Photo : AP/ Euronews
Photo : AP/ Euronews
Neha Tresa George
War on the Ground
On 24 July, Ukrinform reported on the increase in the number of injured due to the shelling in the Kharkiv region. According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, the number of injured from the Russian strike on the industrial site in Kholodnohirskyi district of Kharkiv had increased to nine. In the preliminary investigation, the Russian strike led to the damage of buildings and enterprises on the site. It was found that the strike was carried out by an Iskander missile. Following this, a pre-trial investigation on the violation of the laws and customs of war had been launched by Ukraine.
On 25 July, Ukrinform reported on Ukraine’s response to the drone attacks carried out by the Russian forces. According to Mykola Pletenchuk, Ukrainian Air Force Commander, a total of 38 Shahed-131/136 one-way attack drones were launched from Cape Chauda and the Primorsk-Akhtarsk region of Russia. The drones targeted Ukrainian infrastructure facilities in the region of Odesa and central Ukraine according to the Ukrainian officials. They also reported that 25 of the drones were intercepted due to the combined efforts of mobile fire teams, surface-to-air missile units, and e-warfare capabilities. The defence forces were activated across the regions of Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Zhytomyr, and Cherkasy. There were no casualties or destruction as reported by the Kyiv officials.
The Moscow View
On 24 July, RT reported on Vladimir Putin, Russian President’s question on the legitimacy of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s position as the President of Ukraine. According to Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the President of Russian President: “Our president has repeatedly said that President Zelensky definitely lost his legitimacy.” He highlighted Zelenskyy’s 2022 decree: “…banned any Ukrainian head of state from engaging in talks with President Putin,” which is seen as disruption to the peace processes between Russia and Ukraine. Putin condemned Zelenskyy’s decision to extend his term which expired on 20 May, citing Ukrainian law. He had argued multiple times that the Ukrainian legislature did not approve of such practices.
On 24 July, Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the crash of Mi-28 in western Russia near Kaluga. Russian officials stated that the aircraft crashed in an uninhabited area Zhizdrinsk district on the border with Bryansk Region killing all the crew members inside it. The initial data indicated the cause of the crash to be technical malfunction. According to the report, Russian Aerospace Forces commission was sent to investigate the site. The aircraft was reportedly used on drone-hunting missions and was returning from a combat sortie.
On 25 July, the TASS reported on 500 Ukrainian officers held responsible for the crimes carried out in the Donbass region. According to Alexander Bastrykin, Chief of Russia's Investigative Committee: “Five hundred and sixteen people are being held criminally responsible for committing the said crimes against the peace and security of mankind.” The officers included representatives of the Ukrainian Supreme Command and commanders of military units who were convicted of shelling in the civilian areas. Bastrykin also added that more than 132,000 people, including 24,340 children, had been recognized as victims since 2014.
The West View
On 24 July, Euronews reported on the decrease in aid and support from the German authorities to Ukraine. According to a survey conducted last month, 42 per cent of Germans believed that the country had done too much for the Ukrainian refugees. Some politicians with the Christian Democrats party were complaining about the large amount of money spent by the government on the Ukrainian refugees. According to them unemployed refugees should go back to Ukraine. The refugees also noticed the subsequent decrease of support from Germany compared to the beginning of the war. With the new budget of Germany coming into force, Ukraine is set to face a decrease in financial and military aid in the coming days.
References
“Zelensky has no legitimacy – Kremlin,” RT, 24 July 2024
“Military helicopter crashes in western Russia,” RT, 25 July 2024
“Number of injured from shelling of industrial area in Kharkiv increases to nine,” Ukrinform¸ 24 July 2024
“Kyiv plans to eliminate massive list of 'enemies of Ukraine' — political activist,” the TASS, 24 July 2024
“Ukraine downs 25 of 38 Russian kamikaze drones overnight,” Ukrinform, 25 July 2024
“Over 500 Ukrainian military officers held responsible for shelling Donbass,” the TASS, 25 July 2024
“US to maintain coalition of countries in support of Kyiv and against Russia, says Biden,” the TASS, 25 July 2024
“Ukrainians face decrease in support from Germany,” Euronews, 24 July 2024