Ukraine Receives Permission for Deep Strikes in Russia: Kremlin Responds Immediately

On 2024-07-13, Chief of Staff to the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, commented on the results of the recent NATO summit. Yermak stated that Ukraine's partners and allies in the NATO Alliance would soon grant permission for Ukraine to carry out deep strikes into Russian territory.

"We discussed this. Indeed, different member states of the Alliance have varying views regarding strikes on Russian territory. But, you know, it is impossible to successfully conduct this war if the enemy uses all means without limitations. I think most countries will resolve this, and we will have a solution," Yermak was reported as saying by Interfax Ukraine.

He emphasized that Kyiv is using all available means for this purpose, as it would lead to a "game-changer in the war and give us an advantage." Furthermore, Yermak expressed confidence that the United States' decision to provide Ukraine with five Patriot air defense systems would be followed by more such systems in the future.

"I cannot reveal many details, but with such great confidence, I believe there will be more of these systems in the future," Yermak said.

Specifically, he noted that "almost all statements from participating countries regarding Ukraine during the second meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council were very strong and concrete. This is very good and completely different from what we heard in Vilnius (at last year's NATO summit). Their position as NATO countries has become more secure and consolidated. This summit once again showed that NATO fully supports Ukraine."

Ukraine Lacks Runways for F-16s

This summer, Ukraine will receive a limited number of F-16 fighter jets from NATO member countries, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. However, the delivery of these warplanes has faced delays due to several challenges.

Specifically, issues with securing spare parts and a language barrier between Ukrainian pilots and their foreign trainers have slowed the process. Additionally, planners are concerned about the lack of sufficient runway infrastructure in Ukraine, as well as the vulnerability of existing runways to potential Russian attacks.

As a result, Ukraine is expected to establish a squadron of only 15 to 24 F-16 aircraft, a far cry from the 300 fighter jets its leaders had initially requested. Sources indicate that Kyiv can expect to receive around 6 F-16s this summer, with the potential for up to 20 deliveries by the end of the year.

The delayed and constrained delivery of the F-16s to Ukraine reflects the logistical complexities and operational considerations involved in providing advanced military equipment to the country amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The behavior of Congress and the Biden administration is madness

The independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. has stated that the ongoing war in Ukraine now has the potential to escalate into a wider conflict in Europe, potentially leading to an exchange of nuclear attacks. He asserted that part of the responsibility for this escalation would lie with the United States for its decision to send weapons into the conflict.

In his statement on the social network X, Kennedy wrote: "If this [escalation into nuclear conflict] happens, it would be partly because the U.S. sent weapons into the conflict. The behavior of Congress and the Biden administration is madness." Instead, he urged Washington to do everything in its power to avoid a confrontation with nuclear-armed adversaries.

Kennedy's comments highlight his concerns about the dangerous trajectory the Ukraine war could take if the escalation of the conflict is not effectively managed. He believes the U.S. decision to provide military aid to Ukraine has increased the risk of the war spreading and potentially leading to a catastrophic nuclear exchange, which he argues the U.S. government should strive to prevent.

Russia Probably Lost Over 70,000 Soldiers in Two Months

The Russian military is facing its highest casualty rate since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine, with over 70,000 soldiers likely killed or wounded in May and June, according to claims made by the British Ministry of Defense.

The increase in casualties is linked to Russia's decision to open a new front in the Kharkiv region while maintaining the same level of pressure along the entire 1,000-kilometer front line in eastern and southern Ukraine, as stated in the ministry's daily report citing Politico.

While this new approach has increased pressure on the front lines, the report indicates that effective Ukrainian defense and a lack of sufficient Russian training are reducing Russia's ability to exploit any tactical successes, despite attempts to extend the front line.

The British ministry also assessed that Russian forces were making slow progress against Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk region but at the cost of significant losses. It is important to note that neither the Russian nor Ukrainian side has disclosed official casualty figures in the war.

The Kremlin has deemed statements from some Western countries at this week's NATO summit, which suggest allowing Kyiv to use their weapons to attack Russian territory, as a dangerous escalation, as reported by Hina. Andriy Yermak, the Chief of Staff to the Ukrainian President, has called for lifting restrictions on using Western allies' weapons against targets deep in Russian territory, stating that this would change the balance of power in the war against Russia.

The Kremlin is concerned.

According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia has heard statements from representatives of some capitals, like London, that do not care about any restrictions on this issue.

Peskov added that Russia sees countries trying to maintain a balance, saying they are against easing the conditions for using long-range missiles. Peskov stated that Moscow believes these weapons are already being used for attacks on Russian territory.