July 5, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

Our live coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine has moved here.

At least four people were wounded in a missile attack on Lviv in western Ukraine on Thursday, according to the city’s mayor, Andriy Sadovyi. 

Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of the region’s military administration, said in a Telegram post Thursday that “a critical infrastructure facility in Lviv has been damaged, and there are initial reports of wounded.”

“A fire broke out, but it was quickly extinguished. There are victims,” Kozytskyi said in a Telegram post, adding that emergency officials are at the scene and that rescuers are clearing rubble from the site.

Sadovyi, the mayor, also confirmed that a residential building was hit by fragments of a missile, according to a post on Twitter on Thursday. He said he is on the way to the scene.

Lviv is a strategic Ukrainian city close to the Polish border that has largely been spared from the relentless bombardment seen across much of the country during the Russian invasion.

The US State Department objects Russia’s move to designate the Anglo-American school in Moscow as a “foreign agent,” according to a statement from Matthew Miller, State Department spokesperson.

Miller called the decision “egregious” and said it is “the latest in a series of Russian Government actions that have forced the closure of the Anglo-American School.”

The school provides education to children both of foreign diplomats and Russian citizens. It was established in 1949.

The move by Russia is the latest in a series of tit-for-tat moves between the two countries that have greatly reduced both countries’ diplomatic footprint inside the other. 

In the 2022-2023 school year, the school had a total staff of 184. Of the 54 teachers, 11 are American citizens, 29 are Russians and 14 are third-country nationals, according to the State Department. 

CNN has asked the State Department to detail the immediate and long-term impact of the designation.

Zelensky spoke with CNN in an exclusive interview broadcast on Wednesday, July 5.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive has been “slowed down” by entrenched Russian defenses, President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN in an exclusive interview broadcast on Wednesday– adding that he wished that Western weapons had arrived sooner to allow the campaign to begin “much earlier.”

Speaking with CNN’s Erin Burnett in Odesa, Zelensky said that his military cannot “even think of starting” attacks in some areas, because it does not have “the relevant weapons.”

Here are some of the other key takeaways from the interview:

Ukraine’s counteroffensive: Zelensky said difficulties on the battlefield are leading to a “slowed down” counteroffensive. Speaking through an interpreter, he said he wanted the counteroffensive to happen much earlier “because everyone understood that if the counteroffensive unfolds later, then a bigger part of our territory will be mined” and emphasized that time is critical.

Call for more weapons: As he has done so often since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the president pleaded with Western governments to give Kyiv more advanced weaponry — such as the US-made long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems — now rather than later. He also re-emphasized his plea for American-made F-16 fighter jets. 

On Vladimir Putin: Zelensky said the Russian president’s response to the armed Wagner rebellion was “weak” and Putin is losing control of his own people. He also suggested that the Russian leader had been notably out of public sight since the secretive Kremlin deal that ended the insurrection.

More than a year of war: That Zelensky has a stressful job is certainly not in doubt. He’s running a war effort, motivating citizens and allies alike, and trying to avoid near-constant assassination attempts. “I’ll be honest with you,” he said. “If I were thinking about it constantly I would just shut myself down, very much like Putin now who doesn’t leave his bunker.” Zelenksy said music or a book helps him to relax — Ukrainian music and AC/DC are on the president’s playlist. A workout at six or seven in the morning, to the beat of AC/DC, he said, “gives you energy for all the day.”

More than 30 combat engagements have taken place across eastern Ukraine within the last day, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. Russia is continuing to focus “its main efforts” there in areas including Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka.

If you’re just now catching up, here’s what you should know:

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant outside Enerhodar, Ukraine , seen on June 15.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that Russia has been using the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as a cover for shelling neighboring cities.

Zaporizhzhia NPP, with six reactors, is the largest nuclear power station in Europe. It was mostly built in the Soviet era and became Ukrainian property after its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Russia captured the plant in March 2022. Since then, international and local experts have voiced grave warnings, not only for the safety of the plant’s workers but also for fear of a nuclear disaster that could affect thousands of people in the surrounding area.

Russian forces have “set up artillery on the territory of the plant or near it and fire,” Zelensky said in a virtual address to students and professors from several universities in Argentina on Wednesday.   

It’s not yet clear whether the Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka dam collapsed in June because it was deliberately targeted or if the breach was caused by structural failure. Dozens of people died in the flooding, according to officials, while it also caused widespread damage to homes and farmland. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the collapse. 

