Russia intensifying attacks on Ukraine in response to Kyiv’s counteroffensive

Europe, News August 1, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s military infrastructure in response to Kyiv’s counteroffensive operation, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu said during a press conference on July 31, 2023.

The Russian defense minister said that “Against the background of the failure of the so-called ‘counteroffensive’, Kyiv regime, with the support of Western sponsors, has focused on carrying out terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure.” Shoigu added that “The intensity of our strikes against Ukrainian military facilities… has been considerably increased.”

The Russian defense minister made questionable claims by stating that Ukraine has lost “over 20,800 troops… 2,227 items of various armament, including 10 Leopard tanks, 11 American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 40 US-made M777 artillery systems and 50 self-propelled artillery guns from Great Britain, the United States, Germany, France, and Poland.”

Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov claimed that Russian air defense forces have shot down a “Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 plane near the settlement of Nikolayevka” in the Donetsk region. He added that “During the last 24-hour period, they intercepted 12 rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system.”

The Russian official claimed that Ukrainian armed forces attacked in three directions, including Donetsk, south Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia. The Russian spokesperson also claimed that the Ukrainian troops continued their counteroffensive operation in Kherson.

*^{Russian forces operating military equipment. (Image Credit: Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation/TASS)}*

On July 30, Ukraine conducted several drone attacks targeting Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that three drones were intercepted but a business and shopping development in the west of Moscow was hit. Russia’s TASS news agency reported that “The glazing was shattered as a result of the blast at the level of fifth and sixth floors of the 50-story building on Presnenskaya embankment,” but there were no casualties and no fire.

The Ukrainian president said after the drone attack on Moscow, “The war is returning to Russia’s territory – to its symbolic centers and military bases, and this is an inevitable natural and fair process.”

Ukraine’s Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said the latest drone strikes on Moscow were aimed at impacting Russians who felt the war was distant. The Ukrainian spokesman said, “There’s always something flying in Russia, as well as in Moscow. Now the war is affecting those who were not concerned.”

In retaliation, on July 31, Russia conducted several missile attacks on Ukraine. At least five people have been killed and dozens injured after the Russian missile hit a residential building in Kryvyi Rih city in central Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, the victims include a mother and her 10-year-old child.

It was only in the evening that the rubble in Sumy, where a Russian missile hit, was cleared. The terrorists hit one of the city’s educational institutions. Two people were killed… My condolences to the families and friends!

20 people were injured in the attack. The… pic.twitter.com/Wj60VR2DF0
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 30, 2023

Zelenskyy said on Telegram, “The [rescue] work is difficult – parts of the building’s structure were falling down. The terrorists also targeted the university building and the administrative building. As of now, five people are reported dead, including a child and her mother.” He added, “Dozens of people are injured and traumatized, all of them are being provided with the necessary assistance.”

Separately on July 31, Russia’s Deputy Chairman of the Security Council and former president Dmitry Medvedev warned that if Ukraine’s counteroffensive succeeds, Moscow maybe forced used to a nuclear weapon. Medvedev said, “There simply wouldn’t be any other solution. Our enemies should pray to our fighters that they do not allow the world to go up in nuclear flames.”