Reporting from Ukraine

le The heavily fortified aggregate plant, currently held by besieged Russian forces, emerges as a key strategic objective for both sides in the fight for control of northern Vovchansk.

Russian troops emerged from an underground passage to launch a surprise attack on Ukrainian positions in New York, Donetsk Oblast, however, the confined space limited reinforcements and made evacuating casualties nearly impossible.

Russia's Kharkiv offensive relies on African and Sri Lankan mercenaries due to troop shortages. Poor-quality North Korean artillery shells and equipment failures hinder Russian efforts. Ukrainian forces maintain numerical superiority, potentially creating opportunities for counter-offensives.

Russian soldiers in Kharkiv's Vovchansk are turning against their commanders as the military faces severe challenges, including high casualties, troop shortages, and the deployment of wounded soldiers. This has led to refusals to fight and near-revolts within the ranks.

Ukrainian military employs American-supplied guided bombs, French AASM "Hammer" bombs, and drone tactics to target Russian forces, disrupt supply lines, and make territorial gains in Kharkiv Oblast, while developing domestic guided bomb production.

Two Russian tanks hit mines and burst into flames while attempting to cross open fields between Solodke and Vodyane.

Ukrainian forces withdrew from the eastern side of the canal in Chasiv Yar, ceding the battered Kanal district to Russian control, while the Russians exhausted their forces after months-long assaults and started to use motorcycles for troop transport instead of armored vehicles.

A botched brigade rotation on 6 July allowed Russian forces to seize a Ukrainian stronghold near Toretsk, using abandoned pipes to infiltrate the position.

The current assault force on Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast can only last for a few months before being exhausted and withdrawn from battle due to ill-prepared infantry, some with as little as a week and a half of training, and heavy losses of tanks and armored vehicles due to effective Ukrainian drone attacks.

Ukrainian drones struck a Russian ammunition depot in Olkhovatka with over 3000 artillery shells in storage and also destroyed two Russian Pantsir self-propelled air defense systems in Belgorod Oblast with HIMARS rockets, setting the stage for a powerful counteroffensive in Kharkiv direction.

A Russian sudden flank attack near Kharkiv's Zolochiv fails, as Ukrainian border guards repel the Russian sabotage group. Ukrainian drone units conduct strikes on Russian targets, affecting logistics. Ukrainian forces maintain readiness for potential future operations.

Ukrainian forces are persisting with their audacious raids against positions of the Russian Armed Forces in and around Hlyboke, aiming to realign the frontline in preparation for future operations in this area.

Ukraine is allocating significant resources to expedite advances in the Vovchansk direction, aiming for a decisive victory through the use of encirclement.

Intense clashes persist in the northern part of Vovchansk, with Ukrainian forces advancing from their stronghold in the citadel area towards the northern outskirts of the city, with the goal of counterattacking Russian forces and capture the heights overlooking the city.