Ukrainian officials earlier on Wednesday said that they are well prepared for a Russian attack at the Zaporizhzhia power plant, though they warned that Moscow is capable of anything, even “completely reckless actions” that it could try to pass off as sabotage by Ukraine. 

Russia claimed to be taking precautionary measures to counter a threat at the plant by Ukraine amid increasing rhetoric. According to Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, the situation at Europe’s largest nuclear station is “quite tense,” and the potential for “sabotage by the Kyiv regime” is “high,” which could have “catastrophic consequences.”

The UN’s nuclear watchdog said in an update on Wednesday that there are no visible indications of mines or explosives at the power plant, although it requested additional access to the site.

CNN’s Lauren Kent and Anna Chernova contributed reporting to this post.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is calling on Turkey to support Sweden’s membership in NATO ahead of the alliance’s summit next week.

Blinken, on a call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday, emphasized the “importance of NATO unity in such a critical time” and asked Turkey to allow Sweden to join, according to state department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

The secretary of state said the United States and Turkey have “longstanding and deep bilateral defense ties” and that Turkey’s ability to work with NATO is a priority, the spokesperson said in a statement.

Other world leaders: President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the US “fully supports” Sweden’s membership in NATO after meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. 

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called on Turkey to admit Sweden to NATO “soon,” during a joint news statement Monday with his Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak.

Some context: Turkey has been blocking Sweden’s accession for a number of reasons.

Among them is the claim that Sweden allows members of recognized Kurdish terror groups to operate in the country, most notably the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). 

Sweden changed its terrorism laws earlier this year, making it a crime to be part of these groups, but it is not clear whether this will convince Turkey to allow the country to join NATO.  

Ukrainian strikes have caused an oil depot fire in the Makiivka district of the Russian-occupied Donetsk, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said on Wednesday.

A video posted by RIA shows large flames and plumes of smoke, with a fire truck heading toward the flames.

Ukrainian fighters used HIMARS to conduct several strikes on the oil depot, according to the news agency. Citing preliminary information, RIA Novosti reported there were no victims, but that a severe fire broke out. Local emergency service workers are responding to the incident, RIA said.

Makiivka was shelled Tuesday night according to Denis Pushilin, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). It was shelled again on Wednesday night, according to local mayor Vladislav Klyucharov.

At least one person was killed and 68 were injured from Tuesday’s strikes on Makiivka, according to state media outlets.

Russia continues to focus “its main efforts” on the areas of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in eastern Ukraine, with more than 30 combat engagements taking place there within the last day, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. 

In the Lyman sector, more than 10 villages came under artillery fire as Russian forces unsuccessfully tried to force Ukrainian troops out of their positions near Novoyehorivka in the Luhansk region, the General Staff said in an update.

A further 10 localities were shelled in the Avdiivka sector, where Ukrainian defense forces claim to be continually holding back the Russian offensive in the city of Avdiivka. 

According to the General Staff, Ukrainian defenders “successfully repelled enemy attacks in the areas south of Berkhivka and Bohdanivka in the Donetsk region.”

“At the same time, they continue to conduct offensive operations south and north of the city of Bakhmut, strengthening their positions,” the update continued.

The commander of Ukraine’s “Terra” reconnaissance unit, Mykola Volokhov, described the situation in the Bakhmut area as “quite positive and optimistic.”

“The nature of the fighting is a lot of infantry battles, but lately, both our side and the enemy have been using a lot of tanks,” he continued. “Previously, it was just infantry, but now the enemy is actively showing off their equipment. For us, this is a good sign, because it means that they are not able to cope and need to pull out reserves.”

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said it also repelled all attacks around the town of Marinka. 

Ukraine’s General Staff also said that Russia launched five Iranian Shahed drones within the last day, two of which were destroyed by Ukrainian air defense. 

A frame from a video shared on social media Wednesday, July 5, shows an explosion in Makiivka, Ukraine.

At least 68 people were injured from Ukrainian shelling in the Makiivka district in Donetsk, according to Russian state media RIA Novosti.

Earlier on Wednesday, Russian state media TASS reported that one man also died in the attack.  

Meanwhile, the local mayor Vladislav Klyucharov said in a Telegram post that Makiivka was shelled yet again on Wednesday night. 

“Due to the shelling of Chervonogvardeyskiy district, residents of the village of Krupskaya are partially without electricity,” he said. 

McConnell speaks during an award ceremony at Fort Knox Wednesday, July 5.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell highlighted the importance of continued aid for Ukraine during an award ceremony at Fort Knox, Kentucky, on Wednesday.  

