Russian forces conducted a limited missile strike against Poltava and Odesa oblasts on the evening of July 9.
Poltava Oblast Head Filip Pronin stated that an unspecified missile struck an industrial object in Poltava Oblast.[97] Ukraine's Southern Air Command also reported that Russian forces launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile at Odesa Oblast on the evening of July 9.[99]
The Russian MoD published footage on July 9 purportedly showing Russian forces striking a Ukrainian column with military equipment near Stetskivka, Sumy Oblast with an Iskander-M ballistic missile on an unspecified date.[100] The Russian MoD claimed that the Russian strike targeted a Ukrainian warehouse with artillery ammunition, 20 military vehicles, and up to 65 Ukrainian personnel but ISW cannot verify these claims. Ukrainian military officials reported on July 8 that Russian forces struck unspecified critical infrastructure in Stetskivka area overnight on July 7 and 8.[101]
Ukrainian forces conducted a series of drone strikes against Russian energy and military infrastructure in Belgorod, Kursk, Rostov, Astrakhan, and Volgograd oblasts overnight on July 8 to 9. Sources in Ukrainian intelligence told Ukrainian media that Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) conducted drone strikes against the Akhtubinsk military airfield in Astrakhan Oblast, an electrical substation in Rostov Oblast, and an oil depot in Kalach-on-Don in Volgograd Oblast overnight.[43] Geolocated footage published on July 9 shows fires at an electrical substation in Yudino, Rostov Oblast and the Kalach-on-Don oil depot.[44] Russian and Ukrainian sources reported that Ukrainian drones also struck electrical substations at an oil refinery, butter factory, and gas stations in Kursk Oblast, as well as the Energomash electrical equipment plant in Belgorod City.[45] Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces launched over 40 drones at areas in Russia overnight, including "several dozen" drones against Rostov Oblast, and that Russian air defenses intercepted most but not all of the drones.[46]
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- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a joint statement on July 9 about strengthening mutually beneficial political, economic, energy, and military-technical cooperation between Russia and India.
- Putin has been intensifying efforts to strengthen Russian relations with non-Western countries through individualized appeals, although he is likely emphasizing Russo-Indian cooperation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS as part of a wider Russian effort to create an alternative "Eurasian security architecture" leveraging existing Eurasian multilateral organizations.
- Modi tacitly supported the Kremlin's false narrative that Russia is interested in a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the war in Ukraine, likely in exchange for deepening economic, energy, and technological cooperation with Russia.
- Putin may have pledged to return Indian volunteers fighting in Ukraine during a private dinner with Modi in Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Oblast on July 8.
- Some unnamed US government officials appear to believe that Ukraine does not need to liberate its occupied lands and people to win the war, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent clear statements that Russia will not accept a negotiated ceasefire on any terms other than Ukrainian capitulation and will not abandon its goals of the total destruction of the entire Ukrainian state--not just the lands it currently occupies.
- Several independent investigations, including one conducted by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), concluded that a Russian missile struck the Kyiv City Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital on July 8 amid continued official Russian denials and deflections.
- Ukrainian forces conducted a series of drone strikes against Russian energy and military infrastructure in Belgorod, Kursk, Rostov, Astrakhan, and Volgograd oblasts overnight on July 8 to 9.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed new military prosecutors on July 8, likely in support of ongoing, long-term Russian military reforms.
- Newly-elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's continued willingness to enter a comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, emphasizing the continuity in Iran's support for Russia even under a new presidential administration.
- The US Department of Justice (DoJ) released affidavits on July 9 for several hundred X (formerly Twitter) accounts and domain names used by Russian state media and security services to operate a bot farm aimed at spreading disinformation in the US and abroad.
- Russian forces recently made confirmed advances southeast of Chasiv Yar, near Avdiivka, and southwest of Donetsk City, and Ukrainian forces recently advanced north of Kharkiv City.
- Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree ordering the reestablishment of the Saratov Higher Artillery Command School on July 8, likely as part of ongoing efforts to build out a cadre of Russian officers.
- Russian authorities continue to deploy Rosgvardia contingents to occupied Ukraine to serve law enforcement functions.
Russian forces continued offensive operations northwest, north, and northeast of Kharkiv City on July 9. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on July 8 and 9 that Russian forces attacked northwest of Kharkiv City near Sotnytskyi Kozachok; north of Kharkiv City near Lyptsi and Hlyboke; and northeast of Kharkiv City near Starytsya, Tykhe, and Vovchansk.[60] A Ukrainian serviceman stated on July 8 that Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions dressed in civilian clothes and hide machine guns under these clothes in the Vovchansk direction, which may constitute a resort to perfidy, which is prohibited under international law.[61] The serviceman also implied that the Russian military command routinely asks for reinforcements to support offensive operations in the Kharkiv direction. Elements of the Russian 83rd Separate Guards Airborne (VDV) Brigade continued to operate in the Vovchansk area; and elements of the “Aida” group of the Chechen “Akhmat” Spetsnaz (204th Spetsnaz Regiment) reportedly continued to operate in the Kharkiv direction.[62] Chechen Republic Head Ramazan Kadyrov claimed on July 9 that elements of “Akhmat” Spetsnaz are fighting in the Vovchansk area.[63]
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Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Siversk direction near Verkhnokamyanske (east of Siversk), Spirne (southeast of Siversk), and Vyimka, Vesele, and Rozdolivka (all south of Siversk) on July 8 and 9.[73]
Russian forces recently marginally advanced southeast of Chasiv Yar amid continued fighting in the area on July 9. Geolocated footage published on July 8 shows that a fireteam of the Russian "94th Regiment," possibly referring to the 94th Operational Regiment (46th Separate Operational Brigade, Rosgvardia’s North Caucasus District), recently marginally advanced within Andriivka (southeast of Chasiv Yar) during an assault.[74] Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov claimed on January 21 that elements of the Russian 94th Operational Regiment had returned to Ukraine to rotate into an unspecified critical sector of the frontline.[75]
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