Ukraine Strikes 16 Power Stations in Crimea Causing Widespread Blackouts
Ukraine strikes targeted an airfield, ammunition depots, bridges and 16 power stations across occupied Crimea in recent days, causing widespread blackouts on the peninsula, while Russia attacked Kharkiv and Izium, killing one person and injuring at least 11.
Ukrainian Strikes on Crimean Infrastructure
Ukraine's General Staff said its forces struck the Hvardiiske airfield in Crimea. [2] The General Staff noted that Hvardiiske is one of Russia's key military airfields in Crimea. [5] It is used to base tactical and naval aviation aircraft, support combat sorties, provide logistics and carry out aircraft maintenance. [5] Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said Kyiv had hit 16 power stations across Crimea over the past 48 hours, causing blackouts across the occupied peninsula. [2] Brovdi posted a list of the 16 substations and transformers targeted in Crimea, along with a video that appeared to show footage of the strikes and satellite imagery comparing nighttime light levels on the peninsula on July 3 with the same view a year earlier — showing a marked drop in illumination. [2] Telegram news channel Exilenova Plus earlier reported that substations were targeted in a Ukrainian overnight attack. [2] A blackout was also reported throughout Crimea as a result of strikes on energy infrastructure, according to pro-Ukrainian channel Crimean Wind. [2] On July 3, Ukraine's Security Service said that it had struck two Russian military air bases in occupied Crimea overnight, damaging or destroying at least seven military aircraft in its second reported attack on the Saky air base within a week. [2] Ukrainian drones struck seven hangars at the Saky air base where Russia stores Su-30SM, Su-30, and Su-24 fighter and bomber aircraft, according to the SBU. [2] The agency said the strike destroyed or damaged at least seven aircraft. [2] During a 48-hour operation on July 1-2, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck 12 power substations and one gas distribution station in Russian-occupied territories, Brovdi reported on July 2. [2] Kyiv considers energy sites to be valid military targets, enabling Russia's war against Ukraine. [2]
Strikes on Bridges and Ammunition Depots
Ukraine's General Staff said its forces struck an airfield, ammunition depots, and bridges across occupied Ukraine overnight on July 5. [2] Ukraine's defence forces struck Hvardiiske airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea on the night of 4-5 July. [5] Ukrainian troops also struck a road bridge over the Hruzkyi Yalanchyk River near Huselnykove and a road bridge over the Kalmius River near Staromariivka in Donetsk Oblast. [5] The military added that three Russian ammunition depots were struck in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson oblasts. [5] Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia and occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's ability to continue waging its war. [2] Kyiv has stepped up attacks in recent months, with a particular focus on Russian logistics and energy infrastructure. [2] "Hvardiiske airfield is one of the key military airfields of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula," Ukraine's general staff wrote on Telegram. [2] "It is used for basing operational-tactical and naval aircraft, ensuring combat sorties, logistics, and technical maintenance of aviation equipment," they added. [2]
Satellite imagery shows reduced nighttime illumination across Crimea following Ukrainian strikes on 16 power stations. — Source: kyivindependent
Increase in Long-Range Strikes
Ukraine's successful mid- and long-range strikes behind enemy lines almost doubled over the month of June, the country's defense minister said on July 5. [3] "The number of targets hit at a distance of more than 50 kilometers from the contact line has almost doubled," Mykhailo Fedorov said in a Telegram post. [3] Ukraine has stepped up its so-called mid-range campaign in the last few months, in an effort to disrupt Russian logistics. [3] Kyiv has particularly focused on Crimea, causing a fuel shortage crisis on the peninsula. [3] "Destroying warehouses, transport and supply routes reduces the enemy's ability to supply its units," Fedorov also said. [3] Ukraine's military also set several new records in June, Fedorov said, including a record number of strikes on Russian artillery, strikes on Russian vehicles and motorcycles, and interceptions of drones and helicopters. [3] Over 200,000 enemy targets were hit overall in June. [3] Fedorov also said that Ukraine's military killed or seriously injured almost 28,000 Russian troops in June. [3] Ukraine's General Staff reported strikes on the Hvardiiske airfield in Crimea, two bridges in Donetsk Oblast and three ammunition depots in occupied Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson Oblasts. [2] The strikes are part of Ukraine's effort to disrupt Russian logistics and energy infrastructure used to support its war. [2]
