Russia-Ukraine conflict: Ukraine strikes Russian artillery depots

Ukraine is believed to be preparing for a counterattack on Russia’s continued bombardment of the country as it attempts to capture the entire eastern Ukrainian territory. In a gain for Ukrainian forces this week, troops have destroyed Russian artillery depots ahead of its counteroffensive.

With the aid of Western arms, Ukrainian troops managed to destroy several Russian artillery depots. The attacks on the depots come as Kyiv is preparing for a counterattack in the southern Kherson and Zaporizhia areas, which border the Russian-annexed Crimea, in the summer.

Kyiv said it destroyed a key Russian command post in Kherson as well as a weapons arsenal, killing 12 Russian soldiers on July 10. Two days after the strike, Ukrainian forces shot up a Russian ammunition depot in Nova Kakhovka, which is also located in Kherson, killing 52 Russian troops.

With the recent successful strikes by Ukrainian troops, Russian military commentators have reported such gains with concern.

One particular commentator, known as Military Informer on the Telegram messaging platform, said Moscow has not been able to solve the current situation on the ground with Ukraine’s long-range weapons that were supplied by the West.

The United Kingdom has provided Ukraine with M270 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, and the United States has provided Ukraine with HIMARS multiple rocket launch systems.

Ukrainian forces have also reported successes in striking the Russian ordnance depots, including those in the eastern region, where Russia has focused its offensive in an attempt to capture the entire eastern territory. Ukrainian forces have also said they struck Russian storage of fuel, lubricants, and ammunition in the Azotny area of Donetsk.

Over 40 countries have agreed to coordinate investigations of possible war crimes committed in Ukraine following the latest Russian strike in the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia. 45 countries signed a political declaration during a conference at the headquarters of the International Criminal Court Thursday at the Hague.

European Union countries, the UK, the US, Canada, Mexico, and Australia, are among the signatories of the declaration. The group has promised to provide $20 million in assistance to the ICC, support for the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office, and the efforts by the United Nations to probe potential war crimes.