Sunday, July 24
9:59 am
UK
Intelligence: Latest Lavrov comment on Russia expanding scope of war
in Ukraine 'almost certainly not true.'
On July 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Russia had expanded the scope of its war in Ukraine beyond Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts to Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as a result of Western countries' longer-range weapons deliveries to Ukraine. According to the U.K. Defense Ministry's latest intelligence update, this is not true, but maintaining control over these areas was "almost certainly an original goal of the invasion." Lavrov may have made these comments to pave the way for referenda to take place beyond Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, the update said.
8:47 am
General
Staff: Ukrainian forces repel another attack on Vuhlehirsk power
plant.
Ukraine’s General Staff reported on July 24 that Russian forces attempted unsuccessfully to take territory surrounding the Vuhlehirsk thermal power plant in Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces reportedly continue to shell military and civilian infrastructure across eastern and southern Ukraine.
7:35 am
Mayor:
Russian proxies to create election commission for so-called
‘referendum’ in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov said on July 23 that Russian proxies issued the order to prepare for an upcoming staged referendum in Melitopol. On July 17, Fedorov said Russian forces in Melitopol were going door-to-door conducting a census scheduled for Sept.
6:28 am
Health
Minister: Russian forces destroy 127 Ukrainian hospitals since start
of war.
Health Minister Viktor Lyashko reported that Russian forces have damaged nearly 900 healthcare facilities since Feb. 24. They have also targeted 90 ambulances, seized 250 vehicles, and damaged 450 pharmacies.
6:15 am
Institute
for the Study of War: Ukrainian forces prepare to launch
counteroffensive in southern Ukraine.
The U.S. think tank reported on July 23 that Ukrainian forces are likely to, or already have, launched a counteroffensive in Kherson Oblast. However, the ISW notes that open-source information on Ukrainian troops’ progress will likely be “limited and lag behind events.”
4:41 am
Mayor:
Explosions heard in Mykolaiv.
Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych reported that five powerful explosions were heard in Mykolaiv around 4:00 a.m. on July 24. Sienkevych urged residents to remain in shelters.
4:23 am
Prosecutor
General’s Office: Russian shelling kills 2, injures 9 in Donetsk
Oblast.
The Prosecutor General’s Office reported that Russian forces attacked Bakhmut, Sloviansk, Toretsk, Siversk, Novomykhailivka, and Lastochkyne on July 22 and 23. Two men were killed and nine people were injured due to Russian shelling and landmines.
3:42 am
Ukraine’s
military destroys Russian military supply point, ammunition depot in
southern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Operational Command “South” reported on July 23 that it killed 54 Russian troops and destroyed three Russian T-62 tanks, three “Grad” MRLS, one Msta-B howitzer, and armored and military vehicles.
3:20 am
RFE/RL:
West may supply up to 30 precision rocket launch systems to Ukraine.
The U.S. and its Western allies are evaluating the possibility of delivering 25-30 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems to Ukraine, U.S. Congressman Adam Smith told RFE/RL. The U.S. announced the delivery of four additional HIMARS to Ukraine on July 22.
2:41 am
Energy
Ministry: Power restored to over 20,000 Ukrainians on July 23.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry reported that around 20,250 consumers in Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv oblasts have regained power. However, around 597,000 consumers remain cut off due to Russia’s war. Gas has reportedly been restored to 1,200 Ukrainians.
2:27 am
Culture
Ministry: Russia committed over 400 crimes against Ukraine’s
cultural heritage.
Ukraine’s Culture Ministry has recorded 434 Russian crimes against Ukrainian cultural heritage sites across 14 oblasts. The highest number of destroyed or damaged sites have been recorded in Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kyiv oblasts.
00:45 am
Bipartisan
House delegation meets with Zelensky in Kyiv.
A bipartisan Congressional delegation led by U.S. Congressman Adam Smith met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov on July 23, reaffirming their support for Ukraine in Congress. “Putin’s aggression has brought Ukraine and the other democracies of Europe closer together, not driven them apart,” they said in a joint statement. The congressmen bore witness to the atrocities committed by Russia in Irpin, Kyiv Oblast, according to Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn.
