Ukraine-Russia conflict: Chronicle of major incidents, day 1,246 | Ukraine-Russia war Updates

Key events on the 1,246th day of Russia’s war on Ukraine include the following:

Fighting

• A Russian drone strike at an energy facility in Sumy region, Ukraine, led to power outages for 220,000 people, but most have had their supply restored, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
• Russian air defences intercepted 33 Ukrainian drones overnight across six regions, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Ceasefire

• Ukraine welcomed home another group of prisoners of war from Russia, with over 1,000 soldiers now returned through negotiations with Moscow in Turkiye, Zelenskyy stated. The number of Russian soldiers exchanged in return is unclear.
• Peace talks in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine discussed further prisoner exchanges but stalled on the terms of a ceasefire and a possible meeting between leaders. Progress was made on humanitarian issues, chief delegate Rustem Umerov reported.
• Umerov indicated that Ukraine proposed a meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin before the end of August.
• Moscow’s chief delegate, Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed Russia’s agreement to more prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of over 3,000 bodies of deceased soldiers during the discussions with Ukraine.

Military Aid

• The US State Department announced the approval of a $322 million weapons sale to Ukraine, aiming to bolster its air defence systems and provide armoured combat vehicles. The package includes funds for US vehicles’ supply, maintenance, and overhaul and surface-to-air missile systems.
• Former US President Donald Trump highlighted a deal where NATO allies will purchase weapons and send them to Ukraine, with European allies covering the full cost.
• Chinese-made engines, disguised as “industrial refrigeration units,” are being covertly transported to a Russian state-owned drone manufacturer to bypass Western sanctions, as per security officials and documents obtained by Reuters.
• Zelenskyy discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defences with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar during a meeting in Kyiv on July 23.

Politics

• Zelenskyy responded to Ukraine’s first street protests during wartime, occurring in multiple cities over demands to reverse a law restricting the independence of anti-corruption agencies.
• In his national address, Zelenskyy promised to submit a new bill to maintain the rule of law and the autonomy of anti-corruption agencies.

Regional Developments

• Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, conducted a routine patrol over international waters in the Bering Sea, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.
• Russia initiated extensive naval drills involving over 150 ships and 15,000 military personnel in the Pacific and Arctic oceans, along with the Baltic and Caspian seas. The “July Storm” exercise from July 23 to July 27 aims to assess the Russian fleet’s preparedness for unconventional operations and the deployment of advanced technology, including drones.