Rapid developments are unfolding on the war front in Ukraine following a new massive air strike involving 70 missiles and 280 drones launched earlier today, Thursday, July 30, at dawn against Kyiv and 9 other Ukrainian cities by Russia.
Russian media convey unconfirmed information that the Russian army, as part of its attack, also struck Coca-Cola facilities in Ukraine, with Russian experts stating that if confirmed, it would constitute a clear message to the US to stop pouring fuel on the fire of war regarding the ongoing provision of assistance to Kyiv...
At the same time, Poland maintains that a Russian Kh-101 missile struck its territory, with Western media speaking of a "missile invasion" by Russia... at a time when the US and France are said to have provided all necessary information to the Ukrainians in order to strike targets deep inside Russian territory...
One of the most massive strikes
The Russian Armed Forces carried out, during the night of July 30, massive strikes in many regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv and Lviv.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, targets were defense industry facilities, telecommunications and logistics centers, as well as three cargo ships carrying weaponry.
Ukrainian authorities reported fires following the attacks, while President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that more than 70 missiles and over 280 strike drones were used.
Reports of attack on Coca-Cola facilities
Russian media report that Russian strikes target exclusively infrastructure supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stating that any enterprise used for military or defense purposes constitutes a legitimate target.
Indeed, according to Russian media, among the targets was a Coca-Cola facility, something however that has not been confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
"The Russian president has warned many times that any facility on the territory of Ukraine used for military purposes constitutes a legitimate target.
Therefore, there is nothing unusual about an American facility in Ukraine being struck," stated Russian Colonel Levon Arzanov, member of the organization Officers of Russia.
"Perhaps it is a message to our transatlantic partners: to stop pouring fuel on the fire of this war.
We understand that the Ukrainian conflict continues because the US continues to support the Zelensky regime in every way, providing weapons, intelligence, and general support," emphasized Arzanov, highlighting that it is possible Russian intelligence services identified logistics warehouses there used by the Ukrainian armed forces or other armed nationalist formations.
"Perhaps ammunition, missile components, or equipment for unmanned aerial vehicles are stored there.
For this reason, such warehouses or enterprises, regardless of whether they belong to America or companies connected to it, are considered a legitimate target for the Russian Aerospace Forces," underlined Arzanov.
Explosion in Poland, accusations against Russia
A front, however, opened with Poland as well, which accuses Russia that a Russian Kh-101 missile struck its territory.
The Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, stated that a missile, which according to initial indications was launched from Russia, fell deep inside Polish territory earlier today at dawn.
The missile fell and exploded approximately 90 kilometers inside the territory of Poland, leaving a large crater in the middle of a field, according to local authorities.
"We were ready to shoot down the missile if it continued its course," stated Donald Tusk during an emergency government meeting.
"All indications show that it was a Russian cruise missile of the Kh-101 type," said Tusk, emphasizing that "NATO commanders are constantly kept informed of developments."
Earlier, Poland had announced that it scrambled fighter jets in response to the large Russian attack against Ukraine.
According to the Polish military, the missile crashed in an uninhabited area near the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia, in Lublin province.
Polish police reported that local residents stated they heard a powerful explosion.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, reported that a Russian cruise missile "crossed the airspace of Poland as part of the massive Russian attack against Ukraine."
"Missile invasion"
Indeed, the British newspaper Daily Express (DE) spoke of a potential "missile invasion" by Russia, maintaining that if it is proven that it was a Russian missile that fell on the territory of a NATO country and that the action was deliberate, the event could intensify fears of further escalation of the conflict.
It is noted, however, that all these reactions are recorded at a time when the investigation into the explosion and the object that caused it has not yet been completed...
Dangerous development: US and France "gave" targets to Ukrainians
The US and France provided Ukraine with intelligence that Kyiv used for the preparation of drone attacks against targets in Russia, report the Financial Times in a publication, citing Ukrainian officials.
"Intelligence provided by the US and France helped map the positions of Russian air defense and plan routes allowing drones to bypass it and strike targets deep in the territory of Russia," points out the publication, reporting that intelligence from the two countries influenced the choice of targets, helping Ukrainian long-range drone units determine where to carry out attacks.
The Financial Times had already reported in late June that US intelligence agencies assisted Ukraine in preparing recent attacks on Russian territory, including attacks against Moscow.
According to the same publication, US agencies provided the Ukrainian armed forces with intelligence necessary for selecting targets and carrying out attacks.
At the same time, other allies of Kyiv reportedly called on Washington not to interrupt the sharing of intelligence with the Ukrainian side.
Sources of the newspaper also maintain that President Trump, during discussions with leaders of G7 countries, treated long-range Ukrainian attacks with "enthusiasm" and agreed to the tightening of sanctions against the Russian energy sector.
