Three killed as Ukraine strikes Russian military plant
Head of Russia's Udmurt Republic Aleksandr Brechalov posted to Telegram Tuesday that "at the moment 35 people have been hospitalized, 10 of them are in serious condition."
"Unfortunately, we have [three] dead," he also explained.
Brechalov also confirmed that "One of the enterprises in Izhevsk was attacked by drones" from Ukraine.
The Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, announced Tuesday that two Ukrainian drones struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant in Izhevsk, more than 800 miles from the warfront in Ukraine. The plant is purportedly a producer of drones, as well as radar stations and surface-to-air missile systems.
Russia's Defense Ministry also purported Tuesday that 60 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across several Russian regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky further announced Sunday that Russia sent 477 drones and 60 missiles in a wide-ranging blitz that he alleged were "targeting everything that sustains life." A residential building in the city Smila in Ukraine's Cherkasy province was reportedly among the structures attacked, which left a child injured.
Zelensky, who alleged that most of the Russian drones and missiles were shot down, also noted that a Ukrainian F-16 pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, was killed in action after reportedly have destroyed seven "aerial targets." Ustymenko was granted the Hero of Ukraine award posthumously Monday.
Zelensky also announced Monday that the Ukrainian domestic production of drones will be "ramped up," and as for weaponry to be used in battle, "The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones."
"Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities," he added. "Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures."
Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wall Street Journal
19 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
What the Halt in U.S. Weapon Supplies Means for Ukraine
The Trump administration's withholding of critical Patriot interceptor missiles and other weapons from Ukraine is a body blow to the embattled country's efforts to withstand Russia's mounting and increasingly deadly aerial assaults. Even before the decision, Kyiv was struggling to counter Russian technology, tactics and troop numbers. Russia is already deploying maneuverable ballistic missiles, able to avoid the vaunted Patriot air-defense system's radar, and launching record numbers of drones to bombard Ukraine every two or three nights. A halt in the supply of interceptors from the U.S. will heap further pressure on Ukraine.
Miami Herald
20 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
U.S. halts some weapons shipments to Ukraine over stockpile concerns
July 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department halted shipment of some missiles and ammunition to Ukraine over concerns about U.S. military stockpiles. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a pause in sending weapons, including Patriot interceptors, 155 mm high explosive Howitzer munitions, Hellfire missiles, GMLRS precision-guided missile systems, AIM air-to-air missiles and grenade launchers, NBC News reported, citing unnamed congressional officials and sources familiar with the decision. 'This decision was made to put America's interests first following a DOD review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,' said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly to the press. 'The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned -- just ask Iran.' Officials who spoke to NBC News said the concerns over the state of the U.S. military stockpile arose after multiple years of sending aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, and the conflict in the Middle East involving Houthi Rebels in Yemen and aiding Israel in its defense against Iran. 'The Department of Defense continues to provide the president with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end,' Elbridge Colby, Pentagon undersecretary for policy, told NewsNation Tuesday. 'At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving U.S. forces' readiness for administration defense priorities.' Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Wednesday it met with John Ginkel, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy after the decision amid concern that the scaling back of weapons assistance to Ukraine would embolden Russia. 'The Ukrainian side emphasized that any delay or slowing down in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities would only encourage the agressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace,' it said. Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that to bring an end to the conflict with Russia, 'it is critically important to increase Ukraine's defense capability and increase coordinated transatlantic pressure on the aggressor.' Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha posted to X Wednesday that Russia attacked a hospital in the city of Kherson Tuesday night, which left eight people injured. 'We must send the right signals to the aggressor by strengthening Ukraine's capabilities and increasing pressure on Russia,' said Sybiha. 'This is the only way to force Moscow to end the war.' Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
Trump should be euphoric about last 2 weeks, but will success endure?
