Shelling in the Kharkiv region and in Zaporizhzhia leaves 2 dead and several injured. Here's the latest
From CNN staff
Shelling in the Kharkiv region and in Zaporizhzhia killed two people and injured several on Thursday, according to officials.
In an attack on a Zaporizhzhia hotel, at least 16 people — including four children — were injured, according to Yurii Malashko, head of the Zaporizhzhia region military administration.
Among the injured children is a 3-year-old girl. One person was killed in the attack, authorities said.
Meanwhile, in the Kharkiv region, a woman was killed and two men were injured after Russian shelling in villages, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv region military administration.
Here are the latest developments:
Ukrainian navy announces new Black Sea corridors: The Ukrainian navy has announced temporary corridors for civilian shipping in the Black Sea following the suspension of the Grain Initiative. Russia withdrew from the arrangement last month. The Ukrainian navy issued an order declaring "temporary corridors for merchant ships sailing to/from Ukrainian ports."
Biden asks Congress for $24 billion in more Ukraine assistance: President Joe Biden is asking Congress for more than $24 billion for Ukraine and other international needs as he works to sustain support for the war amid signs of softening support among Americans. The request — which includes more than $13 billion in security assistance and $7.3 billion for economic and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine — sets up a potential battle with Republicans in Congress.
Founder of Russian tech company calls war "barbaric": Arkady Volozh, the founder and former CEO of Russia’s largest internet company, criticized President Vladimir Putin's "barbaric" invasion of Ukraine, becoming one of the most prominent Russian businessmen to express criticism of what Russia still calls euphemistically its "special military operation."
Kupyansk evacuation: Ukrainian authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Kupyansk area on Thursday. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed earlier that its forces have captured Ukrainian positions around Kupyansk in Kharkiv region – a city Ukraine had managed to liberate in September last year, but on which Russian forces are again now advancing. In July, a Ukrainian official said Russia had amassed tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of tanks in the area, as it tries to reclaim the territory.
Poland-Belarus border: Poland plans to move around 10,000 troops to the border with Belarus, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said Thursday. Blaszczak said that 4,000 will directly support the border guard, while the remaining 6,000 will be in reserve. The decision comes amid mounting tensions with Belarus, which announced it would hold joint military exercises with Wagner troops near the Polish border, and which Poland accused last week of violating its airspace.
1 hr 28 min ago
Hotel in Zaporizhzhia hit by Russian missiles is site of children's day camp, Ukraine's defense ministry says
From CNN's Radina Gigova in London
The hotel hit by Russian missiles in Zaporizhzhia on Thursday is the site of a children's day camp that finished its daily operations about an hour before the attack, Ukraine's defense ministry said.
"They were targeting children. The Reikartz hotel in Zaporizhzhia, which was hit by a missile attack by Russian terrorists today, is the site of a children's day camp for kids aged 6 to 13," the ministry tweeted. "The camp operates until 6 p.m. every day. The strike was launched at 7 p.m. One person was killed, and 16 were injured. Only a miracle of timing saved the children from the russian [sic] killers today."
The hotel was also frequently used by UN personnel and members of other humanitarian organizations helping residents in the area.
1 hr 28 min ago
Russian investigators detain industrial plant director over warehouse explosion
From CNN’s Uliana Pavlova
The Russian Investigative Committee detained the technical director of the Piro-Ross company on Thursday, after a massive explosion at the company's plant in Sergiev Posad on Wednesday.
“Investigators interrogated employees of the organization from among the leadership. As a result, the technical director of Piro-Ross was detained as a suspect,” the Investigative committee’s statement said.
Investigators also searched the premises of the Piro-Ross company.
“Documents relevant to the investigation, including job descriptions of employees, were confiscated,” the statement said.
As of Thursday morning, 12 people remain missing, 60 victims have been treated, and one woman died in hospital, according to authorities. Rescuers are continuing to search the rubble.
"Thus, at the moment, the fate of 12 people who are considered missing is being established," according to an official of the Investigative Committee, Olga Vradiy.
Moscow region authorities have rejected suggestions that a drone attack was responsible for the explosion.
The plant is a developer and manufacturer for optical and optoelectronic devices for the Russian military, law enforcement agencies, industry and healthcare.
1 hr 28 min ago
Russian reinforcements have made Kupyansk area "epicenter" of hostilities, say Ukrainian officials
From CNN's Olga Voitovych and Tim Lister
Ukrainian officials say that substantial Russian reinforcements have turned the northern front in the eastern Kharkiv region into the "epicenter" of hostilities, but that Ukrainian defenses are holding.
Ruslan Muzychuk, the National Guard spokesman, told Ukrainian television Thursday that "the Kupyansk direction remains the epicenter of hostilities, where the enemy is concentrating its main efforts."
"The number of enemy forces and means and its recent activation in this area of the front are aimed at trying to turn the tide in this section of the front," Muzychuk added.
