Each day the Ukraine Battlefield update newsletter delivers a straightforward view of developments in the conflict on the ground. Subscribe for free here to receive the complete edition in your inbox.

Since interception is impossible these missiles must be stopped another way - Ukraine pursues two approaches to neutralise Iskanders.
The account of the Kyiv suburb Vyshneve - Russia does hit military sites in the capital.
Drones have already struck nearly one third of the Russian fleet in the Sea of Azov.
In Lviv roughly two hundred individuals assaulted draft officers; Ukrainian mobilisation fuels public anger.
Strikes on Ukrainian fuel stations persist; 200 have been hit since January began.
Ukraine states it has freed a village along the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regional border.
Russia presents a fresh T-72 tank fitted with active protection.
Maps of the day - the freed village
Videos of the day - unrest in Lviv; strikes on Ukrainian fuel stations; two Russian drones pursue one Ukrainian drone; grim supply lines near the front

Since interception is impossible these missiles must be stopped another way - Ukraine pursues two approaches to neutralise Iskanders. These ballistic weapons already pose a serious challenge. If the issue remains unresolved Ukrainian cities could face an even tougher winter than before. Following recent strikes on the capital the Ukrainian forces stated each time that not one Iskander ballistic missile was brought down. The Ukrainians have indicated that stocks of interceptor missiles for their Patriot air defence units are exhausted and they are urgently seeking replacements.

Yet obtaining new supplies proves difficult because worldwide reserves were heavily reduced after the US conflict in Iran and output of fresh missiles moves slowly.

The Ukrainian forces are therefore working to reduce the danger ahead of the coming winter when Russia will surely resume attacks on power facilities. This effort proceeds along two paths: repeated strikes on the Iskander manufacturing network and progress in electronic jamming.

Regarding factory strikes Ukrainian drones have hit and variously damaged six sites since March in the cities of Bryansk Zelenograd Cheboksary Voronezh Volgograd and Penza.

As United24 noted each strike followed identical reasoning: rather than downing missiles mid flight restrict their production capacity. In July alone Russia launched 50 toward Kyiv. The targeted plants made various parts from launch mechanisms to microelectronics. The facilities in Voronezh and Volgograd sustained heavy harm. Given their specialised roles they will prove hard to replace.

The second method involves an electronic jamming setup. While inside Ukraine navigation systems often indicate a location in Lima South America. The system carries that exact name. As the site Militarnyj detailed the Lima setup generates multiple jamming types at once. It focuses on the supersonic Kinzhal missiles fired from modified MiG-31 jets which has neutralised 61 of those weapons.

The account of the Kyiv suburb Vyshneve - Russia does hit military sites in the capital. Every ruined civilian site and every civilian death stems from Russian aggression so responsibility rests with Russia. This holds whether the incident results from intent error falling debris from intercepted missiles or electronic jamming. Naturally that does not grant Russia any licence to strike even military sites in the nation it invaded yet that point lies outside the present discussion.

Even after the latest strikes on Kyiv assertions have surfaced that Russia targets only civilian sites to intimidate residents. Right after the raid from 6 to 7 July the Ukraine Battlefield update published footage of a major blast. Secondary explosions followed indicating a military site had been struck. It has since emerged that the location was the Kyiv suburb of Vyshneve. Ukrainian authorities confirmed an ammunition depot stood there and opened an inquiry into how this occurred since such placement violates laws of war.

In footage taken near the depot exploding ammunition can be seen striking nearby homes. The effects appear in the lead image.

The impact on the area is severe. The site Hromadske stated seven people died 26 suffered wounds and roughly 100 structures were ruined. Hundreds of locals had to leave and the air stayed acrid for hours. One resident told reporters that immediately after the blast no one fought the fire because fragments flew everywhere.

Several residents sheltered in basements yet had to escape when smoke entered and they began to choke.

