The escalation of the Russo Ukrainian conflict and mutual attack on strategic strategic town missiles | President | Strategy

After the attack on the Crimean Bridge, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated. On the early morning of the 24th, the Russian capital Moscow was once again attacked by drones, while the Ukrainian town of Odessa, adjacent to the Black Sea, has been bombarded almost daily for the past week.

According to a report from the Russian Ministry of Defense on the 24th, the Russian side successfully prevented an attack on Moscow by Ukrainian armed forces using drones. Two drones crashed under the interference of electronic warfare systems, and the attack did not cause any casualties. Moscow Mayor Sobyanin revealed that the attack occurred around 4am, and two non residential buildings in Moscow were attacked, but did not cause serious damage. According to media reports such as TASS, an explosion occurred near the Russian Ministry of Defense building.

Ukraine: The Russian army launched a surprise attack on Odessa overnight with five types of missiles

The Southern Ukrainian Command recently released a statement accusing Russia of using "at least 5 different types of missiles" to strike Odessa, causing damage to the infrastructure of Odessa Port. Ukrainian President Zelensky responded that retaliation is inevitable. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed on the same day that the Russian military used long-range missiles to strike multiple targets in Odessa, including unmanned boat production and training points. The Russian Ministry of Defense emphasized that careful verification was conducted before the airstrike, and that "all predetermined targets were destroyed.".

Foreign media: Strike Odessa to spread the flames of war to the Black Sea region

Odessa is located on the Black Sea coast, about 400 kilometers south of Kiev. It is the third largest city in Ukraine and also the largest port with a population of over 1 million. Since ancient times, it has been a military strategic center. Public opinion is generally worried that the war surrounding Odessa will inevitably lead to the escalation of tension in the Black Sea region, and the front of the Russia-Ukraine conflict will also expand accordingly.

British military analyst Sean Bell

It is worth mentioning that the Ukrainian city of Odessa had over one million residents before the start of the war. Due to being far from the front line, it has basically avoided the most serious attacks since the food agreement was reached in July last year, and in the eyes of Russia and Ukraine, it is more suitable for food exports. Since Russia withdrew from the food agreement on July 17th, the Russian military has been attacking the region.

The Russian military has launched large-scale attacks on Ukrainian port cities for several consecutive days

This move by the Russian side is considered a retaliatory action against Ukraine's attack on Crimea. On July 17th, the strategically important Crimean Bridge was attacked and damaged by Ukrainian unmanned boats. This is the second major attack on the Crimea Bridge since the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which also led to further escalation of the war situation. Subsequently, the Russian military launched large-scale attacks on Ukrainian port cities such as Odessa and Nikolayev for several consecutive days.

Russia claims that Ukraine's use of cluster ammunition has resulted in multiple casualties among Russian journalists

At the same time, Ukraine is "efficiently using" the cluster ammunition provided by the United States. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, on the 22nd local time, multiple Russian journalists were shelled by the Ukrainian army using cluster ammunition while reporting in Zaporizhzhia. Four journalists were injured to varying degrees, and one of them died from serious injuries while evacuating. The Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Russian Federation Council, Bondalev, said that at the time of the shelling, the Russian news agency reporter was riding in a civilian car, and the Ukrainian military could not mistake the civilian vehicle for a military vehicle. This was a deliberate attack against civilians.

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Those who provide cluster ammunition will also be held responsible

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova issued a statement on the 22nd, stating that those who attack Russian journalists will inevitably face the punishment they deserve, and those who provide cluster ammunition to Ukraine will also bear responsibility. The Ukrainian side has not yet commented on this matter.

Qatar Al Jazeera journalist

A fierce artillery battle is taking place in the Zaporizhzhia region, where this incident occurred. Both sides are currently working hard to use rockets and artillery to target each other's supply lines and ammunition depots in the rear. The latest news is that the Ukrainian armed forces have launched another round of offensive, using Western weapons, including tanks, armored vehicles, etc., near Orikov, which is also the front line of Zaporizhzhia. The Russian Ministry of Defense predicts that the fighting in the region will become increasingly intense in the next few hours to days.

The US government announced in early July that it would provide Ukraine with an additional $800 million in military support, including for the first time a large lethal cluster bomb classified as prohibited by multiple countries. This move has faced concerns and opposition from the United Nations, the United Kingdom, Austria, and domestic figures in the United States.

The Russian minefield has dealt a heavy blow to the Ukrainian army, slowing down the process of counterattack

At present, the offensive and defensive battles between the two sides in eastern Ukraine are still ongoing. Ukrainian Army Commander Sersky admitted that due to obstacles caused by landmines and defense barriers in some areas, the progress of Ukraine's "counterattack" has been slower than expected on multiple fronts for over a month. According to CBS, the number of Ukrainian military casualties caused by landmines has exceeded that caused by artillery, and the American made armored vehicles equipped by the Ukrainian military are also suffering increasingly heavy losses.

Reporter from CBS

They not only need to confirm the number of landmines, but also the different types of anti tank weapons and lethal weapons. A special landmine can be ejected from the ground at a height of approximately this and then ejected with shrapnel in all directions.

According to the report, the United States has provided Ukraine with funds and equipment such as minesweepers, which can clear nearly a hundred meters of roads with a single mine clearance explosion.

Ukrainian Engineer Odyssey

We have a Soviet made minesweeper, which is noisy and severely damaged. Obviously, we prefer the version produced in the United States, but we don't have a large quantity and hope to get more in the future.

Reporter from CBS

The mine clearance equipment is part of the newly introduced $1.3 billion additional security assistance program in the United States. Officials told us that landmines are now the primary reason to slow down counterattacks.

Putin: Ukraine's counterattack has failed

According to Agence France Presse, on the 23rd local time, Russian President Putin stated during a meeting with Belarusian President Lukashenko in St. Petersburg that Ukraine's counterattack has failed.

Belarusian President Lukashenko

There is no counterattack, right? What will happen next?

Russian President Putin

There is a counterattack, but it has already failed.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said in an interview a few days ago that Ukraine's counteroffensive was "very difficult", but he stressed that Ukraine has received equipment and support from more than 50 countries, its troops have been trained, and many of the trained troops have not yet been fully engaged in combat.