Russian missile attack strikes Odesa again – reports
Russian forces have once again targeted Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa, striking private buildings in coastal villages in the early hours of this morning, local officials are reporting.
The region’s military administration head, Serhiy Bratchuk, said he would release more details in a Telegram post just after 6am this morning.
Odesa missile attack using strategic aircraft,” he said.
On Saturday, barely 12 hours after Moscow signed a deal with Kyiv to allow monitored grain exports from Ukraine’s southern ports, Russia targeted Odesa with cruise missile strikes.
Zelenskiy called the attack blatant “barbarism”, showing Moscow could not be trusted to implement the deal.
Shipments exporting Ukrainian would take place through Odesa.
Key events
Maksym Kozytskyi, governor of Lviv, has posted to Telegram to say that despite an air raid alarm late last night, there were no strikes on his western region of Ukraine. He stated that 190 arrived in Lviv on evacuation trains from eastern Ukraine yesterday, and that 830 people moved from Ukraine into Poland.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence has issued its intelligence briefing on the situation in Ukraine for the day, in which it disputes Russia’s account of Sunday’s missile attack on Odesa.
Russia initially told Turkey that it was not responsible for the attack. Yesterday Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov contradicted this, and said that the attack was on military infrastructure and would not impact on grain exports from the crucial port city. The British ministry writes:
On 24 July 2022, Russian cruise missiles hit the dock-side in Ukraine’s Odesa Port. The Russian MoD claimed to have hit a Ukrainian warship and a stockpile of anti-ship missiles. There is no indication that such targets were at the location the missiles hit.
Russia almost certainly perceives anti-ship missiles as a key threat which is limiting the effectiveness of their Black Sea Fleet. This has significantly undermined the overall invasion plan, as Russia cannot realistically attempt an amphibious assault to seize Odesa.
Russia will continue to prioritise efforts to degrade and destroy Ukraine’s anti-ship capability. However, Russia’s targeting processes are highly likely routinely undermined by dated intelligence, poor planning, and a top-down approach to operations.
Kazakhstan has increased its defence budget by $918m due to fears of a Ukrainian scenario on its territory, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
“Imagine if they didn’t have Ukraine. Will we be next?” the publication quoted one Kazakh official as saying.
Moscow has hit back at previous remarks made by US officials that Russia is being increasingly isolated due to its war on Ukraine.
The Russian embassy in Washington tweeted:
Attempts to present our country as isolated one are result of the ‘inflamed imagination’ of US officials who are increasingly losing touch with reality and its causes confusion among the American media as well.”
🔻
💬: Attempts to present our country as isolated one are result of the “inflamed imagination” of US officials who are increasingly losing touch with reality and its causes confusion among the American media as well.
📎Read in full: https://t.co/qPand6bLDP pic.twitter.com/I5mopmhDoa— Russian Embassy in USA 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbUSA) July 26, 2022
Moldova has voiced concern about a possible Russian invasion.
The possibility that Moldova could become the next territory to be invaded by the Russian Federation “is still a hypothetical scenario,” prime minister Natalia Gavrilitsa told CNN .
We are worried, of course. This is a risk, it’s a hypothetical scenario for now, but if the military actions move further into the southwestern part of Ukraine and toward Odesa, then of course, we are very worried.”
This is a very difficult position not just for Moldova but for any small country, any country that relies on the rules-based international order. If a country can start an annexation war without any regard for, you know, international law, then in this sense nobody is safe, and I think that a lot of countries are worried.”
The prime minister noted Moldova’s “troubled history in a complicated region” of the world, adding that the war has damaged its economy.
Moldova is the most affected country after Ukraine economically from this war. We saw already very high inflation. The inflation in June was at 32%.”
British defence secretary Ben Wallace has condemned those who choose to “sit on the fence” with Putin, saying the Russian President will “in the end eat the fence and then eat you”.
Wallace, who was on a visit to Bratislava on Monday, made the comments during a joint conference with Slovakian defence minister Jaroslav Nad in Bratislava
If you sit on the fence with President Putin he will in the end eat the fence and then eat you.
Asked by Sky News about whether Slovakia would consider giving its MIG-29 jets to Ukraine, the Slovakian defence minister said the 11 jets were set to stop being operated by the Slovakian Air Force from the end of August, with Czech and Polish aircraft expected to take over protecting Slovakia’s air space from the start of September.
“Immediately when we ground them and the Czech and Polish will take over air policing, we can discuss about the future of the MIG-29s,” Nad said.
