Wartime Protests Across Ukraine As Zelensky Moves To Oust Defense Chief

"Wartime protests have broken out in Ukraine in the wake of President Zelensky sacking his

popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov - which is reportedly in process but not finalized yet.
The 35-year old defense chief was only six months into his tenure, and is widely hailed as a reformist innovator who has turned the tide of war, having overseen a strategy of punishing wave after wave of devastating drones on Russian energy infrastructure.
The NY Times on Thursday said that "thousands of people took to the streets of cities across Ukraine on Thursday to protest" his dismissal." ZH

Omega special forces say drone strike hit Russian Su-24 bomber in occupied Crimea

"Ukraine's Omega special forces unit said on July 16 that it struck a Russian Su-24M frontline bomber at the Saky air base in Russian-occupied Crimea.

The Su-24M is a modernized version of the Sukhoi Su-24, Soviet-designed supersonic frontline bomber that Russia uses to carry out strike missions against ground targets. The aircraft is capable of launching guided and unguided munitions and has been widely used by Moscow throughout its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to the unit, operators from Omega's combat diver division identified the aircraft as it was preparing for takeoff before carrying out the strike using drones." KI

5.9 Earthquake - 42 km north of Te Anau, Southland, New Zealand

"A strong magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit 42 km (26 mi) away from Te Anau, Southland, New Zealand, in the evening at 9.14 pm local time (Pacific/Auckland GMT +12). The quake had a moderate depth of 76 km (47 mi) and was felt over a large region." VD

249 battles on front lines

"249 combat engagements between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front lines.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy carried out one airstrike, dropping two guided bombs, and conducted 65 shelling attacks, including one using MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces attacked 19 times in the Starytsia area and toward Izbytske, Kutkivka, Khatne, Kozacha Lopan, Hoptivka, Radkivka, Vilcha, and Bereznyky.

In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched three assaults on the positions of the Defense Forces in the area of Kolisnykivka and toward Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi and Novoplatonivka.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces attempted to breach the defenses 10 times, launching attacks in the areas of Novoselivka, Drobysheve, Novomykhailivka, and toward Lyman, Dibrova, and Ozerne.
In the Sloviansk sector, the Russian army launched 23 assaults toward Kryva Luka, Rai-Oleksandrivka, Pyskunivka, Mykolaivka, and in the areas of Riznykivka and Zakitne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian invaders attacked Tykhonivka once.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 20 attacks in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Ivanopillia, Stepanivka, and toward Dovha Balka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Defense Forces repelled 37 assaults by the Russian Federation’s army in the areas of Dorozhne, Hryshyne, Novopidhorodne, Rodynske, Vasylivka, Kotlyne, and toward Vilne, Novyi Donbas, Myrne, Serhiivka, and Kucheriv Yar.
On the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy launched two attacks toward Vorone.
On the Huliaipole sector, the invaders carried out 17 attacks toward Kosivtseve, Verkhnia Tersa, Tsvitkove, Charivne, Hirke, and Vozdvyzhivka.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian forces launched 10 assaults in the areas of Bilohiria, Shcherbaky, Mali Shcherbaky, and toward Novoandriivka and Prymorske." Ukrin

Ukraine Deploys Gun-Wielding War Robot via Sea Drone

"Ukraine has used a sea drone to deliver a gun-toting robot for the first time during a mission

into Russian-controlled territory in southern Ukraine, according to soldiers fighting in the area.
Ukraine's 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade, a ground robot perched on a floating platform can be seen heading toward a narrow shoreline before rolling off the sea drone and onto land.
The waterborne drone quickly retreats back into the water before another camera shows the robot firing on toward a target in the distance." NEWSWEEK

Huge blackouts the southern and western parts of Iran

"The Islamic regime in Iran has a suicide mission that they are organizing. Apparently, they want to invade the Arab states in the region. I'm not really sure with what capacity. Meanwhile, huge blackouts have now hit the southern and western parts of Iran.

Now, but there was a bit of a drama earlier on because last night yesterday in the Persian Gulf near the straight of Hormuz.

Now, but there was a bit of a drama earlier on because last night yesterday in the Persian Gulf near the straight of Hormuz, we had a Turkish owned bulk carrier that were partially sank just off the Iranian coast near Bander Ababas. And the vessel was completely destroyed at this point, broke in half.

But the Americans are not pausing anything. They are still escalating the strikes. They hit yet another control tower, this time again in the soutth eastern parts of Iran in Chabahar. Let's quickly go and see what the Americans did....they've hit another control tower. The Shahid Kalantari, the port of Shahid Kalanderi has been hit. Now, massive power outages across Iran have now been reported. One of them actually happened during a live broadcast of the uh the World Cup coverage from the Islamic Republic state media and uh it was a little bit embarrassing for them but it has happened before but with all the infrastructure that is getting hit by the Americans obviously there's going to be a lot of issues for the regime and specially the state media." TousiTV

Russia hits Kyiv with ballistic missiles

"Russia slammed Ukraine's capital with ballistic missiles in an overnight attack on July 16, killing at least two people, and injuring six other, officials said.

Explosions rocked Kyiv shortly before 1 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said that Russia was attacking the city with ballistic missiles.
Ukraine's Air Force reported that at least eight ballistic missiles were headed toward Kyiv.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on the two deceased victims, while adding that a 16-year-old boy was among the six injured victims. At least three of the injured required hospitalization.
The blasts came as Ukrainians were still reeling from the news that only hours earlier, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov had been dismissed from his position after less than a year in office." KI

5.8 Earthquake - New Zealand

"A strong magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean 326 km (203 mi) from New Zealand in the morning at 10.57 am local time (GMT -12). The quake had a great depth of 340 km (211 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

279 combat clashes over past day

"279 combat engagements between Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian forces on the front line.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, there were 10 combat engagements with Russian forces. The enemy conducted two air strikes, dropping six aerial bombs, and carried out 61 attacks on Ukrainian positions and populated areas.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces launched 15 attacks against Ukrainian positions near Starytsia and Artilne and toward Izbytske, Hrafske, Lyman, Vilkha, Symynivka, Kolodiazne, Kutkivka, Shevchenkivka, Khatnie, and Ambarnе.

