Ukrainian wheat flour for Palestine, security agreements with Czechia and Slovenia, and Russian airstrike on Mykolaiv: Ukraine’s weekly news digest

While Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine is in the middle of its third year, the situation is still intense, with regular updates on attacks on civilians, offensive and defensive operations, and responses from the international community.

Here is what you may have missed on the news from Ukraine from July 16 to July 22.

The first batch of Ukrainian wheat flour was sent to Palestine within the Grain from Ukraine initiative

On July 18, a ship with 1,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat flour arrived in Jordan, where it will be delivered by land to Palestine within the Grain from Ukraine initiative.

The following batch became the first shipment to Palestine within this program. Two more deliveries are scheduled in the coming months. In total, Ukraine plans to provide more than seven thousand tons of wheat flour to Palestine with the support of donors, including Norway, Austria, Estonia, France, and Iceland.

“Despite the Russian aggression and the constant threat of further attacks on the Ukrainian people, we remain resolute in supporting those who are also suffering. We will continue to do everything possible to ensure that the victims of the war in Palestine do not suffer from hunger,” commented Andrii Yermak, Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine.

Grain from Ukraine is a Ukrainian humanitarian initiative launched by the President of Ukraine on November 26, 2022. It has brought together several dozen countries and international organizations to help countries affected by food shortages. In total, the program has already sent ten vessels with more than 200,000 tons of wheat and flour to Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan, and Palestine.

Security cooperation agreements with the Czech Republic and Slovenia

On July 18, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala signed an agreement on security cooperation and long-term support.

According to the concluded treaty, Czechia will provide financial and military assistance to Ukraine over ten years, as well as cooperate in ammunition production and establishment of joint ventures. Czechia is also committed to the annual joint training of about 4,000 Ukrainian defenders.

Among the key priorities of the agreement are the partnership with the city of Dnipro and the Dnipropetrovsk region for recovery, reconstruction, and sustainable development, as well as support for Ukraine’s future membership in the EU and NATO.

On the same day, Ukraine signed a similar agreement on cooperation with Slovenia.

The document implies that Slovenia will continue to provide weapons and help train the Ukrainian military, contribute to projects in the Ukrainian defense industry, and allocate €5 million for humanitarian aid and economic recovery.

Slovenia and Ukraine will also strengthen cyber security, intelligence, and humanitarian demining cooperation through joint efforts.

In total, Ukraine has already signed 25 bilateral security agreements.

Russian airstrike on Mykolaiv

On July 19, Russian troops carried out an airstrike on a residential neighborhood of Mykolaiv. Due to an enemy attack, the children’s playground of the kindergarten was damaged. Nearby multi-story residential buildings were also affected by the blast wave and debris.

At least four people, including a child, were killed due to the Russian airstrike, reported the Prosecutor’s General Office of Ukraine. 15 more people, including four children, turned to hospitals for medical care. Another nine people were provided with medical help without hospitalization.

According to preliminary information, Russian forces attacked Mykolaiv with a Kh-59 guided air missile.

“Every day, Russia proves with its terror that there is not enough pressure on it. This destruction of life must be stopped. We need new measures to support our defense. Russia must feel the power of the world,” commented President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on another Russian terrorist act.

Exchange of POWs between Russia and Ukraine

A total of 95 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were returned to Ukraine as a result of another exchange between Russia and Ukraine on July 17.

In particular, among the released Ukrainians are 49 soldiers of the Armed Forces, 21 servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine, ten military sailors, five border guards, two representatives of the State Special Transport Service of Ukraine and others. Among those who have returned from Russian captivity, there are also 23 defenders of Mariupol (including 13 from the Azovstal plant), informed the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Many Ukrainian soldiers who returned from captivity have been suffering from the received injuries and have chronic diseases that require long-term treatment.

The exchange of POWs was held with the assistance and mediation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This is the 54th exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In total, approximately 3,405 people have already been returned from Russian captivity.

Stats of the week

Approximately 42,000 individuals are currently listed as missing in the Unified Register of Persons Missing in Special Circumstances.
Source: Dmytro Bohatiuk, Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Department for the Issues of Persons Missing under Special Circumstances. Date: July 17, 2024.

Ukraine has already taken out about 5,000 workers from the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
Source: Herman Halushchenko, Minister of Energy of Ukraine. Date: July 19, 2024.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, approximately 1,642 medical facilities in Ukraine have been damaged and 214 more have been destroyed.
Source: Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Date: July 22, 2024.