Kharkiv attacked 5 times in a single day, 6 peope injured

Russia attacked Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv five times on July 24, injuring at least six people in the latest strike, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

The most recent attack targeted the city's industrial area, although Terekhov did not provide specific details about the damage incurred.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is located approximately 30 kilometers (less than 20 miles) south of the Russian border and has been heavily bombarded throughout the full-scale war.

In the early hours of July 24, a Russian missile attack damaged the office of the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, an NGO based in Switzerland that focuses on demining efforts.

Later that day, another Russian missile strike hit an infrastructure facility, resulting in a fire.

Additionally, a Russian missile attack on the town of Lozova on July 24 killed one person, injured four others, and damaged an infrastructure facility. Governor Oleh Syniehubov stated that a search is ongoing for two more individuals who may be trapped beneath the rubble.

In a separate incident, two men, aged 41 and 18, were injured in a Russian drone attack on the village of Lisne in the morning.

The attacks on Kharkiv Oblast's population centers have intensified following Russia's new cross-border offensive in the region's northern part, launched in May. While Ukrainian troops have managed to halt the Russian advance, Russia continues to occupy several settlements just across the border.

Budapest says that Hungary will block EU's Ukraine defense funds until Kyiv lifts ban on Lukoil transit

Budapest announced on July 23 that it will continue blocking the disbursement of €6.5 billion ($7 billion) from the European Peace Facility (EPF) intended for Ukraine's military aid until Kyiv permits the transit of Russia's Lukoil oil. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated this position, highlighting the ongoing tension between Hungary and Ukraine.

The Hungarian government, along with Slovakia, claimed that Ukrainian sanctions effectively halted the oil transit of Russian company Lukoil to both countries. Slovakia's leadership also threatened Ukraine with unspecified repercussions, emphasizing Slovakia's critical role as an electricity supplier amid Ukraine's energy deficit due to Russian strikes.

Oleksiy Chernyshov, head of Ukraine's state-owned energy company Naftogaz, addressed these concerns earlier this week, stating that while the transit of Lukoil products through Ukraine has stopped, overall transit volumes have remained stable. Chernyshov described the complaints from Bratislava and Budapest as a "political issue."

Szijjarto further asserted in an interview with the ATV news channel: "I also made it clear that as long as Ukraine fails to resolve the issue, everyone can forget about the €6.5 billion in compensation for arms transfers under the European Peace Facility."

Hungary, widely perceived as the EU member closest to the Kremlin, has consistently opposed aid to Ukraine, arguing that it "prolongs" and "escalates" the ongoing war. This stance has gained traction in Slovakia since the election of Ukraine-skeptic Prime Minister Robert Fico last fall.

The blocking of EPF funds predates the current Lukoil supply dispute. Hungary has been stalling the release of funds under the program, which is designed to reimburse EU members who provide aid to Ukraine, for over a year.

Szijjarto also mentioned that Hungary is exploring legal and technical solutions to secure a long-term oil supply if Ukraine does not lift the restrictions.

DTEK aims to recover 60-70% of its power generation capacity by October

By October, DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, plans to restore 60-70% of the power generation capacity it lost due to Russia’s mass shelling earlier this spring. DTEK Executive Director Dmytro Sakharuk shared this goal at the "The Future of Ukrainian Energy" forum, highlighting the company's efforts to rebuild amidst ongoing challenges.

"We lost 90% of our generation capacity," Sakharuk stated. "We plan to restore 60-70% with our own funds and by using old equipment from European stations."

Sakharuk emphasized that all DTEK power plants currently lack walls and roofs following recent attacks. Even after restoration, the equipment may not function at low temperatures, presenting a significant challenge for the coming months.

He estimated the current restoration needs at $350-400 million, illustrating the scale of the task ahead.

Since the beginning of 2024, Russia has launched eight large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, along with numerous smaller strikes. These assaults have severely impacted the country's energy stability.

In response to the attacks, Ukraine began implementing rolling blackouts on May 15, aiming to manage the reduced power availability and maintain a semblance of normalcy for its citizens.

Slovak president threatens Ukraine over suspension of Russian oil transit

Slovak President Criticizes Ukraine for Halting Lukoil Oil Transit, Threatens Retaliation

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has sharply criticized Ukraine for stopping the transit of oil produced by Lukoil, Russia’s largest oil company, through the Druzhba pipeline. He has also threatened to respond to Kyiv's actions if the situation is not resolved.

Pellegrini expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that Slovakia has been assisting Ukraine by supplying reverse gas and electricity.

"If the situation is not corrected, we will be forced to react," Pellegrini remarked, emphasizing that Slovakia does not deserve such treatment from Kyiv, given its support.

Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák echoed the president's sentiments, warning that Ukraine's decision to halt the transit of Russian oil "risks a lot." He further criticized Kyiv's actions as "irresponsible," highlighting the potential consequences of the move.