Bulgaria signs a declaration of support for Ukraine’s NATO membership after the war. US supports Ukraine’s accession to NATO when Ukraine meets all requirements – White House. Ukrainian and Russian officials largely de-escalated their rhetoric regarding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
Daily overview — Summary report, July 7

Situation in Ukraine. July 6, 2023. Source: ISW.
The General Staff’s operational update regarding the Russian invasion as of 18.00 pm, July 7, 2023 is in the dropdown menu below:
Day 499 of the russian full-scale military aggression against Ukraine has begun.
Last night, the russian federation launched yet another air strike on Ukraine, using Iranian Shahed combat UAVs. Information on the aftermath of this terrorist attack is currently being updated.
According to the updated information, during the day of July 6, the russian federation launched missile strikes against Ukraine, using 11x Kalibr cruise missiles. 7x missiles were destroyed by anti-aircraft missile units and aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, while 3x Kalibr missiles hit the city of Lviv and 1x missile hit a private house in Cherkasy oblast. Unfortunately, the russian terrorist attacks on Lviv killed 7x civilians, causing injuries of various severity to more than 35x people. More than 35x houses, more than 250x apartments, 10x dormitories, 1x orphanage, 2x higher education institutions, and other civilian infrastructure targets were damaged or destroyed.
In addition, the enemy launched 57x air strikes, 4x of which used Iranian Shahed combat UAVs. All 4x kamikaze drones were intercepted by the Ukrainian air defense. The occupant forces also launched 67x MLRS attacks. In particular, the russian army shelled settlements in Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson oblasts.
The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains very high.
The adversary continues to focus its main efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar’inka axes, with 30x combat engagements taking place during the day of July 6.
Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups were found. Certain units of the armed forces of the republic of belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Luhansk Battle Map. July 6, 2023. Source: ISW.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Hatyshche (Kharkiv oblast). During the day of July 6, the adversary fired mortars and artillery at more than 15x settlements, including in the vicinities of Stari Vyrky, Iskryskivshchyna, Katerynivka, Zapsillya (Sumy oblast), Cherneshchyna, Odnorobivka, Hoptivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup’yans’k axis: the Ukrainian troops are standing their ground. Krasne Pershe, Fyholivka, Novomlyns’k, Dvorichna, Zapadne, and Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire of the adversary.

Donetsk Battle Map.July 6, 2023. Source: ISW.
Lyman axis: during the day of July 6, the adversary used aircraft support in an attempt to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions in the area west of Karmazynivka (Luhansk oblast), to no success. The invaders launched air strikes near Karmazynivka, Nevs’ke (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Ivanivka, and Fedorivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Nevs’ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn’okam’yans’ke, Berestove, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast), were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: under heavy fire from enemy aircraft and artillery, the Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled enemy attacks in the vicinity of Berkhivka (Donetsk oblast). The enemy launched an air strike in the vicinity of Ivanivske. At the same time, the Ukrainian soldiers continue to conduct offensive operations south and north of the city of Bakhmut, consolidating their positions. The enemy fired artillery at more than 20x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Oleksandro-Shul’tyne, Bila Hora, and Dyliivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the russian offensive in the vicinity of Pervomais’ke (Donetsk oblast). The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novokalynove and Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). At the same time, the adversary fired artillery at more than 15x settlements, including Keramik, Zhelane, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Pervomais’ke, and Karlivka (Donetsk oblast).
Mar’inka axis: under enemy artillery fire, Ukrainian defenders repelled all enemy attacks in the vicinity of the city of Mar’inka. The enemy launched an air strike near Krasnohorivka. The adversary shelled more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Maksymil’yanivka, Hostre, Mar’inka, and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars’ke axis: the adversary conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The invaders launched an air strike near Vuhledar. The occupiers shelled more than 15x settlements, including Blahodatne, Vuhledar, Zolota Nyva, Shakhtars’ke, and Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk oblast).

Zaporizhzhia Battle Map. July 6, 2023. Source: ISW.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: the adversary focuses its main efforts on preventing the advance of Ukrainian troops. The invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk oblast), Novodarivka, Chervona Krynytsya, Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Zmiivka, Dachi, and Komyshany (Kherson oblast). The invaders fired artillery at more than 30x settlements, including Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Yehorivka, Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Marhanets’ community (Dnipropetrovsk oblast), Zolota Balka, Sadove, Antonivka, Pryozerne (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson. At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct offensive operations on Melitopol’ and Berdyans’k axes, consolidating their positions, and conducting counter-battery fire.

