Russian attacks against Ukraine injure 16 over past day

Russian attacks across Ukraine injured at least 16 people over the past day, regional authorities reported early on July 16.

In Kharkiv Oblast, a 51-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man were injured when Russia struck the village of Kindrashivka in the Kupiansk district shortly before midnight on July 15, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

In Donetsk Oblast, eight civilians were injured: five in Lyman, two in Chasiv Yar, and one in Illinka, as reported by Governor Vadym Filashkin.

Attacks on Kherson Oblast injured six people, including damage to a kindergarten, an administrative building, high-rise buildings, houses, and other property, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts also came under attack, but no casualties were reported.

Repair of Dnipro hydroelectric plant to take minimum 3 years

Repairs to the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), damaged by a Russian missile strike, will take at least three years, according to Forbes Ukraine.

The repair of the Dnipro HPP, damaged during a Russian attack on the night of May 31 – June 1, will take a minimum of three years. Clearing the rubble took a month and a half, completed only on July 14.

"The Dnipro HPP is more accessible to the enemy, with the front line just 50 kilometers away. They are striking the area with various missiles – S-300s, Kh-101s, Kh-69s. Our air defense cannot always cope with such a barrage," said Ihor Syrota, General Director of Ukrhydroenergo, the hydropower generating company.

Restoring the Dnipro HPP to its pre-strike state will require at least three years, with additional resources needed to reduce its vulnerability to future attacks. Ukrhydroenergo is preparing lawsuits in international and national courts to seek compensation from Russia for the damage, similar to actions taken regarding the Kakhovka HPP.

Ukraine's ten largest hydroelectric power stations have all suffered from Russian missile attacks, with more than 120 strikes in total by mid-July. Ukrhydroenergo has already lost nearly 45% of its electricity generation capacity due to these attacks.

Russia sends group of priests to occupied territories of Ukraine to "support" injured Russian soldiers

The Kremlin has sent Russian Orthodox Church priests to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, ostensibly to support injured Russian soldiers in hospitals. However, their true mission is to encourage these soldiers to return to combat and continue fighting against Ukraine.

The National Resistance Center of Ukraine reported that these priests are also holding church services for local residents, where they campaign for support of the war and shift the blame for it onto Ukraine. The Center stresses that collaborating with the Russians is a serious crime, with perpetrators facing criminal charges. Civilians can anonymously report collaborators or crimes committed by the Russians through a dedicated chatbot.

Previously, it was revealed that Russians are attempting to indoctrinate Ukrainian children in occupied territories into becoming Russian "patriots." Additionally, the occupying authorities in Crimea recently organized a "Women as Peacemakers" forum for female residents of the occupied Ukrainian territories, promoting the idea of women's service to "God, family, and Motherland."

Russians attack Kherson with UAVs

On the evening of July 16, Russian forces attacked the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson city using a UAV, injuring a 70-year-old man.

The Kherson Oblast Military Administration and Roman Mrochko, the Head of Kherson City Military Administration, reported that the man was hospitalized in moderate condition. He sustained a blast injury, traumatic brain injury, contusions, and shrapnel wounds. The man was outside at the time of the attack.