He noted there were critics in both political parties who felt the Ukraine war wasn’t important to the United States. “That’s not my view, it’s not the majority view of Republicans in the Senate and Democrats as well,” he said, describing the fight against Russia as “the most important thing going on in the world right now.” 

The Republican leader said the funding also benefits the US, noting that half the money was being spent in the US on weapons production.

He added, “In the overall scheme, we are providing assistance for somebody else to do the fighting against one of our greatest adversaries these days, the Russians – there’s not much not to like about that.”

He also expressed hope that the NATO summit next week would welcome Sweden as a new member, expanding the military alliance. Turkey has to date expressed opposition to allowing Swedish membership, claiming it allows members of recognized Kurdish terror groups to operate in the country, most notably the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party.

McConnell also spoke about how the threat of Russian aggression has rallied a broad coalition of countries to support Ukraine, including nations in Asia who want to send a message to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China — which views Russia as a key partner and counterbalance amid its own rising tensions with the West — has refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion or call for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine’s territory.

The United States “fully supports” Sweden’s membership in NATO, President Joe Biden said Wednesday while speaking alongside the country’s prime minister, Ulf Kristersson.

Biden said Sweden has the “same value set that we have in NATO,” and that he was “really looking, anxiously looking, forward for your membership.”

Both Sweden and Finland stated their intent to join NATO through its open-door policy in May of 2022, just weeks after Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Biden also said the US and Sweden have worked together bilaterally on the climate crisis, “preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific,” and that the two countries were working to “protect our shared democratic values, including providing security and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.”

Biden called the generosity of the Swedish people “extreme” as he thanked the country for its support. 

The Swedish prime minister said the two countries share many values and priorities. He thanked Biden for his leadership, his commitment to transatlantic unity and said he appreciates the “strong support [for] Sweden’s NATO accession.” 

Biden and Kristersson also “underscored their shared commitment to continue supporting Ukraine,” according to the White House readout.

The two leaders did not take any questions.

Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office released this image following a Russian attack in the Kherson region on Wednesday, July 5.

One person was killed and at least three more were injured with shrapnel wounds following a Russian attack in the Kherson region on Wednesday, according to the Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office. 

“An investigation [has been] launched into death and injuries caused by another hostile shelling of Bilozerska community in Kherson region,” the prosecutor’s office said in a social media post. 

Russia fired on the village of Bilozerska around 7:00 p.m. local time (12:00 p.m. ET), and measures are being taken to document the crime, the office added.

A Ukrainian serviceman fires a self-propelled howitzer toward Russian troops from a position near the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Wednesday, July 5.

Ukrainian forces are making progress around Bakhmut, according to a top military official. 

“Assault units of the 10th Edelweiss Brigade are assaulting Russian positions on the northern outskirts of Bakhmut. A number of territories were recaptured and a significant amount of enemy manpower was destroyed,” the Ukrainian Commander of the Ground Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a Telegram post. 

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar described the situation around Bahkmut, the eastern city that has been almost leveled in the fighting over the past six months, as “extremely active.” 

“We are making some progress on the southern flank, but there is fighting on the northern flank, and it would be too early to call it an advance. Because the situation can change several times during the day, so until our troops are secured, we usually do not say that there has been an advance,” Maliar added. 

Maliar said there was also fierce fighting around Lyman, a city to the north of Bakhmut.

US officials tell CNN that efforts to secure the release of Paul Whelan, left, and Evan Gershkovich, the two Americans being held in Russia, remain ongoing.

The State Department said it would not detail negotiations to secure the release of Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, two Americans wrongfully detained in Russia, after the Kremlin spokesperson said there have been “certain contacts” between the two countries on a prisoner swap.

US officials tell CNN that efforts to secure the release of the two Americans remain ongoing, but those efforts do not appear to be closing in on an immediate resolution.

The Biden administration continues to scour the globe and work with third countries on possible offers that could entice Russia to release the two Americans. The US does not currently have any high-level Russian spies in its custody, current and former US officials say, driving the need to turn to allies for help, CNN reported earlier this year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a video address on Tuesday.

Russian troops have placed “objects resembling explosives” on roofs at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address Tuesday that instantly sparked concerns around the world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long flirted with the nuclear specter since mounting his invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky has now raised the prospect that he may cause a nuclear incident not by firing warheads, but by turning the plant itself into a weapon.

Here’s what we know so far.