“We are open to discussion to donate those MIG-29s to Ukraine but certainly this will require, I would say, a broader discussion about taking into account financial aspects and all other aspects of delivery so no decision has been made yet.”
The first six British Stormer HVM anti-aircraft missile systems and German-supplied Gepard air defence systems have arrived in Ukraine, according to officials.
Senior presidental advisor Anton Herashchenko posted a short video of the missile systems to twitter, writing: “I’m sure that our warriors will make very good use of them!”
The first six British Stormer HVM anti-aircraft missile systems have arrived to Ukraine.
I’m sure that our Warriors will make very good use of them!
Source: “South” operational command pic.twitter.com/dCfrzZhmDJ
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) July 25, 2022
Herashchenko also noted that Germany has begun supplying Ukraine with Gepard SPAAG units.
“Today Ukraine received from Germany the first three Gepard air defence systems and several thousand ammunition for them,” Ukraine’s armed forces said in an update.
Our capabilities to protect our sky will be strengthened. Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems began to arrive in Ukraine. I would like to thank our German partners and personally #DefMin Christine Lambrecht for supporting our country. Looking forward to receiving IRIS-T pic.twitter.com/wew0lkX6hK
— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) July 25, 2022
Russian gas giant Gazprom has sharply increased pressure in the pipeline that delivers Russian gas to Europe without prior notice, the Ukrainian state pipeline operator company has said.
Such pressure spikes could lead to emergencies including pipeline ruptures, and pipeline operators are obliged to inform each other about them in advance, the operator of gas transmission systems of Ukraine (OGTSU) said.
In a statement issued on Monday night, the company said:
On 07/25/2022, dispatchers of the GTS Operator of Ukraine recorded a sharp increase in pressure on the main gas pipeline ‘Urengoi-Pomari-Uzhgorod’ on the section of the Russian Federation-Ukraine state border. The change in pressure occurred without warning from PJSC Gazprom.
OGTSU informed Gazprom that the untimely submission of information on the switching and change of regimes can lead to emergency situations on the main gas pipeline, and also reminded of the need to coordinate actions, according to the algorithm defined by the current interoperator agreement.”
General-director of OGTSU, Serhii Makogo, added:
Such uncoordinated actions of Gazprom cause concern. The Ukrainian GTS operator insists that the Russian GTS operator must provide information about the reasons for such behaviour within the framework of the standards of agreements between operators.
Late notification of the Operator carries potential risks for the full-time work of the Ukrainian GTS. Such a step looks especially dangerous for Europe, after Gazprom again reduced transit through Nord Stream-1 to 33 million cubic meters per day.”
Russia to make drastic cut to Europe’s gas supply
The Russian state-controlled energy company Gazprom has announced a drastic cut to gas deliveries through its main pipeline to Europe from Wednesday.
The Russian gas export monopoly said it was halting the operation of one of the last two operating turbines due to the “technical condition of the engine”, cutting daily gas deliveries via the Nord Stream pipeline to 33m cubic metres a day – about 20% of the pipeline’s capacity.
“We are monitoring the situation very closely in close exchange with the federal network agency and the gas crisis team,” the German economy ministry said in a statement on Monday after Gazprom’s announcement. “According to our information, there is no technical reason for a reduction in deliveries.”
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline resumed pumping last week, after a 10-day maintenance break, but the European Commission has warned that a complete gas shut down by Russia is likely.
The announcement came as EU governments sparred over a plan for a 15% gas savings target intended to avoid a winter crisis if the Kremlin turns off the taps to Europe. The EU’s goal is to use less gas now to build storage for winter.
The EU executive last week accused Moscow of using energy as a “weapon” and called on 27 member states to accept a voluntary 15% gas savings target, which could become mandatory if Brussels declares a supply emergency.
Zelenskiy calls on Europe to hit back against Russia’s ‘gas war’
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on Europe to respond to Russia’s “gas war” by boosting its sanctions against Moscow.
Today we saw another gas threat to Europe. Even despite the concession regarding the Nord Stream turbine, Russia is not going to resume gas supplies to European countries, as it is contractually obligated to do.
All this is done by Russia deliberately to make it as difficult as possible for Europeans to prepare for winter. And this is an overt gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe – this is exactly how it should be perceived. And they don’t care what will happen to the people, how they will suffer – from hunger due to the blocking of ports or from winter cold and poverty… Or from occupation. These are just different forms of terror.
And that’s why it is necessary to hit back. Do not think about the way to return some turbine, but strengthen sanctions. Do everything to limit Russian revenues not only from gas and oil, but also from any remaining exports. And sever trade ties with Russia as much as possible, because every such tie is Russia’s potential tool of putting pressure.
