Ukrainian forces reportedly hit a Russian ammunition depot in the Donetsk region at night, causing a massive explosion.
Russia and pro-Russian forces are now shifting their focus to the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine after having captured the city of Lysychansk in the Luhansk region.
The footage shows a huge plume of smoke rising into the air as an inferno rages in the distance. Every now and then, explosions can be seen as the ammunition depots burn. Flashes light up the screen as larger explosions are triggered by the burning facilities.
The footage was obtained from the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as from the Ukrainian Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) on Monday, July 4.
The Ground Forces said: “Fire show in Snizhny, Donetsk region. The blow fell on the ammunition depots of the occupiers.”
Snizhny is a city located in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, on the border with the separatist pro-Russia Luhansk region.
We contacted the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for further comment, as well as the Russian Ministry of Defense, but haven’t received a reply at the time of writing.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation.” July 4 marks the 131st day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 4, Russia had lost about 36,200 personnel, 1,589 tanks, 3,754 armored combat vehicles, 804 artillery units, 246 multiple launch rocket systems, 105 air defense systems, 217 warplanes, 187 helicopters, 658 drones, 144 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,629 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 65 units of special equipment.
The leaders of dozens of countries, as well as international organizations and companies are gathering in Switzerland to elaborate a “Marshall Plan” roadmap to rebuild Ukraine after the war is over.
Russia has said that it has captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk, in the Sievierodonetsk Raion of the Luhansk Oblast region. This has now also been confirmed by Ukraine’s military, who said they had withdrawn their troops from the city after heavy fighting in order to “preserve the lives of the defenders”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukrainian forces would retake the city “thanks to the increase in the supply of modern weapons.”
The fall of Lysychansk comes just over a week after the nearby city of Sievierodonetsk fell to the Russians.
Sloviansk, an eastern Ukrainian city in the Donetsk Oblast region, was hit by shelling on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least six people, with 20 others injured, according to the city’s mayor, Vadim Lyakh.
The Ukrainian Governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, has said that Russian forces are now likely to shift their focus to the neighboring Donetsk region.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited Kyiv, with Australia vowing to send over $100 million in new aid to Ukraine.
Turkish authorities have detained a Russian cargo ship carrying grain allegedly stolen from Ukraine. The ship is said to contain over 7,000 tons of grain that Russian officials said would be sent to “friendly” countries.
Ukraine has dismissed Russian claims that its forces targeted civilian areas in the city of Belgorod, in Russia, killing three people.
Russian state media has claimed that two more British men captured by Russian troops in Ukraine have been charged with mercenary activities. They have been named as Dylan Healy, a chef who had been volunteering as an aid worker, and Andrew Hill, who was shown by Russia in military uniform.
The announcement comes after two other British men, Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin, were sentenced to death last month.
The European Court of Human Rights intervened, demanding that the sentences be rescinded, but this was rejected by Russia, saying that it would not be implementing the court’s decisions anymore and that the decision to execute the men lies with the pro-Russian, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic.
