The General Staff in Kyiv announced that Ukrainian forces had repulsed Russian forces advancing towards the towns of Pakmut and Soledar in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed confidence in the Russian military’s face of victory.

In detail, Russian and separatist forces were reported to have made some gains in Vershinia, 10 kilometers southeast of Baghmut, while Ukrainian forces repelled other attacks in the area. Russian attacks north of Sloviansk were also repulsed.

Dozens of Ukrainian positions in Solitaire, Donetsk region, and neighboring Kharkiv came under artillery and airstrikes.

The Kyiv government tried to retake parts of the south, including Kherson.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, more than 20 missiles were fired from Belarusian territory into Ukraine overnight, hitting infrastructure in Vyshhorod, north of Kiev, and neighboring Chernihiv province.

Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk region said Ukrainian shelling killed four civilians yesterday. A post on the separatists’ Telegram channel said four people had been killed and 11 injured.

Russian-backed separatists have controlled the city of Donetsk since 2014. Ukrainian forces still control areas on the outskirts of the city.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday, during the celebration of the new holiday of the state institution, set for July 28, confidently said that he would win in the face of the Russian army.

Kyiv announced yesterday that the country had seen a turbulent morning with missile attacks, but said Ukraine would not surrender. He congratulated the citizens for the first celebration of the new holiday announced along with Independence Day on August 24.

“Ukraine is a free, independent and indivisible country,” Zelensky said. And it will last forever.” The President of Ukraine released a touching video about the country’s struggle against the Russians. He said the country is fighting for freedom.

Zelensky said Ukraine has so far lost control of 20% of its territory during the war, now in its sixth month. He called for more heavy weapons from the West, an end to Russian offensives, and the liberation of Russian-held lands.

By announcing a new holiday set up by Zelensky last year, Ukraine is resisting Russian claims that it is not a real state but an artificial entity.

In Istanbul, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a press conference yesterday that there was a need to focus on a ceasefire between the warring parties after a grain export deal with Ukraine and Russia ended last week.

In Washington, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken yesterday reiterated his condemnation of Russia’s war on Ukraine and its aftermath, hinting that the impact of sanctions on Moscow would grow over time.

In a series of tweets, Blinken said: “President (Vladimir) Putin’s war on Ukraine entered its sixth month this week. The costs continue to rise in the form of unimaginable death and destruction and a global food crisis. All because President Putin was determined to invade a country.

75,000 Russians have been killed or injured during the war in Ukraine, according to a member of the US Congress (CNN).

Democrat Eliza Slatkin spoke to the network after a secret briefing with officials from US President Joe Biden’s administration.

“We have been told that over 75,000 Russians have been killed or wounded, which is huge,” Slatkin said.

In response, the Kremlin described the data released by the US on Russian dead and wounded in the war in Ukraine as “false”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday: “However, these are not statements issued by the US administration, but published in newspapers.

Blinken: The impact of sanctions on Moscow will grow over time

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