Armed Forces clear Snake Island, Russian economy braces for protracted war: last night's highlights

Ukraine's armed forces are conducting a military operation to clear the liberated Snake Island, and the Kremlin appears to be trying to mobilize the Russian economy and industry to support the war. Here is what you may have missed from the past night.

Strikes on Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast

The Russian occupiers once again shelled the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk Oblast on July 1, and then carried out an airstrike. As a result, at least five civilians were injured, including an 11-year-old child.

The clearing of Snake Island continues

The Armed Forces of Ukraine discovered and destroyed a number of units of Russian equipment on July 1 that remained on Snake Island after the retreat of the Russians. Operational Command "South" reported that the military operation to clear the island of the enemy is ongoing. There were no signs of the presence of the enemy on the island.

The Pentagon confirmed that the Russian occupiers retreated from the Snake Island precisely because of active shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and not as a "sign of good will", as Russia claimed. They also say that now it has become much easier for Ukraine to defend Odesa and, in the future, to unblock these sea routes.

Preparation of the Russian economy for a protracted war

It seems that the Kremlin is trying to mobilize the Russian economy and industry to support the war against Ukraine and is preparing for protracted hostilities, according to the American Institute for the Study of War.

Analysts noted that on June 30, the Kremlin proposed changes to the law on the armed forces of the Russian Federation, which, in particular, should compel Russian enterprises to provide their products for "special military operations" and prohibit them from refusing relevant state orders.

Fighting in the south

On the southern front, the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck the warehouses and stronghold of the occupiers, as well as a cluster of enemy forces and equipment. The enemy lost, in particular, the Tor anti-aircraft missile system, a howitzer and three ammunition depots.

In turn, on July 1, the Russians carried out six airstrikes on the positions of Ukrainian units, on Snake Island and on peaceful settlements.

Boris Johnson is an honorary citizen of Odesa

The Mayor of Odesa, Gennadiy Trukhanov, awarded the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, with Honorary Badges named after Grigory Marazli of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees. Thus, Johnson automatically received the title of honorary citizen of the city of Odesa.

270 shells in Sumy Oblast

The Russian occupiers continued shelling the Sumy Oblast on July 1: they fired over 270 mines, rockets and projectiles of various calibers during the day. As a result of the shelling, one woman was injured, and infrastructure was also damaged: houses of civilians, farms, electricity grids and a water tower.

Re-establishment of communication between ZNPP and the IAEA

The state nuclear enterprise Energoatom by its own efforts restored the lost connection between the Zaporizhzhya NPP and the International Atomic Energy Agency. There was no communication for several days due to disconnection of the Vodafone carrier in the city of Enerhodar by the occupiers.

Energoatom says that the connection was restored, despite the fact that the mobile networks of domestic operators are still not working. "All mandatory monitoring data is being transmitted and the Agency has confirmed its receipt," the company said.

A ship from occupied Berdyansk arrived at a Turkish port

Ukraine has asked Turkey to detain and arrest the Russian cargo ship Zhibek Zholy, which arrived at the Turkish port of Karasu: this ship probably brought Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied Berdyansk.

The heads of Russian arms companies are not under sanctions

Almost three dozen heads of Russian arms firms (and at least 14 defense companies) have not been sanctioned by the US, EU and the UK. In addition, the Reuters study found that countries applied sanctions inconsistently, and not all governments implemented restrictions.

Russia does not have enough forces to control Kherson Oblast

The United States believes that Russia does not have enough forces to control the occupied Kherson Oblast, as it withdrew part of its troops to reinforce the offensive in Donbas, CNN writes.

Now Ukrainian partisans probably have new opportunities to resist the occupation authorities. Ukrainian defenders are also conducting limited counterattacks near Kherson.