In the Kupiansk sector, Russian troops launched five attacks toward Kupiansk, Novoplatonivka, and Kurylivka.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses 12 times, attacking toward Lyman, Drobysheve, Ozerne, as well as near Novoselivka and Yampil.
In the Sloviansk sector, Russian troops carried out 22 assaults toward Kryva Luka and Rai-Oleksandrivka, as well as near Riznykivka and Zakitne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian forces launched four attacks near Nykyforivka and Chasiv Yar.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian troops carried out 30 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Ivanopillia, and Sofiivka, as well as toward Vilne, Toretske, and Kuchерiv Yar.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 38 enemy assault attempts near Dorozhnie, Novooleksandrivka, Sukhetske, Rodynske, Hryshyne, Udachne, and Novoserhiivka, as well as toward Bilytske, Shevchenko, and Novopavlivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Russian forces attacked four times toward Vorone, Kalynivske, and Ternove.
In the Huliaipole sector, Russian troops carried out 18 attacks toward Hirke, Tsvitkove, Vozdvyzhivka, Verkhnia Tersa, Dobropillia, and Charivne.
In the Orikhiv sector, Ukrainian forces stopped five Russian attempts to advance near Plavni, Bilohiria, and Mali Shcherbaky." Ukrin

Sea of Azov enters Ukraine's crosshairs

"Over the past nine days, Ukraine has launched a sustained drone campaign against Russian shipping in the Sea of Azov, opening a new front in its effort to "isolate Crimea" and disrupt

Moscow's military logistics and export routes.
The operation, led by Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces and dubbed "MoLoChKa" by its commander, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, targets Russian military and commercial vessels. Oil tankers linked to Russia's so-called shadow fleet, dry cargo vessels, ferries, and tugboats operating along one of Russia's key maritime corridors have been hit. As of July 14, Brovdi said Ukrainian drones had attacked 116 vessels.
Early signs suggest the campaign is already affecting Russian maritime traffic, according to shipping data and analysts tracking activity in the region." KI

5.6 Earthquake - 11 km N of Pichigua, Peru

"A strong magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit 24 km (15 mi) away from Yauri, Cusco, Peru, in the
early morning at 3.21 am local time (America/Lima GMT -5). The quake had a moderate depth of 140 km (87 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter." VD

5.5 Earthquake - South Pacific Ocean, 205 km south of Kabara Island, Eastern, Fiji

"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean near the coast of Fiji in the morning at 10.50 am local time (Pacific/Fiji GMT +12). The quake had a great depth of 574 km (357 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

6.2 Earthquake - Philippine Sea, 37 km west of Sarangani Island, Philippines

"A very strong magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea near Sarangani Island

island, Philippines, late in the evening at 11.49 pm local time (Asia/Manila GMT +8). The quake had a shallow depth of 68 km (42 mi) and was felt over a large region. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

253 combat engagements on frontline over past day

"A total of 253 combat engagements between Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian troops were recorded on the front line.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the Defense Forces repelled two Russian assaults. Russian troops carried out 88 shelling attacks, including three using MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Ukrainian units repelled 10 Russian attacks. The enemy attempted to advance near Vilcha, Starytsia, and Lyman, as well as toward Sheviakivka, Hranove, and Kozacha Lopan.

In the Kupiansk sector, Russian troops launched three attacks near Podoly and toward Shyikivka.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses 16 times near Lyman, Dibrova, and Ozerne, as well as toward Novomykhailivka, Novoselivka, and Drobysheve. All attacks were repelled.
In the Sloviansk sector, the enemy carried out 26 assault operations near Kryva Luka, Zakitne, and Riznykivka, as well as toward Starodubivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian troops attacked five times near Dibrova and toward Nykyforivka and Yurkivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, 20 enemy attacks were recorded. Russian forces conducted assault operations near Kostiantynivka and Ivanopillia, as well as toward Illinivka, Stepanivka, and Rusyn Yar.
The largest number of assaults was recorded in the Pokrovsk sector, where the Defense Forces repelled 40 attacks. Russian troops were active near Shakhove, Novooleksandrivka, Rodynske, and Novoserhiivka, and also launched assaults toward Volodymyrivka, Vasylivka, Filiia, Hryshyne, Molodetske, Sofiivka, Dorozhne, Nove Shakhove, Novyi Donbas, Shevchenko, Myrne, Kotlyne, and Udachne.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Russian forces carried out six attacks toward the settlements of Rybne, Vorone, and Novomykolaivka.
In the Huliaipole sector, Russian troops attacked 20 times, attempting to advance near Novoselivka and toward Staroukrainka, Dobropillia, Vozdvyzhivka, Hirky, Tsvitkove, and Charivne.
In the Orikhiv sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian attempts to advance toward Bilohiria, Novoandriivka, and Stepove." Ukrin

Ukrainians injured in Iranian strikes on tankers in Strait of Hormuz

"Iranian cruise missiles struck two Emirati tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew

member and injuring eight, including two Ukrainians, the Emirati Defense Ministry reported on July 14.
Two missiles struck the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah tankers as they transited the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz, within Omani territorial waters, the ministry said.
The crew member killed was an Indian on board the Mombasa, with the remaining six injured crew members also of Indian nationality. Four of the wounded suffered serious injuries." KI