Ukraine suffers port attacks as protests persist over defence shake-up

Russia conducted several deadly attacks across Ukraine, resulting in at least four civilian deaths. In Mykolaiv, Russian drones struck port infrastructure, damaging three foreign vessels and reportedly killing two Ukrainians aboard one of them. A woman was killed and six others injured in a Russian drone attack in Kherson, while a man died in a Russian attack in Odesa. These attacks occurred as Ukrainians protested for a second day against President Zelenskyy's removal of the defence minister. Both Ukraine and Russia have intensified missile and drone attacks on vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, which are crucial for grain exports.

Russian attacks on Ukraine's deepwater Black Sea ports in the Odesa area, crucial for grain and cargo exports, have resulted in three deaths. These strikes are part of ongoing reciprocal attacks on shipping infrastructure. Overnight, Ukraine reported its drones struck 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea, following similar actions in the Sea of Azov that have led Russia to restrict shipping there. Amidst these military actions, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, with a vote on a likely successor, Serhiy Koretskyi, scheduled. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv for her eleventh visit since the 2022 invasion.

Ukraine has forced Russia to suspend shipping in the Sea of Azov following a week of drone attacks targeting approximately 90 vessels. Ukrainian drone forces reported hitting 10 tankers and four ferries overnight, along with a major oil refinery in Syzran and electricity substations in Crimea. These strikes have disrupted Russia's vital maritime corridor, impacting the transport of oil, grain, and other products. Experts suggest these attacks are part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to isolate Crimea and degrade Russia's logistical capabilities. The Kerch strait, connecting the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea, is reportedly no longer usable by Russia's shadow fleet.

Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian fuel supply routes near occupied Crimea. Between July 6 and 9, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck multiple tankers in the Sea of Azov and off the Crimean coast. Two empty tankers were attacked in Taganrog Bay on Wednesday, continuing to burn on Thursday. Earlier in the week, two tankers carrying approximately 7,000 tons of fuel each from Taganrog to Crimea were also targeted. Satellite imagery from Wednesday showed a large smoke plume from a ship near Crimea, with fires detected there since July 6. These strikes are part of Ukraine's strategy to disrupt supplies and routes into and out of Crimea.

Ukraine conducted drone attacks targeting Russian energy infrastructure, hitting two oil tankers in the Sea of Azov and several oil facilities across Russia. The strikes, which occurred overnight into Thursday, reportedly set the tankers ablaze and damaged oil depots in the Tver and Stavropol regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that forces also struck a reserve fuel storage facility, an oil-pumping station in Ufa, and an oil-loading terminal in the Rostov region. These attacks are part of Ukraine's stated campaign of "long-range sanctions" in response to Russian aggression and the ongoing war. The strikes have contributed to a fuel crisis in Russia, leading to export bans and reported shortages in many regions.

Ukraine has conducted a significant drone offensive targeting Russia's maritime and energy infrastructure, striking 21 vessels and multiple refineries and facilities over three days. These attacks, described as reaching an "industrial scale," have disrupted fuel supplies and forced Russia to temporarily ban diesel exports. The strikes demonstrate Ukraine's growing long-range capabilities, reaching deep into Russian territory, including a refinery in Siberia. Concurrently, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with President Trump at a NATO summit, where the US agreed to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air-defense interceptors and discussed a potential drone agreement. These actions aim to pressure Russia's war effort and protect Ukraine's domestic industry.

Ukraine has escalated its aerial attacks, targeting Russian oil storage, ports, and refineries deep within Russia, including strikes in the Urals region, over the past week. President Zelenskyy announced this marks a "new stage" in Ukraine's use of weapons to disrupt Russia's war capabilities. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed striking a strategically important oil pumping and distribution facility in Perm, which reportedly resulted in widespread fires. Russia's Ministry of Defence acknowledged the strikes and reported downing numerous Ukrainian drones. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned these attacks as "terrorist attacks," and Russia has cited the "current operational situation" as a reason for scaling back its Victory Day parade. This campaign aims to reduce Russia's oil revenue, with Ukraine claiming to have significantly impacted oil offloading ports.