6 Killed in Russian Attacks Across Ukraine; Power Struggle Intensifies in Kyiv

At least six people, including two children, have been killed and over 50 others injured following a wave of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine.

Amidst these soaring wartime tensions, a fierce internal power struggle has erupted in Kyiv's political landscape, with the country's former military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, announcing his decision to run against Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the upcoming presidential election.

The skies over Ukraine once again witnessed a fierce onslaught of Russian bombers and drones. On Wednesday (July 1), Vladimir Putin’s forces launched synchronized, large-scale strikes targeting Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, as well as the Odesa and Kherson regions. Local administrations confirmed that the casualties resulted from direct hits by ballistic missiles and drones.

In response, Ukrainian forces have been launching retaliatory strikes. Zelenskyy’s forces continue to deploy drones targeting Russian border regions.

According to various international media outlets, these retaliatory operations are primarily targeting Russian oil refineries.

Political Shift in Kyiv
Amid the devastating situation on the battlefield, signs of a major political shift are emerging within Ukraine. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the country's former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has officially declared his intention to challenge Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the next presidential race.

Zaluzhnyi made it clear that the people of the country are placing their trust in him, and he cannot betray the faith of the citizens.

Moscow's Stance on US Policy
Meanwhile, Moscow has claimed that Russia has not been officially notified of any shifts in US policy regarding a resolution to the Ukraine crisis.

Speaking at a press conference, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the US administration has not informed the Kremlin of any changes to its position through bilateral communication channels.

However, noting that Moscow has no doubts about US President Donald Trump’s sincerity in ending the war, the Kremlin maintained that it remains ready to consider any fair and sustainable resolution proposal in line with the understandings reached at the Alaska Summit.