Russia-Ukraine war updates for July 5, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday night after a briefing by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin that the country’s economy exceeded expectations.

Mishustin reported at a meeting in the Kremlin that GDP growth could exceed 2 percent in 2023, while annual inflation might not exceed 5 percent. The IMF expects GDP to grow by 0.7% this year, following a contraction of 2.1% in 2022.

According to a transcript on the Kremlin website, Putin said that “at least for now,” the result was “better than previously expected, better than forecast.”

Russia has been subject to waves of sweeping economic sanctions from Ukrainian allies since Ukraine’s unprovoked invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.

— Elliott Smith

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he had warned French President Emmanuel Macron that Russia was planning a “dangerous provocation” against the Moscow-controlled Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

“Now we have information from intelligence that the Russian military placed explosive-like objects on the roofs of several power units at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. Maybe to simulate an attack on the plant. Maybe they have other circumstances, ’” Zelensky added alongside the video Posted on Twitter.

“But in any case, the world sees – and cannot help but see – that the only source of danger at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is Russia, not other countries.”

Russian forces seized Europe’s largest nuclear facility early in the invasion in February 2022, and since then both sides have often accused the other of endangering the plant through shelling.

Russia’s state news agency quoted a Russian nuclear cyber adviser as saying the Ukrainian military was planning to attack the plant using “long-range precision equipment and kamikaze attack drones,” but offered no evidence to support the allegation.

— Elliott Smith

The Ukrainian military claimed late on Tuesday that it had destroyed a Russian force stationed in the Moscow-held Makiyevka in the Donetsk region.

“Another formation of Russian terrorists in the temporarily occupied Makeyevka has ceased to exist due to the precise firing of Wehrmacht units,” the Strategic Communications Office of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said. Telegram messaging appand a video of an apparent explosion in the distance.

The Russian-appointed leader of the region, Denis Pushilin, claimed in a telegram that the Ukrainian shelling had caused civilian casualties.

Pushilin said: “That night, the enemy launched a violent attack on residential areas and hospital buildings in the Chervo Novaldaisky district of Makeyevka. Most residents of Makeyevka and Donetsk felt the shock wave. .”

“There are currently 25 known victims, including two injured children: a 2-year-9-month-old girl and a 7-year-old boy.”

Neither claim could be independently confirmed. Since the Russian invasion began, both sides have accused the other of targeting civilians, something they have denied doing so.

— Elliott Smith

At least 31 people were wounded, including nine children, by Russian shelling of the town of Pervomysky in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, officials said on Tuesday.

The governor of Kharkiv region said that windows of multi-storey buildings were smashed and cars were set ablaze in the shelling that occurred at 1:35 pm Kiev time. Olekh Sinekhubov wrote On the Telegram messaging app.

Russia had no immediate comment on the incident, and CNBC could not independently verify the reports.

— Karen Gilchrist

Russia said on Tuesday it had made “certain contacts” with the United States over the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

The day after U.S. Ambassador Lynn Tracy visited Gershkovich in a Moscow prison, the Kremlin said it did not want to engage in dialogue with the American public.

According to Reuters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We have said that certain contacts were made on this matter, but we do not want to make these contacts public, they must be conducted in complete silence and peace.” continue.”

“As for the legal right to consular access, of course both parties must ensure that right.”

Russia has accused Gershkovich of espionage, which he denies.

— Karen Gilchrist

Wagnerian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin appears to have resurfaced on social media since he was exiled to Belarus after a failed rebellion 11 days ago.

Recordings, said to be Prigozhin’s, were released on gray area Telegram page – an account supporting Russian mercenaries with over 500,000 subscribers.

NBC News was unable to verify the authenticity of the audio message.

“Today, more than ever, we need your support. Thank you,” said the voice.

“I want you to understand that our ‘March for Justice’ is about fighting traitors and mobilizing our society. I think we have achieved a lot,” it added.

“In the near future, I’m sure you’ll see our next victory on the front lines. Thank you!”

NBC Moscow said the voice did sound like Prigozhin, but he was speaking more slowly than usual.

The mercenary leader has not been seen in public since the uprising 11 days ago.

— Karen Gilchrist

NATO agreed on Tuesday to extend Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s term by another year after member states failed to agree on a new leader.

Stoltenberg, 64, who has held the post since 2014, said he was honored by the decision, although he recently said he has no plans to stay on after his current term ends Oct. 1 .

Stoltenberg has been widely expected to be reappointed since last month. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Karas said last week that “the new NATO secretary general is the good old NATO secretary general”.

Kalas was one of the candidates discussed with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to succeed Stoltenberg, though neither candidate received enough support.

A week after Stoltenberg’s extension in office, NATO leaders will hold their annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

— Karen Gilchrist