Ukraine: realities | «The Weekly Five»: 17.07 – 23.07

In the center of Odesa, which is under UNESCO protection, 25 architectural monuments were damaged overnight on July 23

At least 25 architectural monuments in the historic center of Odesa, which is under the protection of UNESCO, were damaged by Russian terrorists overnight on July 23.

«The Russians deliberately aimed their missiles at the historic center of Odesa, which is under the protection of UNESCO! Everything that was created with hard work by great architects is now being destroyed by cynical in humans», the press center of the Odesa Regional Military Administration said.

The authorities noted that among the damaged buildings are those of the XIX-XX centuries.

 

Service Center for Ukrainian Leopard Tanks launched in Poland

A maintenance and repair center for Leopard 2 tanks received by Ukraine has started operating in Gliwice, Poland, at the Bumar-Labenda plant.

This was announced by Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak on Twitter .

According to him, «the first two Leopard tanks have already arrived from Ukraine to the plant».

 

NASAMS, shells, and equipment: US announces new military aid to Ukraine worth $1.3 billion

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced a new $1.3 billion military assistance package for Ukraine.

The new package is being provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which involves the purchase of equipment from industry rather than withdrawing it from the US Army's stockpile.

The package includes, first of all, four NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems and ammunition, 152-millimeter artillery shells, TOW anti-tank missiles, and precision aviation munitions.

In addition, the United States will purchase 150 fuel tankers, 115 tactical vehicles for towing and transporting equipment, 50 tactical vehicles for evacuating equipment, equipment for port and harbor security and mine clearance, and tactical secure communications systems for Ukraine.

 

Belarusian Red Cross admits to stealing children from Ukraine

The Belarusian Red Cross has confirmed that it is involved in the trafficking of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories to Belarus.

The Belarusian media outlet Zerkalo cited a statement by the head of the Belarusian Red Cross, Dzmitry Shevtsov, during a trip to Donbas, which was broadcast on Belarus 1 TV channel.

«I was outraged to the core by the fact that people, I think, because of their inflamed minds, or they think it is logical to do so, accused Belarus of kidnapping children who come to us for rehabilitation. And frankly speaking, the fact is that the Belarusian Red Cross has been actively involved in this, and will continue to be», Shevtsov said.

 

Zelenskiy proposes to Turkey and the UN to continue the work of the «grain corridor» without Russia

Ukraine has appealed to Turkey and the United Nations to continue the operation of the «grain corridor» under the Black Sea Grain Initiative without Russia, which withdrew from the agreements on Monday, July 17.

The President of Ukraine emphasized that Ukraine has not signed any agreements with Russia and that the agreement on grain exports was signed with Turkey and the UN.

«The Black Sea Grain Initiative can and should continue to work without Russia... It remains in force. The only thing that remains now is its careful implementation, the world's decisive pressure on the terrorist state».

He announced that he had sent official letters to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with a proposal to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative or its analog in a trilateral format.

 

The project «Ukraine: realities» is implemented by the News agency «Konkurent» together with the Civic Movement «SVIDOMI» and the charity organization Global Empowerment Mission in English for readers from other countries to tell the stories of people who survived the horrors of the Russian occupation.

Проєкт «Ukraine: realities» реалізовується Інформаційним агентством «Конкурент» спільно з Громадянським Рухом «СВІДОМІ» та благодійною організацією Global Empowerment Mission на англійській мові для читачів з інших країн аби розповісти історії людей, які пережили жахи російської окупації.