Key facts
- Yevhen Khmara was appointed acting defense minister by Ukraine's Cabinet.
- Ukrainian forces conducted strikes on an oil refinery in Russia's Yaroslavl Oblast.
- Multiple Russian vessels in the Black and Azov Seas were targeted by Ukrainian forces.
- A Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber sustained critical damage at Engels air base.
- The EU sanctioned Russian drone manufacturers and energy sector entities.
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers appointed Yevhen Khmara as acting defense minister on July 17, following a day of uncertainty and significant Ukrainian military actions against Russian targets. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi announced the appointment, stating it was coordinated with President Volodymyr Zelensky to ensure continuity in defense policy during the government transition. The move comes after the previous Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, lost his post under Ukrainian law when the new Cabinet was approved. President Zelensky had initially appointed Khmara as acting defense minister, but legally, the Cabinet holds this authority.
Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces conducted a series of strikes against Russian military and energy infrastructure. The General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces hit the Slavneft-Yanos oil refinery in Russia's Yaroslavl Oblast, one of the country's largest. Additionally, multiple Russian vessels, including tankers and a tugboat, were targeted in the Black and Azov Seas. Strikes also hit an oil terminal and fuel depot in Kerch, Crimea, an oil depot and railway bridge in Donetsk Oblast, and a road bridge in Kursk Oblast.
Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, stated that Ukrainian drones struck 12 Russian 'shadow fleet' vessels in the Black Sea as part of a large-scale attack on Crimea. This operation, codenamed "Molochka," has reportedly targeted 159 vessels since July 6.
President Zelensky and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also announced that a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber sustained critical damage in a strike on the Engels air base in Saratov Oblast. The SBU stated the attack completely severed the bomber's tail section, emphasizing that Russian strategic aviation can no longer feel safe.
In response to recent deadly attacks on Kyiv, EU ministers unanimously approved six new sanctions listings targeting Moscow's drone manufacturing and energy sectors. These sanctions target entities within Russia's ABS Electro group, which contribute to enhancing the resistance of drones like the Shahed and Geran types against electronic warfare.