The war in Ukraine is escalating day by day, with the Russian army continuing its impressive advance.
Information indicates that the first Russian military forces are entering Sloviansk, the fortress-city of the Ukrainians and the last stronghold before the fall of the entire Donbass, which constituted the primary target of Moscow when it started the special military operation in February 2022...
However, the Russians are also exerting particular pressure on the northern front, in the direction toward Sumy and Kharkiv, while for yet another day they struck Kyiv and Odesa with 8 ballistic missiles and 146 drones... with the ultimate goal of striking the supply chain of the Ukrainian armed forces.
At the same time, battles are also raging with particular intensity in the Azov and Black Sea where the goal of Ukrainians and Russians is to bring about the greatest possible military as well as economic cost to the opponent...
Frightening advance – The Russians enter Sloviansk
Units of the Russian army, coming from the area of Krasny Liman, have begun entering Sloviansk, according to a statement by the deputy commander of the 9th Engineer-Sapper Regiment of the 25th Combined Arms Army of the Zapad Group of Forces, with the call sign Gagarin, as broadcast by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
As clarified, the Ukrainian forces had prepared road routes in the area, protecting them with anti-drone nets.
“We have already identified points from which we can enter there and daily we systematically destroy from two to five units of military equipment,” stated Gagarin.
On 16 July, the head of the People's Republic of Donetsk (DPR), Denis Pushilin, stated that Russian forces have approached to a very short distance from certain positions of the Ukrainians in the direction of Sloviansk.
In early June, it became known that fighters of the Yug Group of Forces were conducting battles in Mykolaivka, in the DPR, and were approaching Sloviansk, which is located in the Kramatorsk area.
Kharkiv at a critical point
In the previous days, several military monitoring channels reported that the situation for the Ukrainian armed forces in the direction of Kharkiv is approaching a critical point, arguing that the front is retreating, logistical support is particularly limited, and the new reserves being sent for counterattacks immediately suffer losses.
According to Russian military analyst Dmitry Degtyaryov, creator of the channel Generalny Shtab, fighters on the front line reported that Russian forces entered the village of Zakharovka and started battles.
The settlement is located about seven kilometers from the nearest known Ukrainian fortified position, in Okhrimovka.
“You will tell me: “Dmitry, seven kilometers is certainly a significant advance.”
But where is the major collapse?
We must see the overall picture.
Right now, battles are being conducted in Yurchenkovo, Bely Kolodez, Volokhovskoe, and now also in Zakharovka.
It is obvious that, since battles are being conducted there, the entire area up to this line of villages has been abandoned by the Ukrainian forces,” the analyst argued.
Battles in 120 square kilometers
According to the same source, this area covers about 120 square kilometers, including forest lands and high grounds.
Dmitry Degtyaryov notes, however, that so far there are no visual elements of confirmation, which is why military cartographers have not yet reflected the changes on the map.
According to him, the Ukrainian forces had already lost about 80 square kilometers in the area during the first weeks of July, while an advance of about 12 kilometers toward Bely Kolodez is also reported.
It is argued that the total area of the new bridgehead may reach about 200 square kilometers.
Over 300 square kilometers in July alone
As reported, this is only one of the sectors of the Vovchansk bridgehead, in the direction of Kharkiv.
If the relevant information is confirmed, the total area of the territories that, according to the claims, have been captured since the beginning of July could exceed 300 square kilometers.
At the same time, Dmitry Degtyaryov, citing soldiers in the field, reported that Russian forces completed mopping-up operations in Kondratovka, in the direction of Sumy, while they restored a significant part of their positions in the direction of Kupiansk, maintaining, as is claimed, the initiative of movements.
“Are they surrendering everything up to Kharkiv?”
Some analysts estimate that the impression is created that Kyiv, after the failures it faces, does not show particular willingness to organize a strong defense in the settlements up to Kharkiv itself, toward which, according to them, Russian forces are approaching from various directions.
To stem the Russian advance, significant Ukrainian forces had previously been transferred to the area, among which were units of drone operators and assault regiments.
According to the colonel of special operations of the Ukrainian armed forces, Volodymyr Antoniuk, after the losses they suffered, these units were withdrawn and their remaining personnel were transferred to the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk direction.
“From the direction of Zaporizhia, the 24th Assault Regiment Aidar was transferred, and from the Kharkiv region several reconnaissance battalions and special units, particularly well-equipped with drone assets,” stated Volodymyr Antoniuk.
Message to Kyiv
At the same time, it is reported that the Russian Aerospace Forces continue attacks against fuel stations in the Zhytomyr region, a fact that military analyst Yuri Podolyaka characterizes as a significant message to Kyiv.
“A new level was conquered and this constitutes a very serious threat to Kyiv.
If the Russian strikes against fuel stations reach so deep, then we can place Kyiv in a “ring of fire” of burning fuel stations.
We can also strike the fuel stations inside the city itself,” wrote Yuri Podolyaka.
Massive strikes in Odesa
At the same time, for about a week now, massive strikes have been carried out against Odesa and its wider region.
