Russians intensify their assaults in the Orikhiv area. Russian occupation forces have stepped up their attacks in the Orikhiv area, though there’s no sign of them gearing up for big offensives in Zaporizhzhia. According to Ukrinform, Dmytro Lykhoviy from the Tavria Operational Group shared these latest updates during a national United News telethon. He noted that while Ukrainians fended off four Russian assaults yesterday, there have already been five attacks today, all targeting the village of Mala Tokmachka. The Russians are trying to take back ground lost in 2023, using small, lightly armed infantry groups that aren’t having much luck. The day before, they launched six airstrikes with Su-34 jets and 13 guided bombs on Mala Tokmachka. This morning saw four more airstrikes, dropping nine bombs on Mala Tokmachka and Tyahynka. Despite some rotation among their forces, the enemy is holding steady. “Lykhoviy noted that the Ukrainian army was inflicting significant losses on the Russian troops. Meanwhile, the Russians have been keeping busy with artillery, hitting Defense Forces positions 396 times with 2,300 shells over the last day and bombing 15 towns 27 times. In the Kherson region, Ukrainian forces have taken out three Russian tanks and two air defense systems, “Tor” and “Buk M1,” he added.
Ukraine’s Air Force confirms attack on Saky airfield in occupied Crimea. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that on the night of July 26, Ukrainian forces launched a strike on the Saky airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea. This airfield has been a key site for Russian troops, facilitating endless air raids on Ukrainian territory and controlling airspace over the Black Sea. Ukrainian missile units, in coordination with other defence components, targeted the airfield. Despite the presence of modern Russian air defence systems, they were unable to fend off the Ukrainian attack. The General Staff mentioned that the results of the strike are still being assessed. Before the attack, ballistic alerts reportedly echoed across Crimea, with explosions heard in several areas, including Novofedorivka and Simferopol. This operation highlights Ukraine’s continued efforts to disrupt Russian military infrastructure in the region, showcasing the resilience and strategic capabilities of Ukrainian forces amidst the ongoing war.
Lithuania develops a potential evacuation plan in case of a war. Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) reported that according to the country’s Interior Ministry, Lithuanian ministries and institutions are developing plans for a mass evacuation of civilians in case of military conflict. During a recent meeting, they established how responsibilities for the plan would be divided. The Ministry has asked municipalities to assess their capacity and needs within six weeks to relocate up to a quarter of the population, prioritising those with disabilities, pregnant women, and young families. Details required include evacuation numbers, routes, accommodation, and transport. The plan will also involve international transfers, with discussions underway with neighbouring countries and the Klaipėda Port Authority. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lithuania is preparing evacuation plans for both peace and wartime, following practices seen in Northern Europe.
Romania denies its air defence had to shoot down Russian drones. The Romanian Ministry of Defense’s Media Monitoring Centre has debunked recent social media claims and reports that suggested Romania was struck by Russian drone attacks, with Romanian air defence systems engaging these drones at the border. The Centre clarified that these reports are false, adding that the Russian attacks were aimed at the Ukrainian port infrastructure along the Danube, not Romanian territory. The Centre also denied that Romanian forces stationed at the border targeted any Russian drones in these incidents. Meanwhile, on July 25, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the temporary chargé d’affaires from the Russian Embassy in Bucharest after fragments of Russian drones were discovered in Romania following Russia’s earlier attack on Ukraine. The Ministry issued a strong protest to the Russian diplomat, condemning the repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and demanding an immediate halt. A Romanian government representative emphasised that targeting civilian objects constitutes a war crime.
Russia accuses Ukraine of “unwillingness to negotiate”. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov accused Ukraine of being unwilling to negotiate, all while showcasing Russia’s own reluctance to engage sincerely. On July 25, Peskov claimed that Russia was open to achieving its goals through negotiations but falsely asserted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is an illegitimate leader. He also misleadingly stated that Ukraine had imposed a “de facto legislative ban on any contacts and negotiations with the Russian side.” In reality, Ukraine has outlined a clear plan for lasting peace based on international law and even invited a Russian representative to a peace summit later this year. Despite this, the Kremlin continues to falsely present itself as open to negotiations while seeking a settlement that would lead to Ukraine’s complete surrender. Yet, according to ISW, Peskov’s statements seemed more focused on maintaining the narrative that Russia cannot negotiate with Zelensky rather than showing any genuine willingness to engage in peace talks.
