Ukraine fired more than 400 drones toward Moscow on Monday, the city's mayor said, starting a fire at the Yuzhnye Vrata industrial park – another Wildberries warehouse site like those hit over the weekend. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes targeted logistics facilities and an oil depot in the Moscow region, as well as two vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet and four dry cargo ships in the Black Sea.
Russian Missile Use Exceeds Production
Russia has launched more ballistic missiles against Ukraine in July so far than it is thought to produce each month, the Institute for the Study of War thinktank said on Sunday. "Russia appears to be dipping into its stockpiles to continue increasing the number of ballistic missiles it launches against Ukraine, as these missiles have a higher success rate than drones and cruise missiles."
Casualties in Ukraine
An attack on an infrastructure facility in Odesa on Monday killed at least three people and injured three others, a city official said. Further deaths were reported in Pavlograd, Kramatorsk, and the Zaporizhzhia region. Russian strikes have killed 28 people in the Odesa region in July, said Governor Oleh Kiper: "If you take since the beginning of July, the Odesa region was under constant daily shelling. There were days when 13-15 air raid alerts had been announced in the region."
Ukrainian Army Chief Expected to Lose Job
Ukraine's military commander in chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, was widely expected to lose his job, amid signs that Zelenskyy has bowed to protests triggered by his sacking last week of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Ukraine's general staff denied media reports Syrskyi was about to be sacked, but Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov hinted at it, saying "the public's position has been heard" and the situation was being resolved "professionally and constructively", urging "everyone to keep calm". One source in the armed forces confirmed Syrskyi's imminent departure: "His destiny is decided. The question is who will replace him. There are a few important requirements. The person should be known and popular so everyone applauds." Budanov added: "The enemy is closely watching every one of our internal disputes and waiting for us to start fighting among ourselves … work is under way. Results will follow."
Strikes on Belgorod and Odesa Port
Ukrainian strikes on Russia's Belgorod border region killed six people on Monday, authorities said, while Kyiv reported eight deaths after Russian attacks. Acting Governor Alexander Shuvaev said a Ukrainian drone struck a passenger coach, and another strike killed a man at a car wash. Ukraine denies targeting civilians. Ukraine's seaports authority said a cargo vessel under the flag of Guinea Bissau was hit by Russian forces on Sunday shortly after leaving Odesa port, killing 10 crew members, including five Syrian sailors. Eight people were rescued from the ship carrying Ukrainian corn. India said four of its nationals were among those killed and another was injured in attacks on the MV Golden Leo. Syria condemned the attacks on commercial vessels with Syrian sailors aboard.
