A new episode in the war in Ukraine. A Ukrainian drone attack caused the explosion of an ammunition depot on Saturday July 22 in Crimea, said the governor of this peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. The latter ordered the evacuation of the population within a radius of five kilometers. Road traffic has been “restored” on the Crimean Bridge after a very brief hiatus, pro-Russian authorities added. Follow our live.
Volodymyr Zelensky has justified the strike against the Crimean Bridge earlier this week. “This is the route used to supply the war with ammunition and it is done daily”explained the Ukrainian president during the annual forum on security organized by the Aspen Institute. “So it’s naturally a target for us“.
Unesco condemns Russian strikes against Odessa. The big city in the south-west of Ukraine, which has been part of the world heritage of humanity since January. “According to a preliminary assessment, several museums located within the World Heritage site suffered damage, including the Archaeological Museum, the Fleet Museum and the Odessa Literature Museum,” said the UN organization for culture, science and education. Follow our live.
Russian fire in the Black Sea. Russia said on Friday it had carried out maneuvers involving missile fire in the area, which has become the scene of growing tensions with Ukraine and its allies since the expiration of a crucial grain agreement for world food.
The UN is alarmed at the risk of escalation. “Threats to target civilian ships in the Black Sea are unacceptable”said UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo. “The risk of conflict spreading in response to a military incident in the Black Sea — intentional or accidental — must be avoided at all costs”she added.
Bulgaria sends tanks to Ukraine for the first time. Parliament approved by a large majority (148 for, 52 against) this proposal from the new pro-European government. This is a new strategy after previous caretaker governments were keen not to interfere in the conflict.