Russian Attacks on Kharkiv and Izium
Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with drones several times and struck the town of Izium with a missile on 5 July. [1] One person has been killed and at least 11 people have been injured as a result of the attacks. [1] In the morning, a Russian Molniya-type drone struck a petrol station in the Industrialnyi district in Kharkiv. [1] A 60-year-old woman was reported to be suffering from shock. [1] Later, a Russian UAV struck the city's Kyivskyi district. [1] According to updated data from the oblast military administration, women aged 73, 75 and 40 and a 74-year-old man sustained blast injuries. [1] An 18-year-old woman was also injured. [1] All five were taken to hospital. [1] After 13:00, the Russians again attacked Kharkiv's Kyivskyi district with a drone. [1] Two men aged 58 and 59 were reported to be suffering from shock. [1] In addition, Russian forces struck Izium with a missile. [1] A man was killed, and three women aged 48, 42 and 39 were injured and taken to hospital. [1] Five vehicles were damaged and a petrol station was destroyed. [1]
Ukrainian strikes hit 16 power stations in occupied Crimea causing widespread blackouts. — Source: kyivindependent
Context of Diplomatic Calls
One person was killed in a Ukrainian attack on Russian-occupied Crimea, Moscow-installed officials said in the early hours of Sunday, as Russian and Ukrainian leaders held separate calls with US President Donald Trump on ending the war, now in its fifth year. [4] Two others were injured in the attack on northern Crimea, including one in a serious condition, the Russia-installed regional Gov. Sergei Aksyonov wrote on Telegram. [4] In recent weeks Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on key infrastructure targets in Crimea as Kyiv’s military seeks to isolate the vital Russian-held peninsula in the latest stage of the war. [4] The peninsula was seized by force and illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014. [4] Ukraine’s increasing use of long-range strikes has highlighted its ability to inflict painful damage on Russia and put added pressure on the Kremlin while Moscow’s advances recently have ground to a near halt, Western analysts and officials say. [4] The latest attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Trump on ending the war. [4] Writing on X, Zelensky said he called to congratulate Trump to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and that the two leaders discussed the situation along the front line. [4] “There is a real prospect of ending this war, and America’s determination will be crucial. We agreed to continue the conversation in person during the NATO summit in Ankara,” he said late Saturday. [4] The Kremlin said that Putin and Trump discussed the conflict in Ukraine in a “constructive” phone call on Saturday. [4] Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said that Putin congratulated Trump and the American people on the 250th anniversary of America’s independence during the call that lasted nearly an hour and half, their fourth conversation so far this year. [4] Ushakov said that Trump reaffirmed his “readiness to help achieve a quick cessation of hostilities and search for peaceful solutions to settle the crisis” in Ukraine, while Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will continue mediation efforts and stand ready to visit Moscow. [4] The Kremlin adviser said Putin once again emphasized Russia’s “preference for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict, provided that Russia’s well-known, fundamental positions are taken into account.” [4] At the same time, Putin charged that Kyiv and its European allies are “betting on prolonging, and even escalating the conflict,” arguing that “the European ‘party of war’ proceeds from a flawed perception of the overall situation and the state of things along the line of contact,” Ushakov said. [4] He added that Putin told Trump about the “real situation on the battlefield, where Russian armed forces are confidently advancing, liberating one settlement after another.” [4] The Russian leader specifically mentioned the capture of the Ukrainian stronghold of Kostyantynivka, describing it as a key step toward the “liberation” of the entire Donetsk region. [4] Kyiv has denied the Russian claim of capturing Kostyantynivka. [4]
What to watch next: Ukraine's General Staff reported strikes on the Hvardiiske airfield in Crimea, two bridges in Donetsk Oblast and three ammunition depots in occupied Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson Oblasts, while Robert Brovdi stated that 16 power stations and transformers in Crimea were hit over the past 48 hours.
