The Russian Invasion|The Battles

Russia begins second phase of nuclear drills

Russia and Belarus have begun the second phase of training their forces in the use of tactical nuclear weapons, AP reports. The military exercises are seen as the Kremlin's attempt to deter the West from increasing aid to Ukraine.

The first phase of the exercises was carried out in May. At the time, Russian forces were training to use Iskander and Kinzal robots, according to Reuters. In the second phase, Belarusian and Russian forces exercise together.

Tactical nuclear weapons do not have the same range and strength as strategic nuclear weapons.

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Russian offensive in several places in Ukraine before the G7

Russia shelled Kyiv and five other areas in Ukraine during the night of Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities say according to AP. On Wednesday, at least nine people were killed and 29 injured in the southern resort of Kryvyi Rih. Five of the injured are children, Kyiv Independent writes.

Ukraine's air defenses claim to have shot down more than twenty Russian robots and drones, something that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says could have been commonplace if the country only received enough arms support from the outside world.

In the next few days, several summits will be held where support for Ukraine is discussed. On Thursday, the G7 leaders will meet in Italy and NATO's defense ministers in Brussels. This weekend, a peace summit on Ukraine will be held in Switzerland.

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Learn to take a year for the Kremlin to fulfill any of its goals

Russia is advancing in Ukraine, but the country's offensive is going so slowly that it may take at least a year before the country fulfills any of its goals. It shows independent Russian Meduza's review of the situation on the battlefield.

The Kremlin is conducting offensives in several places around Ukraine. Among others in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya and in Donetsk.

To take control of, for example, Donetsk, Meduza writes that Russia would have to significantly increase its numerical advantage on the battlefield.

Those soldiers are not available today and a new large mobilization wave is not seen as an option for the Kremlin.