British Ministry of Defence: Russian losses reach ‘conflict high’

Important developments on July 12:

• According to the British Ministry of Defence, Russian losses in Ukraine have reached “conflict highs” in the last two months
• British officials tell Telegraph: Permission to attack Russia with British missiles not yet a done deal
• Ukrainian Prosecutor General calls on ICC to investigate Russian attack on Kyiv hospital
• “Depends on the circumstances,” says Danish Prime Minister on Ukraine’s use of F-16 fighter jets for attacks inside Russia

Russian losses in Ukraine reached “conflict highs” in May and June, the British Ministry of Defense reported on July 12.

In a Intelligence report on XThe ministry said average daily Russian victims The number of dead and injured rose to 1,262 and 1,163 respectively in the two months.

“Overall, Russia probably lost more than 70,000 employees in the last two months,” the statement said.

The ministry said the losses were largely due to Russia’s failed attempt to advance into Ukraine. Kharkiv Oblastwhich opened a new front in the war at the beginning of May.

“Although this new approach has increased pressure on the front lines, effective Ukrainian defenses and a lack of Russian training reduce Russia’s ability to exploit tactical successes despite attempts to further extend the front line,” the ministry said.

“Russian casualties are likely to continue to average over 1,000 per day over the next two months as Russia continues to attempt to outnumber Ukrainian positions in mass.”

European Pravda reported on June 13 that Russian losses in the Kharkiv offensive were “astronomical,” according to an unnamed NATO source.

The source estimated that “Russia probably lost close to 1,000 people a day in May.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview published on May 25 that Russia’s losses during the offensive eight times higher than those suffered by the Ukrainian armed forces.

Since July 12, Russia has 556,650 soldiers lost in Ukraine since the start of the large-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported.

The figures could not be independently verified.

Russia’s advance on key eastern highway threatens Ukraine’s control over Donetsk Oblast

Outnumbered and outgunned, Ukrainian soldiers battling for the front line in the brutal Russian siege of Chasiv Yar that has been going on for months are increasingly concerned about their army’s ability to protect their rear. If key supply lines from the west are cut off and troops in the south are overrun,

Permission to strike Russia with UK missiles 'not a done deal,' British officials tell Telegraph

Ukraine has not received permission to attack Russian territory with the Storm Shadow missiles supplied by Britain, anonymous official sources in Britain told the Telegraph in a commentary published on July 11. They explained that the situation was “more nuanced”.

Later that day, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in an interview with European Pravda said the matter was still under review but refused to provide details.

The confusion began when the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer apparently signaled on July 10 that Ukraine could use Storm Shadow to attack military targets inside Russia.

The missiles are to be used “obviously in accordance with international humanitarian law” and “for defensive purposes”, but “it is for Ukraine to decide how it wants to use them for those defensive purposes”, Starmer said. said during the NATO Summit in Washington.

Starmer’s comments echoed the words of the former British Foreign Secretary David Cameronwho said in early May that Kyiv had the right to use the weapons supplied by London to attack targets on Russian soil. A Kyiv Independent source in the president’s office denied this statement at the time, saying there was no green light from Britain.

After his meeting with Starmer, President Zelensky said that the two had discussed “the practical implementation” of the British permission to use Storm Shadow against targets in Russia.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov mentioned “UK authorises use of Storm Shadow missiles against military facilities in Russia” in a social media post.

The Telegraph reported Despite Starmer’s comments, the country did not relax its policy on the use of long-range missiles shortly afterwards, as officials feared such a move could lead to an “escalation”.

The newspaper’s senior defense source claimed the situation was “more nuanced” than Zelensky had suggested, adding that permission for long-range missile strikes on targets in Russia would require the consent of three countries.

Although the sources did not specify the other two countries, France produces its own variants of Storm Shadow, called SCALP/Twhich were also delivered to Ukraine.

When asked whether Ukraine would fire Storm Shadow at Russia, the newspaper’s source replied that “that will not happen.”

The sources also said the missile had not been deployed this year, adding that Zelensky would need to “seek assurances elsewhere” before Ukraine could launch Storm Shadow on Russian soil. The assurances were “not a done deal,” they said.

The Kyiv Independent has asked the Ukrainian and British defence ministries and Zelensky’s office for comment, but received no response at the time of publication.

The F-16s are almost in Ukraine. Will they live up to expectations?

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Ukraine's Prosecutor General urges ICC to prosecute Russian attack on Kyiv hospital

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the Russian missile attack on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, he told Reuters on July 11.

Russian forces launched a Missile attack on Ukraine on July 8, killing at least 44 people and injuring nearly 200 others. A Russian missile hit Ochmatdyt, The largest children’s medical center in Ukraine.

The attack left three people dead, one building destroyed and four others damaged in the hospital complex. In other parts of the capital, 30 people were killed.

“In the interests of international justice, cases such as the deliberate attack on the largest children’s hospital in Kyiv are worth referring to the International Criminal Court,” said Kostin. said Reuters in The Hague.

If the ICC investigates the hospital attack, it could help identify a pattern of attacks that shows Russia is committing crimes against humanity in Ukraine, Kostin said. Kyiv is ready to provide the court with all evidence and details of its investigation, he added.

A team from the ICC prosecutor’s office visited the site of the attack. While the ICC has not publicly commented on what charges it is investigating, it warned that anyone found responsible for an attack on civilian objects could face criminal prosecution, Reuters wrote.

The Russian military attacked Okhmatdyt with a Kh-101 cruise missile, according to preliminary data provided to the State Security Service (SBU). A law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent that the launch of the missile was in accordance with a programmed route.

At the time of the attack, there were over 600 patients and at least as many staff at Okhmatdyt and at the Ukrainian Center for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery located near the hospital.

“I want the Russians to feel it for themselves”: Shock and anger at the site of the attack on the children’s hospital

Nurse Olesia Filonenko was preparing for the first operation of the day at the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv when she heard explosions “somewhere far away.” “Then in a second everything was blown away,” she told the Kyiv Independent. “Dust, smoke. We were all blown out of the operating room…”

'Depends on circumstances,' Danish PM says on Ukraine using F-16s to strike inside Russia

Permission for Ukraine to launch strikes inside Russia using Danish-supplied F-16 fighter jets will “depend on the circumstances,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told RFE/RL on July 12, while confirming that permission would be granted in some cases.

Copenhagen had previously announced that its F-16, which had already on the way to Ukrainecan be used by Kiev to attack targets in Russia “within the framework of the rules of war.”

Upon request of a RFE/RL Washington reporter Frederiksen said: “You cannot ask this question and expect easy answers because it all depends on the circumstances. It has to be done in accordance with international law.”

“But yes, it is also possible to reach destinations outside Ukraine,” the Prime Minister added.

In addition to Denmark, the Netherlands, BelgiumAnd Norway have also promised to supply Ukraine with their F-16 fighter jets. The aircraft promised so far amount to 79, including 19 from Copenhagen.

The Netherlands suggested that it would allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia, while Belgium stated that its F-16 fighter jets were intended exclusively for use on Ukrainian territory.

Frederiksen reiterated President Zelensky’s statement that the currently promised number of F-16 fighter jets is insufficient given Russia’s air power.

“That is one of the reasons why we international F-16 coalition,” said Frederiksen, expressing hope that other countries will offer further support with training and aircraft.

Ukraine rejects Russian accusations that it prepared false flags at two Ukrainian dams

“The only reason for the threat to the civilian population and the destruction of critical infrastructure in Ukraine is Russian aggression,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in response to Russian allegations of preparing false flag operations at two Ukrainian dams.