With Trump's approval
On July 8, President Trump, during a meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on the sidelines of the NATO summit, expressed a positive view on Ukrainian attacks against targets in Russia, stating that these might contribute to ending the conflict.
"This is an escalation, but at the same time an escalation that can contribute to ending the conflict," reported CNN, attributing the statement to Donald Trump.
The stance of Trump was, according to the article, similar to previous statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the growing capability of Ukraine to strike targets deep inside the territory of Russia.
"I believe this is one of the important developments of the recent months of the war: it is becoming increasingly difficult for the Russians to protect their own airspace. We hope this will create the conditions for negotiations," stated Marco Rubio.
What the Kremlin says
For its part, the Kremlin stated that it does not consider that the statements of the US leadership indicate an intention to escalate the confrontation with Russia.
"What we see is rather certain misconceptions in the White House administration, the perception that through escalation and military pressure a peaceful settlement can be achieved.
This is an incorrect assessment. (...)
The increase in tension and actions leading to escalation will in no way contribute to the peace process," stated Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Strikes in Kyiv
The heaviest strikes of today's Russian air attack occurred in Kyiv.
Following a series of attacks with ballistic missiles and drones, fires broke out in various parts of the city, among others in warehouses in the Sviatoshyn and Obolon districts, as well as at the Pochaina market.
The newspaper Strana reports that in certain areas of Kyiv, disruptions in water and electricity supply were recorded.
A fire was also reported at the Mayak plant.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the Kyiv Electrotechnical Plant, where reconnaissance and strike drones are manufactured, was also struck.
Metro stations were not opening
During the night, residents of Kyiv reported on social media that they could not enter metro stations to protect themselves from the missile attack, as, according to them, security was not opening the entrances prior to the official announcement of an air alarm.
On TikTok, a video was published in which people can be seen knocking on the closed doors of a metro station, while a siren is heard and some shout "Ballistic missile!".
Eyewitnesses maintained that citizens waited approximately an hour and a half outside the station, while security personnel cited an instruction prohibiting entry prior to the official activation of the alarm.
According to the same testimonies, the explosions occurred almost immediately after the activation of the sirens.
The management of the Kyiv metro denied that passengers were barred from entering during the attack, but confirmed that access was allowed only after the official announcement of the air alarm, a fact that became the subject of protests by residents of the city.
Explosions in Lviv
In Lviv, where according to local Telegram channels at least ten explosions occurred, the Lviv State Aviation Repair Plant (LDARZ), which specializes in the repair of aviation equipment and rocket engines, as well as the enterprise LORTA, which manufactures aircraft electronics and radar systems, were struck.
The mayor of the city, Andriy Sadovyi, stated that it was "one of the most massive attacks against Lviv," during which more than 20 missiles were launched.
Strikes in other regions of Ukraine
In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, according to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the enterprises SKB OVT and NEFTEMASH were struck, which, according to the ministry, are used for the production and storage of missile weapon systems.
In the Rivne region, the Russian ministry announced that the Rovnoazot plant was struck, which produces components for rocket fuels and equipment for missile systems.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the target was the Kryvyi Rih Turbofan Plant Aquaplast enterprise, which, according to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, is engaged in the production and modernization of strike drones, unmanned surface vessels, and the repair of artillery systems.
In Vinnytsia, following a missile strike, a large fire broke out, while in the Poltava region, according to Ukrainian sources, warehouses of the company Nova Poshta were set on fire.
A strike by a jet-type drone was also reported in the industrial zone of the Novobavarskyi district in Kharkiv.
At the same time, there were reports of explosions in the cities of Poltava, Kryvyi Rih, and Sumy.
The Ministry of Defense of Russia further announced that three cargo ships were struck which, according to it, were carrying weaponry and military materiel.
One was at the port of Yuzhny, while the other two were located east and south of Odesa, heading toward the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk.
Which weapon systems were used
In his message, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that during the night attack, Russian forces used more than 70 missiles, a significant portion of which were, according to him, ballistic, as well as over 280 strike drones.
The Air Force of Ukraine announced that air defense systems managed to intercept only one of the nine ballistic missiles launched.
According to the Ukrainian side, none of the four Zircon missiles were shot down.
The Ministry of Defense of Russia reported that operational-tactical missile systems Iskander-M, hypersonic Zircon missiles, cruise missiles Kalibr and Kh-101, as well as strike drones Geran were used in the attacks.
We are destroying Ukrainian logistics
Andrey Kolesnik, member of the Defense Committee of the State Duma, stated that the new massive attack was carried out as part of an operation aimed at destroying supply chains and arms production for the Ukrainian armed forces.
He added that strikes focus on facilities deep inside the country where military equipment is produced, including Flamingo missiles.
"I believe this is only the beginning; the most important things come later," stated Andrey Kolesnik.
www.bankingnews.gr
Readers’ Comments