Weekend update: Korean President's visit to Ukraine and Russian shelling of Kharkiv
RBC-Ukraine collage
On Saturday, the leader and first lady of South Korea arrived in Kyiv. Meanwhile on Sunday, Russia conducted multiple attacks on Kharkiv and its surrounding regions throughout the day.
More details about the weekend events can be found in the report by RBC-Ukraine.
July 15 news
Russians launched drone attacks in southern Ukraine at night
Natalia Humenyuk, spokesperson for the Southern Ukraine Defense Forces, confirmed that three Shakhed drones were shot down in the Mykolaiv region.
"Air defense forces had a lot of work in the Zaporizhzhia region. Unfortunately, there were hits, but the results of the night attack are still being assessed," said the spokesperson.
Russian officers express serious dissatisfaction with Shoigu and Gerasimov
British intelligence analyzed the situation surrounding the release of Russian General Ivan Popov, who commanded the 58th Occupational Army in the Zaporizhzhia direction. It is reported that his statements reflect serious discontent among Russian army officers.
"Direct criticism from subordinates appears to be becoming an increasing problem for Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff General Gerasimov," states the report.
Cherevatyy reveals the situation in the Bakhmut direction
According to the spokesperson for the Eastern Military Group, there were 15 clashes near Bakhmut in the past 24 hours. Ukrainian Armed Forces neutralized 77 occupants, injured 170, and took two prisoners.
Partisans attack Russians in the Kherson region
As reported by "Sprotiv," on July 14, a member of the resistance movement "ATESH" carried out a sabotage operation in the village of Velyki Kopani in the Kherson region.
The target of this sabotage was the occupiers' vehicles.
The activist detonated an explosive device near the equipment, resulting in the elimination of six Russian servicemen and damage to two military trucks.
President of South Korea, Yun Suk El, arrived in Ukraine
The leader and first lady of South Korea visited Kyiv, and the delegation also traveled to Irpin and Bucha. President of South Korea and the Prosecutor General of Ukraine also met.
Zelenskyy met with the president and first lady of South Korea
Yun Suk Yol visited Ukraine for the first time in the history of bilateral relations.
Zelenskyy said that he discussed the return of deported Ukrainians, the peace formula, the Global Peace Summit, food and energy security, and economic cooperation with the South Korean leader.
Wallace to possibly step down as UK Defense Secretary
According to sources from a British newspaper, Ben Wallace, who has served as defence secretary under three prime ministers, believes he has already "responded to a number of military crises," and his time in office is coming to an end.
Ben Wallace confirmed that he will step down as the UK Defense Secretary during the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
"I went into politics in the Scottish parliament in 1999. That's 24 years. I've spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed," said Wallace.
Serbia provides Ukraine with a new tranche of humanitarian aid
The Serbian government allocated humanitarian aid to Ukraine to help overcome the humanitarian catastrophe in the Kherson region after the destruction of the Khakhovka HPP.
The new tranche includes goods and medicines from the Republican Directorate of Commodity Reserves and the Commissioner for Refugees and Migration Affairs.
July 16 news
Russia still uncertain about the future of the Wagner Group
"Russian security apparatus is facing uncertainty and negotiations after the Wagner Group mutiny on June 24, 2023. In recent days, an interim agreement on the future of the group has begun to form," British intelligence reported.
A number of social media groups associated with Wagner Group have resumed their activities, focusing on PMC activities in Africa.
Ukrainian forces advance one kilometer in the Berdiansk direction
This was announced by Valeriy Shershnyov, spokesperson for the "Tavria" military formation.
"The situation remains unchanged on the Melitopol direction, but in the Berdiansk direction, we have advanced over one kilometer into the enemy's defenses along a certain front line," he said.
Ukrainian forces target Russians in the Bilohorivka area
Commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi posted a video showing the work of one of the soldiers from the 54th mechanized brigade.
"The orcs were running somewhere. as a result, 200 killed and 300 wounded," Syrskyi wrote.
The General Staff reports on the frontline situation as of July 16
The enemy continues to concentrate its main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mariupol directions, with heavy fighting ongoing in those areas. There were 20 combat engagements in the past 24 hours.
The Defense Forces' aviation conducted 15 strikes on personnel, armament, and military equipment concentrations, including one on an enemy anti-aircraft missile system.
Rocket troops and artillery units targeted areas with enemy personnel, weaponry, and military equipment, resulting in nine artillery systems being hit in their firing positions, and two enemy air defense assets were destroyed.
Attacks on Kharkiv
During the night of July 16, Russian occupiers launched missile strikes on Kharkiv. Two missiles exploded in the air. The enemy fired four S-300 anti-aircraft missiles at around 01:30 from the territory of Belgorod region.
On the same day, July 16, the Osnovyanskyi district of Kharkiv was also attacked, resulting in seven casualties. One person was killed.
The district went under attack again around 21:40. According to Kharkiv's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, the Osnovyanskyi district is once again under shelling.
President of Hungary to visit Ukraine in August
Katalin Novak will be present at the Crimea Platform, which will take place on August 23 in Kyiv, where she might meet with Zelenskyy.
Before her visit to the Ukrainian capital, the Hungarian President will visit Transcarpathia, where she will celebrate the Feast of King Stephen together with the local Hungarian community on August 20.
NATO is Ukraine's future, it is non-negotiable, says the White House
Jake Sullivan, a national security advisor to the U.S. President, said that the United States intends to provide necessary support to Ukraine for as long as it takes.
"This was the message conveyed during the NATO summit. We explicitly told NATO that Ukraine's future is in NATO. We meant it. It's not up for negotiation. All 31 allies are committed to this," he emphasized.
