Victorious news on 503rd day of war: France gives Ukraine long-range missiles, and Russian general killed in Berdiansk

Russian general eliminated in Zaporizhzhia region

Russian Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov was killed near the temporarily occupied Berdiansk, according to the advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, Petro Andriushchenko. He noted that in September 2022, Tsokov was wounded, but survived.

"Now they say that the moGilization (mobilization to grave - ed.) is complete," added the advisor to the mayor of Mariupol.

Later, he supplemented his post with comments from "partners" from Berdiansk that, according to preliminary information, Tsokov could have died as a result of a nighttime hit on the Duna hotel.

"Locals report that there is almost nothing left of the hotel. Ambulances and heavy machinery are now working at the site to clear the rubble. The area is cordoned off. No one is allowed in," Andriushchenko wrote.

It is known that for some time the Russian military leadership lived there. The location of the Russian air defence system was also nearby. Currently, Russian media do not publish any information about nighttime hits in Berdyansk.

Oleg Tsokov is a Russian military commander who has been the commander of the 144th Motorised Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Federation since August 2022. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in 2023. In addition to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he participated in two Chechen wars and the war in Syria.

Ukraine is liberating territories five times faster than Russia was seizing them

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have liberated as much territory in 5 weeks as the Russian army took six months to capture. These data were calculated by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Since the start of the Ukrainian counter-offensive on 4 June, ISW estimates that Ukrainian troops have recaptured approximately 253 square kilometres of territory based on their own ground control data. By contrast, since 1 January, Russian forces have captured a total of 282 square kilometres across the entire area of hostilities.

Thus, in 5 weeks, Ukrainian forces have liberated almost as much territory as Russian troops captured in 6 months.

France to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles

French President Emmanuel Macron has assured that the Ukrainian military will receive long-range missiles to fight the Russian invaders. 

He said this at a briefing at the NATO summit in Vilnius.

According to Macron, Ukraine will receive long-range SCALP missiles, also known as Storm Shadow, which will increase the capabilities of Ukraine’s Armed Forces during a counter-offensive. Macron pointed out the importance of expressing support for Ukraine, NATO's unity and determination that Russia cannot win this war.

The long-range SCALP missiles will allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike the Russian forces more powerfully, Yuriy Ihnat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, told Espreso.

"You have probably seen the result of the Storm Shadow cruise missile, and SCALP is its analogue. Ukraine received the first such missiles from the UK. And if other countries join in to provide us with enough of these weapons so that we can launch them even from Soviet aircraft, even though these missiles are designed for more modern Western equipment. The effectiveness of using long-range missiles from Western fighters would be much better," said the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command.

In addition, Ukraine and France have agreed to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in a conversation with journalists.

Germany and Norway announce assistance to Ukraine

At the NATO summit on July 11, Germany announced a new aid package for Ukraine, which will include Patriot launchers, Leopard tanks and other weapons. This was reported by CNN with reference to the German Ministry of Defence.

The new €700 million package will include two Patriot launchers and 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 25 Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks and five Bergepanzer 2s from industrial stocks or industrial repairs.

Ukraine will also receive 20,000 rounds of artillery ammunition and 5,000 rounds of 155 mm smoke munitions.

In addition, Germany will send a LUNA drone system and a package of mine action equipment.

Norway has also increased its military aid fund for Ukraine. The Norwegian government increased the size of the fund by NOK 2.5 billion (USD 239 million). The Military Assistance Fund for Ukraine will now amount to NOK 10 billion.

Elina Svitolina defeats the world number one tennis leader

Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina defeated Iga Swiatek from Poland to reach the semi-finals of the Wimbledon tournament. The Ukrainian, who is ranked 76th in the world rankings, defeated Swiatek, who leads the classification, in three sets - 7:5, 6:7 (5:7), 6:2. The match lasted 2 hours and 41 mins.

In the semifinals, Svitolina will play against Marketa Vondroušová of the Czech Republic, who defeated American Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals.