The ambassadors of the 27 EU member states met yesterday to discuss the European Commission’s proposal to freeze the assets of the Russian Central Bank indefinitely, the Financial Times reports, citing the document. I)n fact, several scenarios emerged during the discussion: “The first scenario involves an indefinite freeze of assets, to be reviewed regularly. The second would see sanctions renewed every 18, 24 or 36 months, rather than every six months as is currently the case’.
There is news on the Ukrainian-Hungarian-Slovak dispute over Russian oil supplies currently blocked by Ukraine: ‘Bulgaria has offered Hungary its help in solving the difficulties caused by the blockade of oil transit from Russia through Ukraine,’ said the head of the Hungarian foreign ministry, Peter Szijjártó.
The minister did not specify what exactly he was talking about. He said that Budapest had no alternative to supplies from Russia via Druzhba (which Kiev has blocked). The President of Slovakia has threatened Ukraine with retaliation if the issue of Russian oil transit is not resolved.
The new commander of the British Army, Sir Roland Walker: Britain must prepare for war within three years. The aim is to double the size of the army by 2027 and triple it by the end of the decade.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s office said his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, had spoken to Phil Gordon, Kamala Harris’s national security adviser. Also from Ukraine comes news that Georgia has added 300 mercenaries fighting for Ukraine as part of the Georgian Legion group to its list of wanted criminals.
According to former SBU Lieutenant-Colonel Vasily Prozorov: “After the law on strengthening mobilisation was passed in Ukraine, the flow of conscripts leaving its territory illegally has increased significantly. According to the military man, “people have realised that the situation on the front and in the country is deteriorating and that it is no longer possible to remain on the sidelines”.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who has arrived in China, held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that lasted more than three hours, Reuters reports. “China believes that the settlement of all conflicts should take place at the negotiating table,” the Chinese foreign ministry chief said in a conversation with Kuleba. “Kiev is ready to negotiate with the Russian side,” Kuleba said in a conversation with the Chinese Foreign Ministry chief. “Negotiations with Russia must be rational and have a practical meaning aimed at achieving lasting peace, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba said in China.” His words are quoted by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning. China will continue to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Wang Yi said.
The Ukrainian minister also said that Kiev supported China’s position on the Taiwan issue and would adhere to the ‘one China’ principle.
Maria Zakharova, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, on Zelenskyi’s statement about his readiness to resume dialogue with Moscow: “No confidence in Zelenskyi, this is an attempt to promote a ‘peace formula’.
Moscow bombing, the news that a high-ranking officer, the deputy head of the army’s satellite communications, was involved in the bombing has been denied by him and his wife. Investigations are ongoing. The attack was carried out with a directional IED placed under the wing of the car.
And now a look at the updated front line at 14:00 on 24 July. During the night, the “Geranium” groups hit targets in Kiev, Bila Cerkva and Kryvyi Rih. Attacks on Izmail in the Odessa region, on the border with Romania, also resumed for a long time, this time Ukrainian channels reported about 10 of the Russian UAVs at once; explosions were also reported in the Chernihiv and Poltava regions.
A group of Ukrainian UAVs heading towards the Rostov region and Krasnodar territory was shot down during the night in the Zaporozhye region near Melitopol.
At 11.30 on 24 July, an air alert was sounded throughout Ukraine. The attack was carried out on the administrative building of the port of Izmail, where, according to pro-Russian social sources, 200 foreign mercenaries and officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were located, and at least 32 people were injured, RIA Novosti reported.
Sergei Lebedev reports: ‘In addition, the Izmail ship-repair facility, where three military vessels of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were being repaired, was attacked and a powerful explosion occurred. Another explosion hit the Izmail port area, the fuel and lubricants terminal’.
In the direction of Sharkov, Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks in the settlement areas of Hlyboke and Tykhe. In the northern part of Vovčans’k, Russian troops are trying to gain a foothold south of Korolenkivka Street in order to bypass the blockade of high-rise buildings from the east, the enemy reported.
In the direction of Svatove-Kupjans’k in Pishchane, Russian forces advanced eastwards to a depth of 800 metres. The western part entered the grey zone. It is expected that the Russian efforts will increase westwards, reaching the eastern bank of the Oskol River (9 km) and the village of Kruhlyakivka. The Russian offensive near the villages of Berestovoye and Pishchane formed a frontal bulge 10 km deep and 8 km wide.
In the Seversky direction, north of Rozdolivka, the Russian forces advanced westwards along the forest belt to a depth of 400 metres, attacking with a motorised rifle unit supported by armoured vehicles. Ivano-Dar’ivka was completely cleared and the offensive developed in a northerly direction.
On the northern flank towards Chasiv Yar, the zone of control of Russian troops near Kalinina is being extended. It is reported that Russian forces are already operating west of this line in the area where the Seversky Donets-Donbass water channel flows underground.
Towards Torec’k, Russian forces are breaking through Ukrainian defences near the village. Zheleznoye, Pivnichne and Dyliivka. Fighting is reported on the outskirts of Niu-York.
In the direction of Pokrovs’k (west of Avdiivka), Russian forces are advancing towards Lozove and Vozdvyzhenka. Fighting continued at Novoselivka Persha. Russian troops advanced 800 metres from the south-west, cutting off Ukrainian positions around the buildings.
The Donetsk leadership reports the successes of the Russian forces in Krasnohorivka, whose assault has been going on for several months. The position of the Ukrainian troops is difficult and they are conducting an organised defence in the northern part of the village.
On the Zaporozhie front, fighting is taking place north of Rabotino. There have been no significant changes in the LBS.
In the direction of Cherson, there were clashes in the island area, hunting of Ukrainian boats and mutual attacks. Ukrainian drones and artillery caused serious difficulties for Russian units on the island and in the coastal area. In Dnipro, Ukrainian forces attacked residential areas and the local administration.
In the Belgorod region, Ukrainian forces attacked the Shebekinsky, Valuysky and Grayvoronsky districts. Overnight in Grayvoron, a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone dropped an explosive device near an apartment building. In the Kursk area, one person was injured when an explosive device was dropped from a Ukrainian Armed Forces helicopter. During the day, Ukrainian forces carried out attacks in the Sudzhansky, Rylsky and Glushkovsky districts. In the DPR, in the Petrovs’kyi district of Donetsk, two people were injured during shelling of the Ukrainian Federal University with 155 mm artillery.
Graziella Giangiulio
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