The Russian Invasion

Zelenskyj/Vadym Prystajko and wife Inna/Wallace. TT 

 

Russian invasionUkraine's response  

 

Ambassador fired after criticism of Zelenskyi  

 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired Vadym Prystajko, Ukraine's ambassador to the UK. According to CNN, the background is a conflict over how Zelenskyj handled criticism from British Defense Minister Ben Wallace.  

 

In connection with the NATO summit in Vilnius, Wallace said that Ukraine has not shown enough gratitude for what the West has done. 

 

Zelenskyy responded with obvious sarcasm and urged Wallace to tell how Ukraine can show greater gratitude, for example by "getting up in the morning and thanking the minister in person."  

 

In an interview with Sky News, the ambassador said that he does not think sarcasm is very good but that the West should instead show unity. 

 

- If something happens, Ben can always call me and say what he wants, Prystajko said. 

 

 

A passenger train on the Kertj bridge, July 19. AP 

 

The Russian Invasion|The Battles  

Information about drone attack on Crimea - bridge traffic is stopped 

 

Train traffic via the Kerch Bridge has been stopped after a Ukrainian drone attack on the Crimean peninsula, according to the Russian occupation government, according to AFP. A five kilometer area around the place where the alleged drone attack took place is said to have been evacuated. 

 

According to Russian-appointed leaders on the annexed peninsula, an ammunition depot was attacked. No one is reported to have been injured.  

 

Five days ago, the Kerch Bridge was attacked and two people were killed. Russia has retaliated with extensive attacks on Ukrainian grain warehouses. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that Ukraine considers the Crimean Bridge a legitimate military target because munitions are brought into the war daily through that route.  

 

 

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this summer. Gavriil Grigorov / AP  

 

Russian Invasion|Russian Reactions  

USA: "No reason to doubt" Putin's nuclear move  

 

The US military intelligence agency DIA has "no reason to doubt" Russia's claims that it has placed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. This is stated by an official within the authority to CNN.  

 

There are uncertainties regarding Belarus's conditions for storing nuclear weapons. According to satellite images, there have been no signs – at least recently – that Belarus is carrying out preparations and security measures that would be standard at a Russian nuclear weapons facility. At the same time, sources tell CNN that there are Soviet-era facilities in Belarus that could probably work for some of the weapons.  

 

Tactical nuclear weapons are less powerful and have a shorter range than strategic nuclear weapons, which are intended to cause massive destruction at great distances.  

 

 

Igor Girkin. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP 

 

Igor Girkin could get five years in prison for extremism  

 

Igor Girkin has appeared in a Moscow court after his arrest yesterday. According to AFP, the former separatist leader and ultra-nationalist is accused of extremism and will remain in custody pending trial. If convicted, he faces five years in prison. 

 

Girkin is a prominent Russian military blogger who supports Russia's war in Ukraine. He has been very critical of the Russian leadership's handling of the war. Girkin has also harshly criticized President Vladimir Putin.  

 

The news agency writes that the Kremlin sends a message through the case that all criticism - even from supporters of the war - is prohibited.  

 

Girkin had a leading role in Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. A Dutch court has sentenced him to life in prison for the downing of passenger plane MH17 in which 298 people died.