Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Ukraine was now able to inflict “significant losses” on the Russians, as other Ukrainian officials claimed the influx of Western weapons was changing the battlefield. The commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces said the “timely arrival” of long-range artillery such as the US HIMARS system is helping to change the war. So far this month, CNN has identified nearly 20 strikes far from Russian defenses — some of which resulted in large explosions and multiple explosions. “It is increasingly difficult for Russian troops to hold their positions in the occupied territories,” President Zelensky said in a nightly video address.
Zelensky has suspended two key figures in the government, questioning their leadership qualities and accusing many of their subordinates of treason and cooperation with Russia. The two senior officials – Attorney General Irina Venediktova and State Security Service (SBU) head Ivan Bakanov – are now under investigation and have been temporarily replaced. The Ukrainian military said it was resisting an attack by Russian troops in the eastern Donetsk region. The Ukrainian General Staff said that “the enemy continued to attack in the direction of Bakhmut and Siversk”, but was counterattacked by the Ukrainian army. But the leader of the Russia-backed separatist-controlled Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) claims an offensive is being planned.
Ukrainian officials say there is a steady flow of Russian military equipment westward from Mariupol to other parts of southern Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops are attacking. According to Ukrainian officials, a convoy of up to 100 military equipment passed through Mariupol on Saturday in the direction of Zaporozhye. Some independent analysts believe this is to support Russian troops in Kherson under attack by Ukrainian long-range weapons.
At least six people, including a child, were injured after a Russian missile struck the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa, a Ukrainian military official said on Tuesday. Odessa junta spokesman Serhiy Bratchuk said on Telegram that the city was the target of seven Kalibr cruise missiles fired from the Black Sea.
Six of the Russian missiles evaded Ukraine's air defenses and hit areas of the “civilian population,” Blachuk said.
He added that three houses and at least two other buildings were destroyed in the attack, with several other structures reportedly damaged as well.
Financial data and events to focus on today:
20:30 The total number of new housing starts in the United States in June is annualized
20:30 The total number of building permits in the United States in June
The next day at 01:45 Bank of England Governor Bailey delivered a speech
The next day 04:30 API crude oil inventories from the United States to the week of July 15
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