Deadly Missile Strike on Grain Ship
Ukraine has blamed Russia for a deadly strike on a Turkish cargo ship carrying grain, which killed six people and left four other sailors missing. Ukraine's navy reported that Russia launched three cruise missiles at the Golden Leo, a vessel flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau, as it was leaving the combat zone with a cargo of grain. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga stated that the crew included citizens of Syria and India, while Prime Minister Sergiy Koretsky confirmed the vessel was struck near Odesa after leaving port.
Transport Minister Mykola Kalashnyk announced on Telegram that eight crew members were rescued, two of whom were injured. He added, 'Unfortunately, as of now, six sailors are confirmed dead, and four more are missing.' Sybiga also confirmed that a Ukrainian maritime pilot was killed in the attack, stating on X: 'While the world is still responding to Russia's brutal overnight attack on Kyiv, Moscow continues its campaign of terror throughout the day.'
Massive Russian Missile Attack on Kyiv
Russia carried out one of its largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities on Sunday, launching a five-hour overnight assault that left at least six people dead and dozens injured, causing fires and damage across the capital. Ukrainian officials reported that the capital was hit with about 40 Iskander-M and hypersonic Zircon missiles. A three-storey building caught fire in the central Shevchenkivskyi district, with rescuers digging out several people trapped inside and recovering a body. Four other areas were hit, with fires reported at offices, residential buildings, and a dormitory.
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Oil Depots
Ukrainian forces struck three oil depots and a fuel facility in Russia's southern Stavropol region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday. He also announced on X that three Russian tankers from the 'shadow fleet' had been struck in the Black Sea.
Putin Thanks North Korea for Support
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea for supporting Russia's war on Ukraine during a meeting with visiting Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. 'I would like once again to express my gratitude for the support provided to the special military operation we are conducting,' Putin said on Sunday. He added, 'We will never forget' the 'heroic deeds' of North Korean soldiers, who would be 'honoured in the same way as our compatriots.' Russia's foreign ministry stated that Choe was visiting at the invitation of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. North Korea has sent troops to Russia's Kursk region and supplied weapons systems to support Moscow's war effort, while in return, analysts say the impoverished and isolated country has received financial assistance, food, energy supplies, and military technology from Moscow.
Russian Anti-War Politician Barred from Elections
Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin has announced he will not run in September's legislative elections, stating he has been 'silenced' and 'pushed out of politics.' Nadezhdin, one of the few Russian politicians openly criticizing Putin and Moscow's Ukraine offensive, was recently convicted for displaying 'extremist symbols.' 'My ability to legally engage in opposition politics in Russia has been exhausted,' he wrote on Telegram on Sunday. 'I'm not prepared to put at risk those who support me and took part in the election campaign.' The 63-year-old's campaign had been severely compromised after he was declared a 'foreign agent' earlier this month, followed by his sentencing for 'displaying extremist symbols' for posting a video in 2023 that briefly showed deceased dissident Alexei Navalny.