Kherson-Mykolaiv Battle Map. July 6, 2023. Source: ISW.
During the day of July 6, Ukrainian Air Force launched 8x air strikes on the concentrations of enemy troops and 1x air strike on the enemy anti-aircraft missile system.
During the day of July 6, the Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 1x concentration of troops, weapons, and military equipment of the adversary, 1x ammunition depot, 6x artillery systems at their firing positions, and 3x electronic warfare stations of the occupiers.
Military Updates
Russia shifts troops across sectors amid uncertainty over Ukraine’s upcoming attacks – military. The Russian troops are forced to constantly redeploy their units across the southern front in anticipation of the next Ukrainian attack, and the Ukrainian forces are taking advantage of that. This was stated by Major Valerii Shershen, spokesperson of the Joint Press Center of the Ukrainian Defense Forces of the Tauria sector, during an online briefing at the Military Media Center.
Russia plans to mobilize additional 500,000 soldiers – Ukraine’s General Staff. The Kremlin plans to recruit up to 500,000 people to the Russian Armed Forces to replenish the losses in Ukraine, according to Oleksii Hromov, Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Russia is getting ready to fully provide its armed forces with significant mobilization resources to wage a long war of attrition, Oleksii Hromov said in his interview with Ukrinform news agency.
According to British Defence Intelligence, (last 48 hours):
- On 1 July 2023, the Russian Navy established a new Azov Naval District, headquartered in the occupied Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.
- Subordinate to the Black Sea Fleet (BSF), the district will reportedly command eight warships including three modern, Karakurt class corvettes which can launch SS-N-30A Kalibr cruise missiles.
- The Azov Sea is a vital maritime area for Russia because it links its inland waterways to international maritime routes. In the context of the war, it also offers an alternative military resupply option should Russia’s over-land routes to southern Ukraine be disrupted.
- The Azov Naval District will likely focus on supporting logistical and counter-partisan tasks, freeing up the main BSF to concentrate on long range strike operations and projecting maritime power further abroad.
Losses of the Russian army

Losses of the Russian Army. Source: Euromaidan Press.
Humanitarian
Russian artillery attack kills one and injures four civilians in Donetsk Oblast. On 6 July, Russian troops launched an artillery attack on Toretsk сity and Novomykhailivka village in Donetsk Oblast, the regional Prosecutor’s Office reported. According to an investigation opened into the Russian attack, a 56-year-old woman and 57-year-old man were injured after rockets targeted Novomykhailivka’s private sector. Both civilians were hospitalized.
45 Ukrainian defenders return home from Russian captivity – Presidential Office. On 6 July, 45 Ukrainian defenders returned home from Russian captivity, said the Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine, Andrii Yermak. “We managed to bring back 45 of our soldiers from captivity, including two officers, 41 soldiers, a sergeant, a civilian employee of Azovstal, and a volunteer defender from Kherson,” he wrote on Telegram.
Russian missile attack kills at least six, injures 35 people in Lviv (updated): 10 killed. Ukraine’s Interior Ministry reported that a Russian missile attack damaged a four-storey apartment building in Lviv, destroying the 3rd and 4th floors in two entrances. “A search and rescue operation is underway. As of 7:00 a.m., four people were killed and nine injured. Rescuers rescued seven people and evacuated 64,” the Ministry reported at 7:70, adding that “There is information that people may still be under the rubble.”
Russian army shells residential areas in Kherson Oblast’s Bilozerka. On Wednesday, 5 July, the indiscriminate shelling of the residential areas in Bilozerka (Kherson Oblast, southern Ukraine) killed a 58-year-old man, according to Andriy Yermak, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. A 10-year-old boy and a 56-year-old woman were injured. A 51-year-old man and two women, aged 70 and 41, sustained minor injuries due to the artillery strike on their house, according to Andriy Yermak.
Legal
How unsanctioned Russian companies fuel deadly drone and missile attacks on Ukraine
Support
US plans to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions, officials say – Reuters. The US plans to send cluster munitions to Ukraine to help it battle Russian invaders, anonymous US officials told Reuters on 6 July. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch (HRW) campaigns against the supplies despite the fact that Russia has been actively using this type of munitions since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
UK to start training Ukrainian pilots in August. Britain will begin basic training of 20 Ukrainian pilots in August, UK’s Minister of State for the Armed Forces, James Heappey said, according to Yevropeiska Pravda. The initial phase of training will be a basic ground apprenticeship, following which the Ukrainian military will be ready for specialized training to operate the F-16 fighter jets.
New Developments
Zelenskyy meets with Denkov, Radev in Bulgaria. On 6 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev and the Prime Minister, Nikolai Denkov, in Sofia. Russia must withdraw its troops from the territory of Ukraine and should be held accountable for crimes it has committed, said Denkov during a press conference with the Ukrainian leader, according to UkrInform.
Bulgaria signs a declaration of support for Ukraine’s NATO membership after Russian war. Bulgaria has signed a declaration of support for Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO after the end of the Russian war, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk has announced. According to him, the document states that the National Assembly of Bulgaria expects from its government, particularly at the upcoming Alliance summit in Vilnius, to express a position of support for Ukraine’s NATO accession after the restoration of peace on its territory.
US supports Ukraine’s accession to NATO when Ukraine meets all requirements – WH. The White House supports Ukraine’s accession to NATO on the condition that Ukraine meets all the requirements of the Alliance, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary, said during a briefing on 5 July. “Any decision on NATO membership is between the 31 Allies and aspirant country. And so, in this case, when it comes to Ukraine, we have been discussing with our NATO Allies and Ukraine how we can collectively support Ukraine’s aspiration for Euro-Atlantic integration.” Jean-Pierre added.
West needs to change its attitude toward Russia, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry says after White House statement on necessity for reforms for accession to NATO. In response to the recent White House statement, which said that Ukraine would need to undergo reforms to meet the same standards as any NATO country before joining the Alliance, Oleh Nikolenko, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, stated that the West needed to reform its attitude toward Russia.
Remains of eight British WWII-era Hurricane aircraft found near Kyiv. On 6 July, the Kyiv authorities showed journalists the remains of several Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft sent by the UK to the USSR under the Lend-Lease program during World War II. The remnants of eight Hurricanes have been recently discovered in Kyiv Oblast.