Russia “strikes back” today. This might be a response to successful attacks on Russian oil infrastructure
Zelensky: over 60 "shaheds" and nearly 90 different missiles targeted at power plants, power lines, a hydroelectric dam, residential buildings 1/
This is the largest combined attack on the Ukrainian power system since the beginning of the full-scale invasion: Ukrenergo
100s of thousands of homes are in blackout 2/
Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Donetsk are in blackout and being stabilized
There are interruptions of internet and water supply in multiple regions 3/
-Russia hit the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant. There is a major fire but no threat of a dam breach.
Ukrhydroenergo reported two direct missile hits on the plant. One part is in a critical condition and unlikely to be repaired, Ukrhydroenergo director Ihor Syrota 4/
Ukrainian Armed Forces shoot down 92 out of 151 missiles and drones - Air Force.
Russian opposition figure Kara-Murza in WP: Russians have returned to PACE to shape what Russia must look like after Putin and to draft a roadmap for democratic transition
The Council of Europe admitted 15 anti-war Russian opposition figures, four years after expelling Russia.1/
The delegates replace former Kremlin MPs like Pyotr Tolstoy and ex-ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Petra Bayr, President of the Assembly, opened the session by stating: “Russia is not only a regime.” 2/
Russia joined the Council of Europe in 1996. Membership gave Russian citizens access to the European Court of Human Rights.
Over the years, the court issued thousands of rulings in favor of Russians challenging unlawful state actions. 3/
Former CIA Director Petraeus: Ukraine plans to produce 7 million drones this year, compared to roughly 300,000 in the US. It’s at the forefront of modern warfare.
If you want to see the future of war, come to Ukraine — on both sides, innovation is moving fast.
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Petraeus: Ukraine’s innovation is extraordinary. I’ve never seen anything like it. The speed at which new drone capabilities are deployed is remarkable.
It has helped offset Russia’s advantages — five times more manpower and an economy 10–15 times larger.
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Petraeus: In Ukraine, those who design, build, and use drones are the same people, working fast.
The US system is far more cumbersome. Ukraine is creating tomorrow’s tech for today’s war. We need to transform much of our force.
Former CIA Director Petraeus: I said from the start Russia would not take Kyiv. Others predicted it would fall in 3–5 days. Kyiv is a vast city with brave defenders.
It would be extremely hard to break in — and Ukraine’s actions denied Russia the airfield north of the capital.1/
Petraeus: The Budapest Memorandum was a major failure.
Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances from the US, Russia, and the UK and those guarantees weren’t upheld. This is Ukraine’s war for independence — a fight for its very survival.
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Petraeus: US sanctions are under Senate review.
If paired with the EU’s 19th package and continued military support, the pressure could be strong enough to push Putin toward a ceasefire by the end of the year.