The Ukraine war has been raging on for 526 days. The Russian Defence Ministry claims sea drones attempted to attack the naval base of Novorossiysk. No injuries or damage have been reported.
Thirteen drones attacked annexed Crimea. The Russian Defence Ministry says all the drones were downed.
Since February 2022, Russia has launched almost 2,000 Shahed drones at Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The Ukrainian government spends almost $55 billion a year to finance its army, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
Read the top overnight headlines in Novaya-Europe’s round-up.
Sea drones attempt to attack Russia’s Novorossiysk
The Russian Defence Ministry says that two naval uncrewed Ukrainian army boats attempted to attack Russia’s naval base of Novorossiysk, the agency reported via Telegram.
“The uncrewed boats were visually detected and destroyed by fire from the standard weapons of Russian ships that were guarding the outer reaches of the naval base,” the Defence Ministry noted.
Residents of Novorossiysk reported hearing an explosion and shooting in the port area at night. The infrastructure of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium was not damaged in the attack, the company said. A temporary ban on ship navigation in the port of Novorossiysk has been introduced.
“As of now, we inform you that docked tankers are loaded with oil as usual. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium infrastructure has not been damaged,” the company said.
Moreover, Krasnodar region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev added that no one was injured and no damages were inflicted.
Thirteen drones attempt to attack Crimea
More than 10 UAVs attempted to attack annexed Crimea in the early hours of 4 August, the Russian Defence Ministry reported.
“The on-alert air-defence systems destroyed ten drones. Three more of the enemy’s UAVs were jammed by electronic warfare systems,” the agency said.
The ministry described the attack as a terrorist one. No one was injured, no damages were inflicted.
Zelensky: Russia launched almost 2,000 drones at Ukraine since war began
Russian troops have launched at least 1,961 Shahed drones at Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“The terrorists have already launched at least 1,961 Shaheds against Ukraine, most of them were successfully downed. Not all of them, unfortunately. We are working to down intercept more: to down as much as possible,” Zelensky noted.
He also said that a difficult situation can now be observed on the frontline.
“The assaults are very brutal,” the president added.
According to Zelensky, “it is the Ukrainian force that is dominating”. The Russian Defence Ministry reported yesterday that 12 Ukrainian attacks on the Donetsk, South-Donetsk, Kupianks, and Lyman axes were repelled.
Ukrainian PM: around $55 bn spent to support army a year
The Ukrainian government spends around $55 billion a year to finance its war effort against Russia, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
According to him, the amount allocated for the army needs during the war against Russia is bigger than the revenue part of the country’s budget in peacetime — around $35 billion. Ukraine is now staying afloat thanks to its partners’ financial support, grants, and loans, Shmyhal clarified.
He also said that in the first year of war Ukraine lost 3.5 million jobs and 29.5% of its GDP. “This is lower than expected. The business has adapted and continues to adapt,” the prime minister added.