Current status: On Tuesday, Zelensky said his accusation that the Kremlin possibly planted explosives on the roof of the nuclear plant is based on military intelligence.

Analysts have said that Russia may be mounting a false-flag operation, while the Kremlin is claiming potential “sabotage by the Kyiv regime.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog – said in an update Wednesday that there were no visible indications of mines or explosives at the plant, but requested additional access to the site for confirmation.

Who has control: Europe’s largest nuclear plant is located along the banks of the Dnipro River, next to the town of Enerhodar. It has been under full Russian control since March 2022, but is operated mostly by Ukrainian staff.

Both sides have claimed provocations and shelling by the other since the beginning of the war.

The safety of the plant was threatened further by the breach of the Nova Kakhovka dam on June 6, which lowered water levels used for cooling the plant precipitously. Ukraine accused Russia of deliberately destroying the dam – a claim that Moscow has denied. Shortly after this, the final reactor unit at the plant was put into cold shutdown status on June 8.

Due to the actions of the IAEA and Ukrainian operating staff, the plant has been put into a more stable “cold shutdown” mode, limiting the chances of a large-scale nuclear disaster.

How would it be advantageous for Moscow? It is unclear how Russia would benefit from causing an explosion at the plant.

As well as not providing clear military strategic gains for Russia, causing a nuclear incident would likely backfire diplomatically.

Read more here.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson attends the European Union leaders summit in Brussels on June 29.

When President Joe Biden sits down with Sweden’s prime minister on Wednesday — just a week before the annual NATO summit — he will be sending a message to NATO allies and adversaries alike.

To Turkey and Hungary, Biden will be demonstrating the unwavering nature of the United State’s commitment to Sweden joining the alliance, administration officials said. Turkey and Hungary have yet to greenlight Sweden’s accession to NATO.

And to adversaries like Russia, administration officials hope to send another strong signal of support for strengthening the military partnership with Sweden, regardless of its status as a NATO member country. 

Biden’s meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was intentionally scheduled a week before Biden is set to participate in the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. There, officials say Biden intends to spotlight the alliance’s strengthened defense posture on its eastern flank and the expansion of NATO, with Finland becoming the alliance’s most recent member.

White House officials once hoped Sweden would be approved to join the alliance by the time of the summit, a demonstration of the alliance’s newfound strength following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Now, US officials do not expect Sweden’s membership to be approved by next week and hope that Biden’s meeting with Kristersson demonstrates the US’s commitment to achieving that end.

Both Sweden and Finland stated their intent to join NATO through its open-door policy in May of 2022, just weeks after Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Read more about the meeting here.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN in an exclusive interview that Russian President Vladimir Putin “will do everything to consolidate his power” after a failed Wagner-led mutiny in June exposed cracks in his leadership amid Moscow’s faltering invasion.

Catch up on other key developments in the war:

A Russian service member stands guard at a checkpoint near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on June 15.

Leaders in Ukraine are discussing how to keep the country’s nuclear power plants safe as fighting continues, particularly the Zaporizhizhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is the largest in Europe and under Russian control.

Ukraine’s supreme commander-in-chief’s staff meeting on Wednesday “was about the safety of our strategic facilities, our nuclear power plants,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an update.

“There were relevant reports, relevant decisions, and — very importantly — control over the implementation of decisions,” Zelensky said in a video statement.  

“By the way, we keep in touch with our partners as much as possible to ensure that no one in the world has even the slightest lack of information about the situation at Zaporizhzhia NPP and the threats posed by Russia,” he added.

More background: The International Atomic Energy Agency has raised concerns as to the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, previously describing the situation as “increasingly unpredictable.” It has frequently been disconnected from Ukraine’s power grid due to intense Russian shelling, repeatedly raising fears across Europe of a nuclear accident.

What else was discussed: The meeting also addressed front lines in the east and south, strengthening northern directions, weapons production, and bomb shelter safety.

The Ukrainian president also noted that he is preparing for the NATO summit in Vilnius next week. 

“This means a week before a key moment for our common security in Europe,” Zelensky said. “We are working with our partners as much as possible to ensure that our common security in Vilnius wins. It all depends on our partners.”

One man has died and the number of people injured has risen to 41 — which includes two children — after Ukrainian shelling in the Makiivka district in the eastern Donetsk region, according to Russian state media TASS.

Those affected are receiving medical assistance, TASS added, and reported damage to the following:

In an update Tuesday, Russian-installed Donetsk authorities said at least two people had died as a result of what they said was Ukrainian shelling on the city of Donetsk.