Muzychuk said the Russians had brought in airborne assault units "and they have been reinforced by tank units, which, with the support of aviation and artillery, are attempting to assault the positions of Ukrainian defenders."
"In recent weeks, more than 50 air attacks have been taking place every day, and sometimes more than 80," he said.
The Russian offensive was designed to draw more Ukrainian units into the area, Muzychuk said, but he did not rule out an attempt to capture the city of Kupyansk itself.
Russia trying to "seize the initiative": Another National Guard official, Mykola Urshalovych, said that Ukrainian units had managed to hold the dominant heights around Vilshana and Novoselivske, two villages east of Kupyansk where the Russians claim to have made some advances.
Serhii Cherevatyi, Deputy Commander of the Eastern Military Group, said that the "Kupyansk direction remains one of those where the enemy is trying to seize the initiative."
Cherevatyi said defenses "have been strengthened, and strike capabilities have been enhanced. So the situation is difficult but under control."
He added that in a single day, the Russians had used artillery 559 times in addition to air raids.
The Ukrainian State Emergency Service said that on Thursday morning the city of Kupyansk had been shelled again, setting off a fire but causing no casualties.
Following the announcement of a mandatory evacuation for civilians in Kupyansk, Andriy Kanashevych, the acting Head of Kupyansk district military administration, said that "Russian terrorists are becoming even more cynical and completely indifferent to human life. As a result, almost every day we have dead and wounded among the civilian population."
"We suggest that residents of Kupyansk district make a responsible and informed decision to temporarily leave for the safe territories of Kharkiv region," Kanashevych said.
1 hr 28 min ago
Ukrainian navy announces new Black Sea corridors
From Olga Voitovych and Tim Lister
The Ukrainian navy has announced temporary corridors for civilian shipping in the Black Sea following the suspension of the Grain Initiative.
Russia withdrew from the arrangement last month.
The Ukrainian navy issued an order declaring "temporary corridors for merchant ships sailing to/from Ukrainian ports."
"At the same time, it is reported that the military threat and mine danger from the Russian Federation remains along all routes," it said.
Currently, merchant ships are not traveling to and from the Ukrainian port of Odesa or neighboring harbors, crippling the export of grain from those ports. The last ship with grain on board left Odesa on July 16.
It's unclear that the Ukrainian order will have much impact on the willingness of merchant shipping to travel much beyond the Danube ports in the western Black Sea.
The Ukrainian navy said the routes it had announced "will primarily be used to allow civilian vessels that have been in the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhnyi since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022 to leave."
Shelling in the Kharkiv region and in Zaporizhzhia killed two people and injured several on Thursday, according to officials. One person was killed and 16 others injured when a hotel in Zaporizhzhia was hit by Russian missiles, Ukrainian officials said.
US President Joe Biden is asking Congress for more than $20 billion for Ukraine assistance, setting up a potential battle with some GOP lawmakers who voice skepticism about providing Ukraine with more money.
Shelling in the Kharkiv region and in Zaporizhzhia killed two people and injured several on Thursday, according to officials.
In an attack on a Zaporizhzhia hotel, at least 16 people — including four children — were injured, according to Yurii Malashko, head of the Zaporizhzhia region military administration.
Among the injured children is a 3-year-old girl. One person was killed in the attack, authorities said.
Meanwhile, in the Kharkiv region, a woman was killed and two men were injured after Russian shelling in villages, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv region military administration.
Here are the latest developments:
Ukrainian navy announces new Black Sea corridors: The Ukrainian navy has announced temporary corridors for civilian shipping in the Black Sea following the suspension of the Grain Initiative. Russia withdrew from the arrangement last month. The Ukrainian navy issued an order declaring "temporary corridors for merchant ships sailing to/from Ukrainian ports."
Biden asks Congress for $24 billion in more Ukraine assistance: President Joe Biden is asking Congress for more than $24 billion for Ukraine and other international needs as he works to sustain support for the war amid signs of softening support among Americans. The request — which includes more than $13 billion in security assistance and $7.3 billion for economic and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine — sets up a potential battle with Republicans in Congress.
Founder of Russian tech company calls war "barbaric": Arkady Volozh, the founder and former CEO of Russia’s largest internet company, criticized President Vladimir Putin's "barbaric" invasion of Ukraine, becoming one of the most prominent Russian businessmen to express criticism of what Russia still calls euphemistically its "special military operation."
Kupyansk evacuation: Ukrainian authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Kupyansk area on Thursday. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed earlier that its forces have captured Ukrainian positions around Kupyansk in Kharkiv region – a city Ukraine had managed to liberate in September last year, but on which Russian forces are again now advancing. In July, a Ukrainian official said Russia had amassed tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of tanks in the area, as it tries to reclaim the territory.
