Russia hit Kherson

On the night of July 7, Russian occupying forces shelled Kherson, as a result of which a cafe building in the city center completely burned down. Fortunately, there were no casualties. This was announced by the head of the regional military administration Oleksandr Prokudin. He also showed a video with the consequences of yet another war crime of the Russian Federation. According to him, the invaders were in the central part of the city, where a fire broke out after the explosions. Cafe "Lito" was destroyed by fire: now there are only ruins on the place of the institution. "Every Kherson resident recognizes this place. The Russians are once again destroying what was an integral part of the city. Cafe "Lito" completely burned down due to enemy shelling, Prokudin wrote. He added that currently there is no information about the victims.

Kyiv restored two-thirds of its generating capacities after Russian missile attacks

Kyiv has successfully restored two-thirds of its generating capacity lost due to recent Russian attacks, according to Petro Pantelieiev, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration. Despite Russian strikes damaging over half of the city's generating capacity, efforts to recover have made significant progress.

Russia has escalated attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, particularly targeting the country's energy grid. One notable incident was the complete destruction of the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant on April 11, a key power supplier for Kyiv and neighboring oblasts.

In response to these attacks, Kyiv is planning to decentralize its electricity and heat production systems by building smaller thermal power plants. Local authorities are also developing autonomous facilities to handle potential power outages. This includes equipping hospitals and district heating boiler houses with generators and ensuring pump rooms can be quickly connected to autonomous power sources.

As a consequence of the attacks, Ukraine began implementing rolling blackouts on May 15. The largest privately-owned energy provider, DTEK, has warned that in the upcoming winter, Ukrainians might have electricity for only 6-7 hours per day. In a worst-case scenario, if Ukraine cannot repair the damaged facilities and prevent further attacks, blackouts could extend up to 20 hours a day, according to DTEK Executive Director Dmytro Sakharuk.

Ukraine is working on a new maritime strategy

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on July 6 that the Ukrainian government is finalizing a new maritime strategy, which will soon be approved by the National Security and Defense Council. The strategy reflects Ukraine's evolving naval capabilities and its ongoing successes against Russian naval forces in the Black Sea. Naval drone attacks have effectively restricted Russian warships from entering the northwestern part of the Black Sea, an area spanning nearly 25,000 square kilometers, according to Navy Commander Oleksii Neizhpapa.

Zelensky emphasized that the war has fundamentally altered the balance of power in the Black Sea region, ensuring that the Russian Fleet will no longer dominate these waters. He highlighted the integration of new technological advancements and strengthened relationships with international partners in shaping Ukraine's strategic approach. While specifics of the new maritime strategy were not disclosed, Zelensky assured that Ukraine would remain capable of safeguarding its maritime interests and those of its allies.

Ukraine aims to expand its existing shipping corridor to include the ports of Mykolaiv and Kherson, thereby facilitating increased maritime traffic from the three main Odesa ports. This new export route in the Black Sea was established after Russia terminated the Black Sea grain deal, transforming a humanitarian corridor into a major trade route.

Furthermore, the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is anticipated to challenge Russia's aerial dominance over the Black Sea, potentially enhancing Ukraine's defensive and offensive capabilities in the region.