The gas blackmail of Europe, which only gets worse every month, is needed by a terrorist state to make life worse for every European. And this can actually be perceived as an incentive for the EU’s eighth sanctions package to be significantly stronger than the recently approved seventh.”
Mykolaiv also hit by Russian missile strikes – reports
Russian shelling in Ukraine’s southern city of Mykolaiv has also been reported this morning.
The head of the city council, Olexander Senkevich, said in a Telegram post:
Powerful explosions are heard in Mykolaiv! Everyone is asked to stay in the shelters! Even after the curfew is over, the airstrike will continue!”
In a later post, the official added:
A massive missile strike was launched in the south of Ukraine from the direction of the Black Sea, including with the use of aviation.
The port infrastructure was attacked in the Mykolayiv region. At the same time, the Mykolaiv district was struck by an S-300 air defence system from the temporarily occupied Kherson region.”
Russia is moving convoys of military equipment to Kherson, Ukraine’s military claims.
In an operation update posted to the armed forces of Ukraine’s Telegram on Monday evening, the military said convoys of military equipment were seen moving through Melitopol, in the direction of Kherson.
“The first convoy passed around 10am on Monday with up to 25 BMD recorded,” the update read.
At approximately 12pm a column of tanks and armoured personnel carriers passed through the nearby village of Novopylypivka, officials added.
A third column passed by Novy Melitopol at 2pm with ‘Wasp air defence systems.
Kharkiv also hit by Russian shelling – reports
A residential area in Ukraine’s second largest city of Kharkiv has also reportedly been hit this morning.
Kharkiv mayor, Igor Terekhov, said the attack by Russian forces was made on the city centre.
Another nighttime shelling of the city. I flew to a part of Kharkiv closer to the centre. Traditionally a hit next to a building unrelated to military infrastructure,” he wrote.
The head of the Kharkiv regional state administration, Oleg Synegubov, said the attack occurred around 5am on Tuesday.
⚡️Mayor: Russian strike hits residential area in Kharkiv.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that a Russian strike hit a residential area close to downtown overnight on July 26. There are no information on casualties at the moment.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) July 26, 2022
In a Telegram post written just after 7.30am, he said:
At around 5 o’clock in the morning, the occupiers attacked the civilian infrastructure of Kharkiv’s Slobid district.
As a result of the shelling, the roof of the car showroom was on fire. A few more shells hit open areas.”
The nearby city of Chuhuiv was also reportedly hit, Synegubov added.
At the same time, the occupiers struck Chuguiev again. There are hits on critical infrastructure.”
A major fire broke out at an oil depot in the Budyonnovsky district of Russian-backed Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine after Ukrainian troops shelled the province, according to local media reports.
No casualties or injuries have been reported so far due to the fire, which was tens of meters high, Russia’s news agency reported on Tuesday, quoting a reporter at the scene.
Media also shared footage purported to be from the scene.
Ukraine hopes to start exporting grain this week
Ukraine says it hopes to start exporting grain from its ports this week with the first ships potentially moving from its Black Sea ports within a few days.
Details of the procedures will soon be published by a joint coordination centre that is liaising with the shipping industry, deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said.
Turkey’s President, Tayyip Erdogan, said that Turkey expects Kyiv and Moscow to keep to their responsibilities under the recently signed grain export deal.
Ukraine’s infrastructure minister, Oleksandr Kubrakov, has said Ukraine would continue preparations to export grain and food, starting with Chornomorsk port, then the ports in Odesa and Pivdennyi along its south-western coast, which it still controls.
Ukraine signed the agreement with the United Nations and Turkey and requested Russia sign the same, but separate agreement.
Kubrakov, who signed on behalf of Kyiv, said although Ukraine did not trust Russia “it trusts its allies and partners, which is why the agreement … was signed with the UN and Turkey and not Russia”.
A little more detail is beginning to emerge surrounding the claimed Russian missile attack on Odesa this morning.
The region’s military administration head, Serhiy Bratchuk, said the southern region surrounding the port city was struck just after 6am this morning with Russian strategic aircraft.
The enemy launched a missile attack on Odesa.”
Ukraine’s armed forces said in a separate update that “several rockets were shot down by air defence”.
Russian missile attack strikes Odesa again – reports
Russian forces have once again targeted Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa, striking private buildings in coastal villages in the early hours of this morning, local officials are reporting.