President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation alongside Vice President JD Vance (L), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the White House in Washington on June 21 after U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Pool photo by Carlos Barria/UPI | License Photo July 2 (UPI) -- In political terms, President Donald Trump could declare last week as the equivalent of a World Series-winning grand slam home run or a last-second touchdown to clinch the Super Bowl. In foreign policy, according to Trump, 30y Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles and 14 blockbuster 30,000-pound bombs "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program and gained a cease-fire between the two belligerents -- Iran and Israel. And for the first time, Trump convinced 31 of 32 NATO members to increase overall defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product-- 3.5% for defense and 1.5% for building greater "resilience" in the event of conflict. Domestically, the stunning win for the New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and various Supreme Court decisions, one of which reduced the authority of district judges to issue nationwide injunctions, will be regarded as great political victories for the president. Whether the "hat trick" of three successes will occur before July Fourth with the passage of Trump's "beautiful big bill," will be determined soon. But any White House would be euphoric about the last two weeks unless or until a truly independent analysis determines the immediate and longer-term consequences of these events. America's Operation Midnight Hammer exploited the Israeli air and missile campaigns that neutralized Iran's defenses and greatly damaged its nuclear infrastructure. But without accurate bomb damage assessment that will take time to generate or boots on the ground to make a physical inspection of the extent of destruction, a rush to judgment such as the president made is likely to be premature. Questions about how much of Iran's highly enriched uranium survived, where it is stored and if Iran has enough centrifuges to continue enrichment need answers. Further, how long the cease-fire lasts and what the Iranian and Israeli exit strategies are remain far from clear. If Iran refuses to accept the existence of Israel with some form of recognition and agrees to forgo its nuclear weapons aspirations, either will be a deal breaker. And without any peace agreement by both parties, what would prevent Israel (or the United States) to reattack Iran in the future? At home, debate over the War Powers Act passed in 1973 to limit the president's authority to order the U.S. military into action will not resolve the inherent contradiction between Congress and its sole responsibility to declare war and the president's constitutional duty to serve as commander-in-chief. While virtually every issue in the United States has become politicized -- especially those with the greatest visibility -- to illustrate this cynicism, suppose Kamala Harris had been president and had ordered these strikes. How would Republicans have responded? A good guess is that the same criticisms and cries of anguish made by Democrats over Operation Midnight Hammer would be repeated by Republicans to deride the president. Indeed, it is unfortunate that what Harris might have done will not be raised. If it were, Democrats, like Republicans, would call this question too hypothetical to be answered. Worse, any objective evaluation of the impact of Operation Midnight Hammer almost certainly will be judged through a biased political lens as Iraqi weapons of mass destruction were in 2003. For NATO, even if an increase to 5% of GDP were achievable, what would this mean for the alliance? Currently, U.S. GDP is about $30 trillion. Five percent equates to $1.5 trillion, with about $1.05 trillion to defense and the remainder to resilience. The United States presently will spend just over $1 trillion for defense depending on what is in or out of the reconciliation bill, assuming it becomes law. Because of uncontrolled real annual cost growth of 5% to 7% (which is above the inflation rate) for all programs from people to precision weapons, this increase will not be sufficient to maintain the current U.S. force levels. The same math applies to all NATO members, and their politics suggest that the 5% goal will not be met. In domestic politics, Trump may indeed have benefitted. If Mamdani wins in New York City, Democratic politics will appear to have moved far more to the left. That trend cost Democrats the presidency in 2024. If it continues, that could hazard the 2026 midterm elections and potential control of Congress. And defining the extent of presidential powers will continue to be an unresolved and probably unresolvable quandary. So, is Trump in wonderland or wonderment? Has this week been a political grand slam? We will not know the answers right away. But we will know them sometime. That will truly be a real day of reckoning. Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist; senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, chairman of a private company and principal author of the doctrine of shock and awe. His next book, co-written with Field Marshal The Lord David Richards, former U.K. chief of defense and due out next year, is Who Thinks Wins: Preventing Strategic Catastrophe. The writer can be reached on X @harlankullman.
