Victorious news of 870th day of war: Russia loses record number of troops, explosions reported in Mariupol

Ukraine Compact signed at NATO summit

The official website of the European Commission reported the information.

The Ukraine Compact was signed by the leaders of the United States, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the EU.

The parties pledged to:

• Support Ukraine's defense needs by providing military assistance, economic support, and training,
• Accelerate efforts to build up the future defense forces by 2027 (note: this may be extended to the 2030s),
• In the event of a new Russian attack on Ukraine (note: after the end of the current war), quickly and collectively come together and decide on the provision of rapid and long-term assistance.
• The agreements of the Ukraine Compact are valid until Ukraine joins NATO and the EU.

"We declare our enduring intent and commitment to ensure Ukraine can successfully defend its freedom, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity today and deter acts of aggression in the future," the statement said. 

Australia pledges largest military aid package of $250 million to Ukraine since war's start

ABC News reported the information.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced the aid package on the last day of the NATO summit in Washington.

Australia and other non-NATO partners in the Asia-Pacific region have sent their delegations to strengthen ties with the Alliance amid concerns about Chinese aggression in the region.

Australia's military package includes guided and air defense missiles, anti-tank weapons, ammunition, and a shipment of boots. 

Australia's total support for the Ukrainian military has reached $1.1 billion.

"This is not the last package that we announce. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to resolve this conflict on its own terms," Marles assured.

Canada allocates over $280 million for training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 jets

The website of the office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau states this.

Building on Canada's long standing support for Ukraine, the Prime Minister pledged to extend assistance so that Ukraine can continue to defend its freedom. This includes more than $360 million in additional military assistance.

Canada has also announced up to C$389 million (over $280 million) to improve F-16 pilot training through the Air Force Coalition of the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine.  

"This commitment, which comes from previously announced military funding, will support pilot training in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and provide critical equipment to support the safe operation of the F-16 in Ukraine," the statement says.

Russia suffers record losses in Ukraine over last two months

This was reported by the UK Ministry of Defense.

Russia's average daily losses (killed and wounded) in May and June reached 1,262 and 1,163 respectively. In total, Russia has likely lost more than 70,000 troops over the past two months.

Intelligence indicates that the increase in losses was due to intense fighting in the Kharkiv region. During this period, Russian troops were attempting to sustain their previous pace of offensive operations across the rest of the front.

"Russia's casualty rate will likely continue to average above 1,000 a day over the next two months as Russia continues to try to overmatch Ukrainian positions with mass," the intelligence service said.

Explosions occur in occupied Mariupol

Mariupol City Council reported the information.

According to local residents, explosions were heard in the Prymorskyi district and areas outside the city, with smoke visible in those locations. Meanwhile, local Telegram channels report that Russian air defense systems were active.

"According to preliminary information, a possible strike took place near the airport. It is reported that the so-called Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian government Marat Khusnulin and the 'DPR' leader Denys Pushylin were recently there," the message says.

Simultaneously, Russia reports that ambulances and firefighters have arrived at the scene of the explosions. Some Russians mentioned explosions near houses, but according to the city council, this is inaccurate as there are no residential buildings near the airport.

Ukraine's GDP grows by 4.1% in first half of 2024 despite negative factors

According to the Ministry of Economy, Ukraine's GDP grew by about 4.1% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year

Ukraine's Ministry of Economy reports.

According to the ministry, in June 2024, Ukraine's GDP grew by 1.1% [±1%] compared to June last year. The main factor behind the slowdown is the power outage due to electricity shortages.

"In June, the economy operated under difficult conditions of power outages, which weakened economic activity of both businesses and consumers. However, due to the high level of adaptability to difficult conditions and experience in responding to such challenges, the Ukrainian economy continued to grow," said Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy.

According to her, the factors that contributed to the economic growth also include high rates of exports of mining and metallurgical products and the early start of winter crops harvesting.

Other positive factors include the stable operation of the Ukrainian Sea Corridor and the ability of individual enterprises to secure stable access to electricity through direct imports.

Svyrydenko added that the dynamics of economic growth in the first half of 2024 at 4.1% is currently in line with the updated government forecast, according to which real GDP growth is expected to reach 3.5% in 2024.

"Currently, high security risks and the consequences of the destruction of energy infrastructure remain the key unresolved issues. Restoration of the energy sector will require time and resources, which, according to forecasts, may slow down the pace of recovery of production activity. Logistical problems and the difficult situation on the labor market also remain negative factors for the economy," the ministry said.

Polish Sejm recognizes deportation of Crimean Tatar people in 1944 as genocide

Mykola Kniazhytskyi, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, said.

"It is extremely important for us that the whole world recognizes the deportation of Crimean Tatars as genocide. Because we are a democratic country. Crimean Tatars are part of the Ukrainian people who suffered from the Russian Empire and continue to suffer now. Crimea is now occupied, and it is extremely important for us to liberate Crimea. We can liberate it only if we fight together with the whole world for the rights of the Crimean Tatar population," he told Espreso.

The Polish Sejm recognized that “the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944 and its consequences were an act of genocide against the Crimean Tatar people.”

"The Polish parliament recognized the deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944 as genocide. This is an extremely important decision! The Baltic countries have already joined the recognition of this terrible crime. A month ago, the PACE called for recognizing the 1944 deportation as an act of genocide against the Crimean Tatar people. And today, the Polish Sejm adopted an important resolution on this issue," noted Kniazhytskyi.

The resolution "On honoring the memory of the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people" was supported in the Sejm by 414 votes, with 16 against and 2 abstentions.

Ukraine has right to strike at Russian territory to defend itself, Norway says 

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide says that Norway's position on Ukraine's ability to strike at Russian territory is clear and in line with international law

He said this in an interview with the Voice of America at the NATO summit.

"Our principled position is that as long as Ukraine's military actions comply with international law, the UN Charter, they should be able to use weapons to the best effect to protect Ukraine," the diplomat said.

"International law is very clear: if you are attacked, you can fight back against the attacker on the attacker's territory," he said.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister cited Kharkiv as an example. If Russia bombards the city from its territory, Ukraine has the right to strike back where it came from.

Eide emphasized that “Ukraine, not Putin, should win this war.”