Destroyed buildings in Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, July 4, 2024


Thursday’s Coverage: Russia Kills 6+, Wounds 53 in Attacks on Dnipro’s Schools and Hospitals


Map: Institute for the Study of War


UPDATE 1252 GMT:

Three days after seeing Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has arrived in Moscow for a meeting with Vladimir Putin.

Putin said he hopes to discuss bilateral relations and the state of his 28-month invasion of Ukraine.

Orbán last visited Russia in September 2022 for the funeral of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. He did not meet Putin on that occasion.

Hungary assumed the six-month Presidency of the European Union on July 1. The EU emphasized that Orbán’s visit to Russia was “not representing [us] in any form”.

European Council President Charles Michel said Hungary “has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU”.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made clear:


UPDATE 1147 GMT:

Germany has delivered a third Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.

The German Ambassador to Kyiv, Martin Jaeger, confirmed on Friday, “During recent months, the Ukrainian crew [for the Patriot] has successfully completed their training in Germany.”

Berlin pledged the third battery in April as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked for an additional seven Patriot systems as protection against Russia’s missile strikes. The US has pledged a second Patriot. The Netherlands have delivered several Patriot launchers, and has said it will deliver a full system in cooperation with another country.


UPDATE 1110 GMT:

At least seven civilians were killed and at least 43 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine on Thursday.

In the Donetsk region in the east, three people were killed — one each in Stinky, Zavitne, and Krasnohorivka — and 27 injured.

In neighboring Kharkiv, a man and two women were slain and six people wounded.

In the Odesa region in the south, one civilian was killed and seven injured by a missile attack which damaged port infrastructure.


UPDATE 0648 GMT:

The death toll has risen to eight from Russia’s missile and drone strikes on Dnipro on Wednesday.

The death of a 72-year-old woman died in hospital was announced early Friday.

More than 50 people were injured in attacks on a shopping center, schools, kindergartens, and hospitals.


ORIGINAL ENTRY: Pursuing an eight-month offensive in the Donetsk region in east Ukraine, Russian forces have advanced into the eastern part of the key town of Chasiv Yar.

Ukrainian forces retreated from a neighborhood on the outsides of the town, which sits on high ground and on important supply routes for the defenders, a military spokesperson confirmed on State TV on Thursday.

Nazar Voloshyn said, “It became impractical to hold the Kanal neighborhood after the enemy entered it, because it threatened the lives and health of our servicemen and the positions of our defenders were destroyed.”

Most of the town has been demolished this year in relentless Russian strikes and assaults. The invaders are now shelling with TOS-1 Solntsepyok multiple rocket launchers, “a terrible weapon that hits with thermobaric warheads”.

A soldier in the 24th Mechanized Brigade’w communications unit, explained that the withdrawal “means we have fixed our logistics because our logistics to that district were awful, and it was very hard to keep this part of the battlefield”.

He added, “Holding the area was quite important for us, but it was more important not to lose people.”

The capture of Chasiv Yar would be Russia’s significant capture since Bakhmut, which lies to the east, in May 2023. Its seizure would enable the Russians to launch assaults on other important cities and towns such as Pokrovsk and Kramatorsk.

Ukraine President Voldoymyr Zelenskiy did not refer to the development. Instead, in his nightly address to the nation, Zelenskiy spoke about next week’s NATO summit in Washington.

This summit must become strong not only for Ukraine but also for all our partners….There are good things to come, including in the area of air defense.

Additionally, a new security agreement for Ukraine has been prepared— a robust one that will provide substantial support. We will continuously strengthen our entire architecture of security agreements. This will ensure our security prior to Ukraine’s NATO membership.