Reznikov to step down as defense minister, Ukrainian soldiers destroy Russian boat in Black Sea: highlights

Dismissal of Minister of Defense

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decided to replace the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. The head of state believes that Oleksii Reznikov should be replaced by Rustem Umerov.

"Oleksii Reznikov has been through more than 550 days of full-scale war. I believe that the Ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the military and society as a whole. Now Rustem Umerov should head the Ministry," the President said.

Zelenskyy added that he expects the parliament to support this candidate. The Rada will be asked to make a personnel decision this week.

Destruction of Russian boat

Ukrainian naval aviation destroyed the Russian boat Tunets in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. The occupiers suffered losses. The Russians wanted to make a landing.

As a result of the Ukrainian aviation's attack on the KC-701 boat, six Russians were killed and two others were wounded.

The situation at the front

Tavria commander General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi said that Ukrainian troops have broken through the first line of Russian defense in Zaporizhzhya Oblast after weeks of painstaking demining. He expects faster successes in the future, as the second line is weaker.

According to Tarnavskyi's estimates, Russia devoted 60% of its time and resources to building the first line of defense and only 20% each to the second and third lines, as Moscow did not expect Ukrainian forces to break through.

New rules

The Ministry of Defense has approved a new schedule of diseases that determine the degree of fitness for military service. Now there will be more people fit for service in wartime.

Other news

• Deputy Head of the President's Office Rostyslav Shurma confirmed that his brother, Oleh Shurma, received money from the state-owned enterprise Guaranteed Buyer for electricity from solar power plants located in the occupied parts of Zaporizhzhya Oblast.
• Russian troops attacked Kherson Oblast: a man was killed on the spot and four others were wounded. In addition, the occupiers shelled Pivnichne, Tykhonivka and Toretsk in Kramatorsk district of Donetsk Oblast. One person was killed and wounded, and there were also destructions.
• In the early hours of August 3, Russian troops attacked Odesa Oblast with 25 Shahed-136/131 attack drones. Air defense forces shot down 22 drones. There were hits to port infrastructure, two civilians were injured.