Some military sources argue that the port of Odesa as well as the ports of the Danube have been isolated, with targets including supply infrastructure, military installations, drone and missile launch positions, foreign commercial ships, export facilities, and industrial units.
The attacks cause problems in the supply of the Ukrainian forces, increase the cost of marine transit insurance, and create shortages in fuel, ammunition, and repair capabilities.
The military blogger Russkiy Patriot argues that: “Odesa now constitutes a new priority for the Russian army.
The Armed Forces of Russia continue almost incessantly to strike targets in Odesa.
Preliminary targets include launch positions of long-range drones, Neptun cruise missiles, and FP-5 Flamingo.”
Explosions on the coasts, smoke in the ports of Odesa
The air-naval conflict in the area of the Azov and the Black Sea, which started on 6 July with a massive attack against Russian tankers, continues to escalate and shows no sign of de-escalation.
Hundreds of drones attack cargo ships daily, strike port infrastructure, and destroy electrical power substations and oil storage facilities, which are necessary for the operation of port equipment and the refueling of ships.
During the past twenty-four hours, 13 ships were hit in the ports of Odesa, Illichivsk, and the Mykolaiv region.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that four of these were being used by the Ukrainian side for the transport of military equipment.
Monitoring channels reported that the rest were commercial ships, which served the export of Ukrainian products and the influx of foreign currency to Kyiv.
After the start of the attacks, some attempted to move away from the ports, without all of them succeeding, however.
Attacks with Geran 4
The attacks are carried out with Geran-4 unmanned aerial vehicles, which are also called Geran Seeker.
Their special characteristic is that they feature turbojet engines and cameras, as well as an autonomous system for target detection and guidance.
The Ukrainian air defense and electronic warfare systems display limited effectiveness against them.
The drones strike both ships docked at the ports and coastal installations.
Among other things, a strike on a fuel storage facility that supplied the ships and equipment of the port of Odesa is reported.
Strikes on warehouses and terminals
Grain, oil, and sunflower seed warehouses also became targets.
One of the largest Ukrainian agricultural export companies, Kernel, announced the complete suspension of its activities at the port of Chornomorsk, due to damage to the loading terminals.
According to the company, about 45,000 tons of wheat and 9,000 tons of sunflower oil were affected by the attacks on the storage facilities.
The logistics center of Migtrans also received a strike, where 12 trucks and at least one tanker truck were burned.
The intensity of the Russian attacks has caused serious disruptions in the operation of the ports.
The Ukrainian side attempts to intercept the drones using fighter jets.
Previous reports from Western sources claimed that two Russian Su-57 are patrolling over the Black Sea, leaving open the possibility of further aerial clashes.
“The main thing is not to stop”
The channel Rybar on Telegram commented: “Finally, the tank is burning. Today, a tank in the northern part of the Pivdennyi port was hit with a Geran drone, and the fire in a tank full of oil was visible even on a low-resolution satellite image.”
The channel notes that for a long time it was clear that the weakening of the Ukrainian presence in the Black Sea could only be achieved through systematic attacks against coastal infrastructure and ships.
“Until now we saw mainly attacks on sunflower oil and grain warehouses.
Of course, these too must be hit, but if the goal is the weakening of military capability, then a different approach should have been followed,” report the analysts of Rybar.
As an argument, they cite data according to which the attacks on critical port installations were limited and some targets had been hit only once, even from the 2022–2023 period.
“In Illichivsk, a strike was recorded in the autumn of 2025, and before that the previous one was in 2023.
In Pivdennyi, one tank was hit last week, and previously another attack had taken place in April 2026.
The smaller oil installations remain almost untouched since the start of the military operation,” adds the channel Rybar.
There is still much to be done
Other Russian analysts note that the Ukrainian side acts with consistency and method when attacking Russian targets, seeking not only the breaking of the air defense through successive waves, but also the repetition of attacks after the repair of the installations.
The coordinator of the pro-Russian network in the Mykolaiv area, Sergey Lebedev, stated: “The situation became somewhat more positive. We are indeed striking the ports and restricting the logistics of Ukraine.
It should have been done much earlier, but it is positive that it is being done now.
Not everything is completed; much work remains.”
He, however, disagreed with the assessment that the Ukrainian ports have already been paralyzed.
As he argued, such a result can only be achieved through prolonged and repeated attacks.
“You strike a target and wait for them to start repairs.
As soon as they repair it, you attack again and they have to start from the beginning.
Perhaps, after a month, the port will truly stop functioning,” he reported.
Chaos in the Azov and Black Sea
The attacks on the ports of the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions have not stopped the Ukrainian attacks against Russian tankers in the Azov and Black Sea.
However, Russian analysts argue that the Ukrainian side is now suffering a significant economic cost, as agricultural exports constitute one of the most basic sources of foreign currency for Kyiv and contribute to the funding of the purchase of components for millions of drones.
As is pointed out, the destruction of port installations and the systematic attacks against ships should not be treated as occasional “retaliation,” but as a long-term strategy.
In this context, they propose the destruction of transport and energy infrastructure, the mining of ports, and the creation of high risk for foreign ships, proposing the continuous and uninterrupted continuation of the operations.