Poland-Belarus border: Poland plans to move around 10,000 troops to the border with Belarus, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said Thursday. Blaszczak said that 4,000 will directly support the border guard, while the remaining 6,000 will be in reserve. The decision comes amid mounting tensions with Belarus, which announced it would hold joint military exercises with Wagner troops near the Polish border, and which Poland accused last week of violating its airspace.
The hotel hit by Russian missiles in Zaporizhzhia on Thursday is the site of a children's day camp that finished its daily operations about an hour before the attack, Ukraine's defense ministry said.
"They were targeting children. The Reikartz hotel in Zaporizhzhia, which was hit by a missile attack by Russian terrorists today, is the site of a children's day camp for kids aged 6 to 13," the ministry tweeted. "The camp operates until 6 p.m. every day. The strike was launched at 7 p.m. One person was killed, and 16 were injured. Only a miracle of timing saved the children from the russian [sic] killers today."
The hotel was also frequently used by UN personnel and members of other humanitarian organizations helping residents in the area.
The Russian Investigative Committee detained the technical director of the Piro-Ross company on Thursday, after a massive explosion at the company's plant in Sergiev Posad on Wednesday.
“Investigators interrogated employees of the organization from among the leadership. As a result, the technical director of Piro-Ross was detained as a suspect,” the Investigative committee’s statement said.
Investigators also searched the premises of the Piro-Ross company.
“Documents relevant to the investigation, including job descriptions of employees, were confiscated,” the statement said.
As of Thursday morning, 12 people remain missing, 60 victims have been treated, and one woman died in hospital, according to authorities. Rescuers are continuing to search the rubble.
"Thus, at the moment, the fate of 12 people who are considered missing is being established," according to an official of the Investigative Committee, Olga Vradiy.
Moscow region authorities have rejected suggestions that a drone attack was responsible for the explosion.
The plant is a developer and manufacturer for optical and optoelectronic devices for the Russian military, law enforcement agencies, industry and healthcare.
Ukrainian officials say that substantial Russian reinforcements have turned the northern front in the eastern Kharkiv region into the "epicenter" of hostilities, but that Ukrainian defenses are holding.
Ruslan Muzychuk, the National Guard spokesman, told Ukrainian television Thursday that "the Kupyansk direction remains the epicenter of hostilities, where the enemy is concentrating its main efforts."
"The number of enemy forces and means and its recent activation in this area of the front are aimed at trying to turn the tide in this section of the front," Muzychuk added.
Muzychuk said the Russians had brought in airborne assault units "and they have been reinforced by tank units, which, with the support of aviation and artillery, are attempting to assault the positions of Ukrainian defenders."
"In recent weeks, more than 50 air attacks have been taking place every day, and sometimes more than 80," he said.
The Russian offensive was designed to draw more Ukrainian units into the area, Muzychuk said, but he did not rule out an attempt to capture the city of Kupyansk itself.
Russia trying to "seize the initiative": Another National Guard official, Mykola Urshalovych, said that Ukrainian units had managed to hold the dominant heights around Vilshana and Novoselivske, two villages east of Kupyansk where the Russians claim to have made some advances.
Serhii Cherevatyi, Deputy Commander of the Eastern Military Group, said that the "Kupyansk direction remains one of those where the enemy is trying to seize the initiative."
Cherevatyi said defenses "have been strengthened, and strike capabilities have been enhanced. So the situation is difficult but under control."
He added that in a single day, the Russians had used artillery 559 times in addition to air raids.
The Ukrainian State Emergency Service said that on Thursday morning the city of Kupyansk had been shelled again, setting off a fire but causing no casualties.
Following the announcement of a mandatory evacuation for civilians in Kupyansk, Andriy Kanashevych, the acting Head of Kupyansk district military administration, said that "Russian terrorists are becoming even more cynical and completely indifferent to human life. As a result, almost every day we have dead and wounded among the civilian population."
"We suggest that residents of Kupyansk district make a responsible and informed decision to temporarily leave for the safe territories of Kharkiv region," Kanashevych said.
The Ukrainian navy has announced temporary corridors for civilian shipping in the Black Sea following the suspension of the Grain Initiative.
Russia withdrew from the arrangement last month.
The Ukrainian navy issued an order declaring "temporary corridors for merchant ships sailing to/from Ukrainian ports."
"At the same time, it is reported that the military threat and mine danger from the Russian Federation remains along all routes," it said.
Currently, merchant ships are not traveling to and from the Ukrainian port of Odesa or neighboring harbors, crippling the export of grain from those ports. The last ship with grain on board left Odesa on July 16.
It's unclear that the Ukrainian order will have much impact on the willingness of merchant shipping to travel much beyond the Danube ports in the western Black Sea.
The Ukrainian navy said the routes it had announced "will primarily be used to allow civilian vessels that have been in the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhnyi since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022 to leave."
