Victorious news on 506th day of war: Ukrainian agents in Kremlin and military gains at frontline

Ukrainian intelligence has its agents in Russian government 

The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, claims that he has agents in the Russian government offices, so he usually knows what is happening there.

He noted that he had accurately predicted the full-scale Russian invasion before it began.

"Who was right? We were. We have our sources. So to speak, in the closest offices. That's why we usually know what's going on," Budanov said.

Also, according to his information, the founder of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has significant support in Russia.

Ukrainian army advances by 1.7 km in Melitopol sector over a week

This was announced by the National Guard’s Colonel Mykola Urshalovych at a briefing at the Military Media Centre.

"In the Melitopol sector, units of the 15th Kara-Dag Operational Brigade of the National Guard in cooperation with units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, continue to conduct offensive actions," the statement said.

Urshalovych said that over the past week, the brigade's assault groups, supported by tanks, had advanced more than 1,700 metres to the south and southeast.

"Our units are advancing in the face of dense enemy mining of the approaches to their positions and heavy firepower, which includes 213 attacks from multiple rocket launchers, tanks and artillery and six air strikes over the past week. The enemy, in its turn, counter-attacked and tried to regain the lost ground, but was unsuccessful," he added.  

Ukrainian Armed Forces target four electronic warfare stations and two Russian video surveillance systems in the south overnight

This was reported by the head of the Joint Coordination Press Centre of the defence forces of southern Ukraine, First Rank Captain Natalia Humeniuk, on Espreso TV.

According to her, Ukrainian missile and artillery units and aviation target Russian forces every day.

"Yesterday there were two flights of aircraft, we worked on six points of enemy concentration. The results are being analysed. The work is complicated because there are a lot of electronic warfare stations operating. Four such stations were destroyed over the past day. In addition, two video surveillance systems "Murom-M" were destroyed, with the help of which the Russian enemy is trying to collect as much information as possible about what the Defence Forces will use in this area," said Natalia Humeniuk.

Military aid boost for Ukraine as Bulgaria sends first heavy weapons: major aid package unveiled

The largest one-time package of military aid, which includes 100 armored vehicles from the Bulgarian police stockpile, has been sent to Ukraine. This is Sofia's first official decision to help Kyiv with heavy equipment

The military equipment was purchased 40 years ago to carry out the so-called revival process, an attempt by the totalitarian regime to forcibly assimilate Bulgarian Turks by changing their names, which led to the near expulsion of more than 300,000 Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin to Turkey.

"This is armored military equipment purchased during the Revival process and has never been used. At the same time, it generates costs for storage and maintenance," said Ivaylo Mirchev from the governing coalition. 

Estonian intelligence announces a major success for the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the front

Colonel Margo Grosberg, head of the Estonian Defence Intelligence Centre, said that Ukrainians are close to a major success, and that the Russian Federation's reserves are running out.

He said this at a briefing at the Ministry of Defence on 14 July.

Grosberg told about the tactics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to destroy command posts and logistics centres of Russian troops with precision strikes and about the successes in the areas near Bakhmut.

"All this shows that the Ukrainians are close to success," he said.

According to the general, the fact that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are still holding Bakhmut and elite units of Russian paratroopers are suffering huge losses is very demotivating for Russian occupiers.

"At some point, this should lead to greater success," Grosberg said.

Sentsov and Zabuzhko are awarded the French Legion of Honour

French Ambassador to Ukraine Etienne de Poncins has awarded the French Legion of Honour to two prominent Ukrainians - writer Oksana Zabuzhko and film director and member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleh Sentsov.

He announced this on Twitter.

"On this National Day, 14 July, I would be honoured to present the Legion of Honour on behalf of President Emmanuel Macron to two prominent Ukrainians - writer Oksana Zabuzhko and filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who were injured in the fighting last weekend," he wrote.

Ukrainian aviation carries out 13 strikes against Russian military targets 

This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Over the past day, the defence forces' aviation carried out 13 strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel and 1 on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile system. Missile and artillery units hit 9 artillery pieces at firing positions during the day.