Massive strikes in Kyiv, Odesa with 8 ballistic missiles and 146 drones
In its announcement, the Ministry of Defense of Russia reports that the armed forces of Russia carried out group strikes against enterprises of the Ukrainian defense industry in Kyiv, as well as against installations in the ports of Odesa.
The Air Force of Ukraine announced that the attack was manifested with:
1) 8 ballistic missiles Iskander-M/S-400 from the Bryansk region of Russia,
2) 4 cruise missiles Kh-22/32 from the airspace over the Black Sea,
3) 1 anti-radar missile Kh-31P,
4) 5 loitering munitions of the Banderol type,
5) 146 attack UAVs of the Shahed type (including Gerbera, Talmas drones, and decoy drones of the Parodiya type).
As reported, the attacks originated from the directions of Kursk, Orel, Millerovo from Russia, from Donetsk, and Hvardiiske in Crimea.
The Air Force of Ukraine announced that it shot down three of the eight ballistic missiles and 129 of the 146 unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).
It was not possible to intercept all four cruise missiles Kh-22/32, as well as one anti-radar missile Kh-31P.
“Strikes from five ballistic missiles Iskander-M/S-400, one anti-radar missile Kh-31P, and 16 attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were recorded in 15 different locations, while falls of debris from shot-down targets occurred in seven spots.
The cruise missiles Kh-22/32 did not reach their targets,” the Ukrainians report.
The targets
As reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the targets of the attacks in Kyiv were infrastructure facilities, fuel storage sites, and assembly enterprises of medium and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).
According to the same announcement, high-precision long-range weapons as well as unmanned aerial vehicles were used in the attacks.
It is noted that the air raid on Kyiv took place a few hours before the visit of the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to Kyiv, which constitutes one of his last international obligations before handing over the prime ministership to his successor and after the removal of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Mykhaylo Fedorov, by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in the context of a government reshuffle.
Large fire on the left bank of Kyiv
Earlier, the channel SHOT on Telegram broadcast that a large fire broke out in Kyiv following the Russian strikes.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out in the area of the Darnytskyi concrete factory, which manufactures fortification works for the Ukrainian army.
SHOT reported that it is one of the largest producers of reinforced concrete constructions in Ukraine.
The information about the powerful strike in this area of Darnytskyi is also confirmed by data from the fire monitoring service NASA FIRMS, based on which it is reported that a large fire is raging on the left bank of Kyiv.
However, it is not clarified which exact target was hit by the Russian forces.
Ukrainian Liutyi and Leleka-100 drones turned to dust
The Armed Forces of Russia struck an installation in Kyiv that assembles the Liutyi and Leleka-100 attack unmanned aerial vehicles, according to an announcement by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
“Were hit in the city of Kyiv: a drone warehouse of the radio-electronic industry enterprise Kyiv-1, which carries out the assembly and storage of long-range aircraft-type attack UAVs AN-196 Liutyi, as well as reconnaissance UAVs Leleka-100.
In the same space, components for UAVs of various types were also stored,” claims the Ministry of Defense of Russia.
Also, the Ministry of Defense of Russia announced that in Kyiv, an industrial facility of the logistics company PJSC Rapid was also hit, which carries out the assembly and storage of long and medium-range aircraft-type UAVs, as well as the storage of foreign components used for their production.
Fuel stations turned to ashes
According to the same information, an engineering equipment factory specializing in the repair and modernization of railway wagons was also hit.
In the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv, a fire broke out in a storage space.
In addition, according to the preliminary information cited by SHOT, among the targets was also the recruitment office of the Darnytskyi district, as well as a neighboring fuel station.
In the same area are warehouses, repair shops, and production facilities that, according to the publication, are used for the support of the Ukrainian armed forces.
According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS), in the Darnytskyi district, a fire broke out in a warehouse and in parked truck vehicles.
Two people lost their lives and another two were injured, among whom was a child.
In the Sviatoshynskyi district, a fire also broke out in a storage space, resulting in the injury of another three people.
As reported, the attack was carried out with Geran unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic missiles.
Chaos for a week now in Odesa
At the same time, it reports that infrastructure was hit in the ports of Odesa and Yuzhny, which was used for the transport and storage of military equipment and fuel.
The Ministry of Defense of Russia also claimed that, during their approach to the ports of the region of Odesa, a ship and a speedboat of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (SSO) were destroyed.
As was clarified by the Russian side, a cargo ship en route to the port of Chornomorsk, which transported cargoes for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was hit, as well as a speedboat of the Ukrainian SSO in the area of Snake Island.
At the port of Odesa, another five fuel and lubricant tanks, which were intended for the support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, were hit.
In addition, channels on Telegram claim that the Russians struck a fuel base in the village of Vyzyrka in the region of Odesa.
Attack also in Kharkiv
During the night, Kharkiv received an attack by Geran unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the mayor Ihor Terekhov.
In the Shevchenkivskyi district, a drone hit a park area, causing damage to a cinema, a parking space, and tennis courts.
A second strike in the same area occurred in a complex of private garages, as reported by the local Ukrainian authorities.
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