Daily Flyer - July 16, 2023
A voice of Ukraine to the West
Russian forces hit Kharkiv using four S-300 missiles
The Russian troops attacked the city of Kharkiv with S-300 missiles on the night of 16 July, causing minor damage but no casualties, said Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration.
The Russian invaders fired four S-300 missiles on Kharkiv from the territory of Russia’s Belgorod Oblast at about 01:30. Two missiles exploded mid-air, while two other missiles hit the ground at a stadium and the road surface in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Windows have been smashed in a four-storey building.
US reports ammunition shortages in own arsenals
The US is running out of ammunition in its own arsenals amid the provision of military aid to Ukraine. Jake Sullivan, US President's National Security Advisor said in an interview with CNN.
According to him, the Biden administration, after taking office, discovered that the stocks of 155-mm munitions, which is standard for NATO, "was relatively low".
Sullivan said the administration also realised that it would take years, not months, to replenish supplies to an acceptable level.
In addition, as Biden's advisor noted, resupply is a difficult task for a country that provides assistance to Ukraine.
"President Biden ordered his Pentagon to work rapidly to scale up the ability of the United States to produce all the ammunition we could ever need for any conflict at any time. Month on month, we are increasing our capacity to supply ammunition," Sullivan said.
Russians attack Kharkiv second time in one day, 7 injured
On Sunday evening, Russian troops struck the city of Kharkiv again; seven people are known to have been injured.
Russians struck the Osnovianskyi district of Kharkiv. Early reports show that there are four casualties. A fire broke out at the site of the hit.
White House warns Russia that failure of Grain Initiative will cost it dearly
Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to the US President, has said that failure to extend the Grain Initiative, which expires on 17 July, will cost Russia huge diplomatic expenses.
Asked whether there are signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to continue this initiative, he said he could not predict the Kremlin's actions.
Sullivan noted that in recent months, Putin has repeatedly changed his mind about the grain agreement.
"If, in fact, they pull out of it, the rest of the world will take a look at that and say that Russia has turned its back on ensuring that the countries of the global south and Africa and Latin America and Asia can get the food they need at affordable prices. And I think that will come at an enormous diplomatic cost to Russia going forward," - Sullivan said.