The chronicle minute by minute, day 514
Rubble of a destroyed agricultural warehouse in the Odessa region
The Russians bomb 7 population centers in the Sumy region
Russian forces shelled seven population centers in the Sumy region of Ukraine. This was reported by the military administration of the region on its Telegram channel. More than 161 explosions have been recorded. No casualties or major damage to civilian infrastructure were reported. The Sumy region, located on Ukraine’s northeastern border with Russia, has experienced daily assaults since parts of the region were liberated from Russian occupation in April 2022.
The White House: ‘Wagner is no longer fighting in Ukraine’
Fighters of the private military company “Wagner” are no longer fighting in Ukraine, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told Sky News. Sullivan made this statement at the Aspen Security Forum after footage of Wagner Group militants in Belarus appeared online.
Blinken: It will be “very, very difficult” to restore grain supplies from Ukraine
The United States is working to restore grain supplies from Ukraine, but it will be “very, very difficult” to do so, as the Russian Federation threatens to destroy civilian shipping in the Black Sea, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, speaking to Voice of America. “I don’t think we can recover the lost volume that has gone with this initiative through other avenues. So we will do our best,” Blinken continued. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation will consider all ships entering Ukrainian ports to be involved in the war. At the same time, Ukraine has promised to respond in kind.
The US will give Ukraine a new $400 million package
The United States plans to announce a new military aid package for Ukraine in the total amount of up to $400 million as early as Tuesday, July 25. The package consists mainly of artillery, missiles for air defense systems, including Patriots, and ground equipment as the Ukrainian military continues its counteroffensive, according to three US officials. The United States will not include cluster munitions in this package, two officials told reporters on condition of anonymity.
Bulgaria will send 100 armored vehicles to Kiev, for the first time
Bulgaria has decided to send about a hundred armored vehicles to Ukraine. This is the first shipment of arms by the Balkan country so far reluctant to directly provide military aid to Kiev due to its historical ties with Russia. The Sofia parliament approved the pro-European government’s proposal by a large majority (148 votes in favor, 52 against). The Soviet-designed BTR armored personnel carriers, bought in the 1980s, have never been used. The socialists of the PSB, heir to the communist party once in power, opposed the decision, as did the young pro-Russian ultranationalist group Vazrazhdane (rebirth) who spoke of “a betrayal and a disgrace”.