The region’s military administration head, Serhiy Bratchuk, said he would release more details in a Telegram post just after 6am this morning.
Odesa missile attack using strategic aircraft,” he said.
On Saturday, barely 12 hours after Moscow signed a deal with Kyiv to allow monitored grain exports from Ukraine’s southern ports, Russia targeted Odesa with cruise missile strikes.
Zelenskiy called the attack blatant “barbarism”, showing Moscow could not be trusted to implement the deal.
Shipments exporting Ukrainian would take place through Odesa.
Summary and welcome
Hello and welcome back to the Guardian’s live coverage of the war in Ukraine.
I’m Samantha Lock and I will be bringing you all the latest developments for the next short while.
In a concerning new development this morning, Ukrainian officials are reporting that Russian forces have once again struck Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa.
The alleged attack comes as Ukraine says it hopes to start exporting grain from its ports this week with the first ships potentially moving from its Black Sea ports within a few days.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Gazprom is set to reduce gas supplies further after announcing a drastic cut to gas deliveries through its main pipeline to Europe from Wednesday.
It is 8am in Kyiv and here is where things stand:
- Ukraine says it hopes to start exporting grain from its ports this week with the first ships potentially moving from its Black Sea ports within a few days. Details of the procedures will soon be published by a joint coordination centre that is liaising with the shipping industry, deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said. Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said that Turkey expects Kyiv and Moscow to keep to their responsibilities under the recently signed grain export deal.
- Russia’s Gazprom is set to reduce gas supplies further after announcing a drastic cut to gas deliveries through its main pipeline to Europe from Wednesday. The company said it was halting the operation of one of the last two operating turbines due to the “technical condition of the engine”, cutting daily gas deliveries via the Nord Stream pipeline to 33m cubic metres a day – about 20% of the pipeline’s capacity.
- German group Siemens Energy disputed Gazprom’s reasoning, saying it saw “no link between the turbine and the gas cuts that have been implemented or announced” in a statement to Agence France-Presse. Siemens Energy has been charged with maintaining the turbine.
- Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Europe to hit back against Russia’s “gas war”. “This is an overt gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe … And that’s why it is necessary to hit back,” he said, adding Europe should boost its sanctions against Moscow.
- Russia’s top diplomat said Moscow’s overarching goal is to topple Zelenskiy’s government. Speaking to envoys at an Arab League summit in Cairo on Sunday, the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said Moscow is determined to help Ukrainians “liberate themselves from the burden of this absolutely unacceptable regime”.
- Lavrov arrived in Uganda on the third stop of a four-day tour of African countries. According to the Russian Tass news agency, Lavrov is due to hold talks on Tuesday with Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni.
- Ukraine said it destroyed 50 Russian ammunition depots using the US-supplied high mobility artillery rocket systems (Himars) on Monday. The systems, delivered late last month, have turned the war in Ukraine’s favour by dismantling Russia’s logistics and slowing down its offensive, say Ukrainian authorities. “This cuts [Russian] logistical chains and takes away their ability to conduct active fighting and hit our armed forces with heavy shelling,” Ukraine’s minister of defence, Oleksii Reznikov, said.
- The appeal of Ukraine’s first war crimes conviction was adjourned on Monday, as prosecutors keep pushing to hold Russia legally accountable for atrocities. Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old captured Russian soldier who pleaded guilty to killing a civilian and was sentenced in May by a Ukrainian court to life in prison, sat in a glass box in the courtroom as he faced news cameras.
- Two Americans who were killed while defending Ukraine earlier this month have been identified. Luke Lucyszyn and Bryan Young were the US citizens killed during an ambush by a Russian tank on 18 July, their Ukrainian commander Ruslan Miroshnichenko said on Facebook. Lucyszyn was reportedly knocked unconscious by an artillery strike and fatally shot by a Russian tank, Miroshnichenko said.
- Russian authorities briefly detained a 72-year-old liberal politician and Kremlin critic who recently returned to Moscow from abroad on Monday. Leonid Gozman was detained after the Russian interior ministry issued a warrant for his arrest alleging he failed to notify authorities about his Israeli citizenship within the required time, according to the Associated Press.
- The Eurovision song contest will be hosted in the UK next year after Ukraine’s public broadcaster dropped its objections and agreed to work with the BBC on the event. Ukraine won this year’s Eurovision with the song Stefania by Kalush Orchestra, earning the right to host the 2023 edition. However, organisers concluded this could not be done safely while the country was at war. The UK will produce a programme that – in the words of the BBC – has “glorious Ukraine at its heart”.
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