At least three civilians were killed and three others injured in the town of Toretsk, Ukraine, due to shelling by Russian forces on July 29. Governor Vadym Filashkin reported that multiple attacks had taken place in the Donetsk oblast in the previous 24 hours, leading to the evacuation of more than 70 civilians, including children and individuals with disabilities, to the Volyn oblast. Aid organizations such as World Central Kitchen and UNICEF provided assistance to the evacuees as tensions continued to escalate in the region.
On July 28, 10 people were injured in Nikopol, Ukraine, following Russian artillery shelling on a residential district. Two children, aged 10 and one, suffered concussions in the attack. Ukrainian and Russian armed forces engaged in 128 clashes on the same day, with intense fighting reported in Pokrovsk in the Donetsk oblast. Ukraine’s military reported significant losses for Russia, with 1,310 troops, 12 tanks, 40 combat drones, and eight armored vehicles destroyed during military raids. Russia also maintained a high military presence along the border with Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts.
Ukraine’s air force intercepted a Russian cruise missile and nine drones that entered Ukrainian airspace on July 29, launched from Donetsk and Crimea. A successful attack on the Polevaya oil depot in southern Russia, which caused significant damage and a fire, was executed by Ukraine’s security services the day before. The United States announced the expedited delivery of a new $200 million military aid package to Ukraine, including air defense systems and munitions, as a response to Russia’s increased attacks. The aid will be drawn from Pentagon stockpiles under the Presidential Drawdown Authority.
Ukraine commemorated the soldiers killed and injured in an explosion at the Olenivka prisoner-of-war camp controlled by Russia two years ago, which resulted in the deaths of over 50 Ukrainian soldiers and injuries to more than 100. The Azov regiment, which was heavily impacted by the tragedy, held a memorial in Kyiv’s Independence Square to honor the fallen and raise awareness about POWs still held in Russian captivity. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, as Russia has not guaranteed the safety of investigators in the occupied eastern Ukraine. Mourners gathered under the slogan “Google Olenivka” to seek justice for the victims and ensure that the crime is not forgotten.
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate, with civilian casualties and military engagements on the rise. The international community, including aid organizations and the United States, is providing support to Ukraine to bolster its defenses against Russian aggression. As tensions remain high in the Donetsk oblast and other regions, efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and seek accountability for past atrocities are ongoing. The anniversary of the Olenivka tragedy serves as a reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of justice for those affected by the ongoing conflict.
