Local official: Russian missile strike on Zaporizhzhia kills 2, wounds 1. A Russian missile struck open ground in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing two and wounding one civilian, Anatoliy Kurtiev, secretary of the city council, reported on July 29.

Russian attacks injure at least 14 civilians over past day. Russian forces attacked nine Ukrainian regions over the past day, regional officials reported on July 29.

Russian shelling injures 4 in Kherson Oblast over past day. Russian forces shelled a grain terminal in the Beryslav area in Kherson Oblast overnight on July 28, local authorities reported.

International response

WSJ: Saudi Arabia to host Ukraine peace talks, without Russia, in August.

Saudi Arabia is due to host Ukraine peace talks on Aug. 5 and 6, inviting top officials from 30 countries, including India, Brazil, and Western nations, the Wall Street Journal reported on July 29, citing diplomats involved in the discussion.

In other news

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Ukraine Daily Summary - Sunday, July 30

Ukraine’s counteroffensive lurches forward: Key moment looms as more forces committed -- Saboteurs blow up warehouse in occupied Crimea -- Russian forces aim to maintain control over land corridor into occupied Crimea -- Russia hits front-line Orikhiv with guided bombs -- and more