Ukraine Fights Back as Russia Intensifies Drone Strikes, NATO Discusses Ukraine Membership
Fighting raged on the 1,014th day of the Russia-Ukraine war, with Ukraine repelling Russian drone attacks while simultaneously clamoring for more weapons from its Western allies.
Overnight, Russian drones targeted critical infrastructure in the western Ukrainian regions of Ternopil and Rivne, plunging part of the city of Ternopil into darkness — a devastating blow delivered just a week after the city and surrounding areas were hit by a wave of Russian strikes that left countless Ukrainians without power.
“We are resisting the enemy on all fronts,” President Zelenskyy said, urging immediate reinforcement of Ukraine’s eastern front line, which stretches for 1,000km (600 miles). He stressed Ukraine’s beckons for vital weaponry from the West. “The greater our army’s firepower and technological capabilities, the more we can destroy Russia’s offensive potential”.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have captured two villages high on the front lines — Kurakhove in the Donetsk region and Novodarivka in the neighboring Zaporizhzhia region. To the south, Novorossiysk, a key Black Sea port city, was targeted by a Ukrainian drone attack.
Russian military drill seawater and manifested Mr. Putin’s ambitious plans for an unexplored shipbuilding trophy – the Zicron.
Russia also. demonstrated their own advanced military hardware, testing new generation Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic anti-ship missiles during drills in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, The Russian Defence Ministry reported the test alongside the launch of a Kalibr cruise missile, another weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. An Onyx anti-ship missile was also tested.
Not to be left behind, Ukraine claimed to have piloted a test on new domestically-made missiles and is scalping up missile production, but did not provide specific details.
The escalating conflict also spilled over onto the world stage, as NATO foreign ministers showed they are ready to rally behind Ukraine, but are also debating how best to support its bid for membership.
NATO chief Mark Rutte called for the alliance to step up intelligence sharing and better protect critical infrastructure, highlighting “hostile” attacks by Russia, but stopped short of providing a clear timeline for concrete decisions on Ukraine’s immediate needs for weapons. Later, political leaders publicly acknowledged that some members insisted on delaying any official approval until after Donald Trump takes office in an evocative display, best showing contrite discontent with their vastly where it is, highlighting the complex web of considerations at play.
Ukraine responded with bold defiance , declaring it will accept nothing less than full membership as part of its security guarantees, even as NATO dodged a direct response this week.
Adding further complexity to the tangle of diplomacy, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock identified supporting a “just peace” and robust security guarantees for Ukraine, but stressed Kyiv alone will decide when to begin negotiations with Russia.
Amidst the whirlwind of international discussions, Italy signaled its commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s defenses.
While Russian forces advance on the front lines, a grim new report revealed a Kremlin-funded programme using Russian jets and cash to relocate at least 314 children from occupied Ukrainian territories and place them with Russian families.
Meanwhile, Poland, like many nations across the world grappling with the malignant impact of
war, took decisive action, announcing plans for the state-owned insurer PZU to invest in dual-use projects, blurring the lines between civilian and military
What is the significance of NATO leaders’ reaffirmation of Ukraine’s future within the alliance?
## Interview: Ukraine’s Path Forward
**Host:** Welcome back to the program. Today marks the 1,014th day of the Russia-Ukraine war. Fighting continues relentlessly with Russia intensifying drone attacks on Western Ukrainian infrastructure while Ukrainian forces bravely defend their eastern front lines. Joining us today is international relations expert Dr. Anya Petrova to discuss this ongoing conflict and the recent NATO summit.
Dr. Petrova, thank you for joining us.
**Dr. Petrova:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** We’re seeing a desperate situation in Ukraine. Russia is relentlessly targeting civilian infrastructure and claiming gains on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Ukraine is calling for more heavy weaponry from the West to counter these attacks. How do you assess the current situation?
**Dr. Petrova:** The situation is indeed dire. Russia’s strategy of targeting civilian infrastructure aims to break the Ukrainian people’s morale and cripple their ability to function. The recent drone attacks on Ternopil are a stark reminder of this brutal tactic. Ukraine’s pleas for more advanced weaponry are understandable. They need the firepower to push back against these Russian offensives and protect their citizens.
**Host:** NATO leaders met this week and reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s future within the alliance. How significant is this declaration, and what does it mean practically for Ukraine?
**Dr. Petrova:** This statement is extremely significant. [[1](https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/10/politics/nato-leaders-affirm-ukraine-future-nato/index.html)]
While it doesn’t mean immediate membership, it clearly signals NATO’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and its right to choose its own security arrangements. It sends a strong message to Russia that their aggression will not be tolerated and that Ukraine’s future remains firmly in the hands of the Ukrainian people.
**Host:** We also saw Russia flaunting its military capabilities with missile tests in the Mediterranean. Does this escalation worry you?
**Dr. Petrova:** It certainly raises concerns. Russia is demonstrating its advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles, which pose a serious threat to regional and global security. The ongoing arms race and the increasing use of sophisticated weaponry only heighten the risk of further escalation and potential miscalculation.
**Host:** What do you think are the most pressing needs for Ukraine right now, and where do you see this conflict heading?
**Dr. Petrova:** Ukraine urgently needs more advanced weaponry, including air defense systems, to counter Russian air power and protect its civilian population. They also need continued humanitarian aid and economic support to sustain their fight.
Predicting the future of this conflict remains difficult. Much will depend on whether Russia is willing to negotiate a meaningful peace settlement or if they persist with this brutal war of attrition.
**Host:** Dr. Petrova, thank you for sharing your valuable insights.
**Dr. Petrova:** Thank you for having me.
