Estonian Defense Ministry names purpose of Russia's intensified shelling of Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk regions

Colonel Tarmo Kundla, a representative of the Estonian Ministry of Defense said this at the briefing, ERR.ee reports.

In his opinion, the results of the Russian army's attacks in northeastern Ukraine may "impact Ukraine's opportunities and performance in the southerly direction."

The colonel noted that Russian attacks have become more intense in recent days in the Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

"These attacks have not led to any significant changes on the contact line, although the Russian Federation has made some progress there. However, they may be important because they force Ukraine to respond and send additional resources to the region that could otherwise be deployed elsewhere," Kundla said.

A representative of the Estonian Defense Ministry noted that Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal and subsequent Russian attacks on the export infrastructure of southern Ukraine can be seen as "to deter the West from allowing Ukraine to utilize Western-supplied weapons in any attacks on Russian territory. This has been accompanied by threatening rhetoric on nuclear weapons, and all manner of other things."

Situation in the Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk regions as of July 21

According to the General Staff, last night Russia shelled the Novoosynove village in the Kupiansk district, resulting in light injuries to a 56-year-old woman who did not need hospitalization. A private house was also damaged.

The shelling of Cherneshchyna village, Izium district, damaged 3 houses, a garage and outbuildings, and set fires. Invading Russian forces shelled with mortars and artillery the towns of Udy and Odnorobivka in the Bohodukhiv district, Kozacha Lopan in the Kharkiv district, Starytsia, Vovchansk and Budarky in the Chuhuiv district.

In the Kupiansk sector, Dvorichna, Zakhidne, Figolivka, Kamianka, Krasne Pershe, Kupiansk, Kucherivka, Monachynivka and Topoly came under artillery and mortar fire.

A 60-year-old man died as a result of Russian shelling in Kozacha Lopan village, Kharkiv district. A private house and a garage were damaged. Also, as a result of artillery shelling of Petrivka village in the Bohodukhiv district, two civilian men aged 69 and 52 were wounded and an apartment building was damaged. In the village of Verkhnii Bairak, Izium district, a 48-year-old civilian man was injured by an unknown explosive object in his own yard. He was hospitalized in a mild condition.

The Russian forces fired 99 times in the Luhansk region and 19 times in the Donetsk region over the last day. In the Donetsk region, the Russian forces fired at 11 localities, damaging 27 residential buildings, 3 civilian vehicles, a gas pipeline, a power line, and an outbuilding. Two people were killed and two more were wounded during the last day.