Russia attacks civilians, ancient church in Odessa

 ISW:

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN on July 23 that Ukrainian forces have liberated approximately 50 percent of the territory that Russian forces captured since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.[10] This figure is largely consistent with ISW’s current assessment of control of terrain. Analysts can employ several methods to calculate control of terrain with varying results depending on the cartographical projection used and other factors. An estimate using ISW’s control of terrain data and the Mercator projection indicates that Ukrainian forces liberated about 53 percent of the land that Russian forces captured since February 2022. Estimates made using different data sources, measurement methods, or projections will generate different numbers. Factors, such as higher confidence about unconfirmed Russian claimed territorial gains, can impact such estimations as well. ISW appreciates and closely studies government officials’ statements about control of terrain geometry to cross-reference, confirm, and where necessary correct assessments.

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Russian forces conducted another series of missile strikes against port infrastructure and the city center in Odesa City overnight on July 22 to 23, severely damaging civilian areas. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces launched 19 missiles, including five Onyx, five Iskander-K, four Kalibr, two Kh-22, and two Iskander-M missiles, and that Ukrainian forces shot down four Kalibr and five Iskander-K missiles.[15] Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command reported that Russian strikes hit the Odesa Transfiguration Cathedral, and Southern Operational Command Spokesperson Captain First Rank Nataliya Humenyuk stated that the city center strikes injured 19 civilians.[16] Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov stated that Russian strikes against Odesa City and Oblast intend to disrupt Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea and intimidate international partners working to restore the Black Sea Grain Initiative deal.[17] Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Spokesperson Vadym Skibitskyi warned that Russian forces are also evaluating Ukrainian energy infrastructure to identify critical infrastructure objects, presumably to target in future strikes.[18]
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Russia's inability to sustain control of occupied areas in Ukraine is another indicator of how weak the Russian military has become after its failed attempt to capture all of Ukraine.  Its attacks on civilians and worship facilities are also another indicator of how frustrated Russia has become about its failed operations in Ukraine.   The Ukraine operation has exposed the weakness of Russia's military and its equipment.  It has also weakened the Russian economy.

See, also:

Moscow claims attack that hit Odesa cathedral targeted sites where Ukraine was making 'unmanned boats' to be used against Russia

Russian Defense Ministry claimed that in the latest missile attack on Odesa, one of the most damaging ones since the start of the full-scale war, its troops targeted "facilities where terrorist acts against Russia were being prepared," Russian media reported on July 23.

The ministry claimed the attack hit the sites where "unmanned surface vehicles were being manufactured" to be used against Russia, and that "foreign mercenaries were on the affected sites," as quoted by the media.

Russia attacked Odesa Oblast with 19 missiles overnight on July 23, killing one person and injuring 19, including four children. Ukraine downed nine of the missiles, the Air Force said. It didn't specify where the other missiles hit.

According to Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper, the attack destroyed or damaged six residential buildings, two architectural landmarks, and dozens of cars.

The attack badly damaged Odesa's main cathedral, which was originally founded in 1794 and rebuilt in late 1990s.

The historic cathedral, however, belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate – a branch of the Russian Orthodox Church that has been supporting the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian imperialism claims Odesa as a Russian city. Current Russian state propaganda includes claims that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin "loves Odesa" and that Kremlin has "special plans for the city."
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Russian claims about the targeted area appear false and may be an indicator of failed intelligence operations.

And:

 Blinken: Ukraine has already retaken 50 percent of occupied territory

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that Ukraine has already retaken about 50 percent of the territory seized by Russia and that the counteroffensive is still in its “relatively early days.”

“In terms of what Russia sought to achieve, what Putin sought to achieve, they’ve already failed. They’ve already lost. The objective was to erase Ukraine from the map, to eliminate its independence, its sovereignty, to subsume it into Russia. That failed a long time ago,” Blinken told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria in an interview on “GPS.”

“Now Ukraine is in a battle to get back more of the land that Russia seized from it. It’s already taken back about 50 percent of what was initially seized. Now they’re in a very hard fight to take back more,” Blinken said. “These are still relatively early days of the counteroffensive. It is tough.”
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And:

 Russian central bank hikes rates 100 basis points as Ukraine war sparks ruble crash and labor crisis

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"The increase in domestic demand surpasses the capacity to expand production, including due to the limited availability of labor resources," the central bank said.

Meanwhile, though the ruble has largely recovered from 2022's lows, the currency has weakened sharply against the dollar this year and the Wagner mercenary group's uprising in late June accelerated that further.

Although short-lived, the revolt pushed Russians to withdraw $1 billion worth of rubles in a few days, and demand for foreign currencies jumped 70%-80% in some regions.
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