Drones have already struck nearly one third of the Russian fleet in the Sea of Azov. On Friday morning the site Defence Express reported that within 96 hours of the operation Ukrainian medium range drones had hit 35 Russian naval craft of various kinds in the Sea of Azov. Based on intelligence about fleet size this amounted at the time to 27.5 percent of total strength. Later that morning additional strike reports arrived after which it became possible to speak of one third of the vessels having been hit.

Russian sources keep criticising the inaction of the Black Sea Fleet which shelters in Novorossiysk port. The Telegram channel Dvaja majori also noted that even cargo vessels lacked readiness for self defence so drone footage shows no defensive fire.

The author further conceded that the Russian army lacks personnel to guard the ships. Some units that could protect vessels at sea are occupied securing the Kerch bridge and it remains unclear where the units meant to defend the ports are located.

In Lviv roughly two hundred individuals assaulted draft officers; Ukrainian mobilisation fuels public anger. First a clip from the event in the western Ukrainian city to show at once that this was no small scuffle but a serious incident:

An enraged crowd attacked a vehicle carrying mobilisation and police personnel. According to the Kyiv Independent around 200 people took part. The paper quoted the head of the Ukrainian Security Club Yuriy Honcharenko who cautioned about grave outcomes. He believes this may signal that the prolonged mobilisation crisis could become not only a political and social issue but also a security concern.

Without a proper reply it could threaten national security. This tests the authorities and police - a test of the state's capacity to handle such incidents Honcharenko said.

Officials reported that two mobilisation personnel received minor injuries. The clash began after they requested documents from a 30 year old man on a wanted list. He agreed to accompany the officers yet at that point the crowd encircled one vehicle and attacked it.

On Telegram a clip circulates showing the alleged participants mostly young men and teenagers who were made to chant Slava TCK! TCK stands for mobilisation offices.

Strikes on Ukrainian fuel stations persist; about 200 have been hit since January began. Most occurred in Sumy Kharkiv Donetsk Dnipropetrovsk Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv regions. The organised campaign started in March and in recent weeks has moved farther into the Ukrainian rear. For instance Russia has already destroyed several fuel stations in Kyiv region too. According to the Ukrainian site United24 they currently strike around 20 each week.

One such strike happened on Thursday in Zaporizhzhia. One person died and three were hurt. The station was destroyed along with several cars present during the attack.

In the second clip on the same subject the place is Sloviansk. The front line now lies only about 10 km distant and the fuel station had an anti drone net. Yet the drone passed beneath it and likely set off an LPG tank.

Ukraine states it has freed a village along the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regional border. It is named Novohatske and sits roughly 44 km west of Kurakhove and 24 km north west of Velyka Novosilka. Both towns have seen intense fighting over the years.

In recent weeks Ukrainian forces have advanced gradually in the zone. On a map by Ukrainian analyst Petrenko there is also a frame from footage in which two soldiers raise a flag to prove they hold the village. Russia has confirmed nothing similar so it cannot be excluded that this resembles its own flag raising actions.

Russia presents a fresh T-72 tank fitted with active protection. Heavy armour will not return to the front until its defence against drones reaches an acceptable level. The so called turtles have proven a dead end - Russia's solution of tanks encased in steel plates like barns later strengthened with rebar rods and wire bundles.

Ukrainians have employed and still employ similar makeshift measures yet this does not allow any army to risk sending such equipment to point zero in large numbers.

A more viable option is active protection. It uses sensors and a counter weapon that destroys certain incoming munitions and work continues to adapt these systems against drones attacking from above.

The newest Western models receive active protection. The Slovak and Czech armies CV-90 combat vehicles will have it too. Naturally both Ukraine and Russia had developed such systems long before February 2022 yet neither force reached a point of having effective active protection against drones.

Russia has now displayed a T-72B3A tank equipped with an updated system:

Russia stated the tank is already at the front specifically at an unnamed spot in Dnipropetrovsk region.

According to a Russian infographic the system can serve on T-72B3A T-80BVM and T-90M models.

Nothing is known yet about its performance nor can it be verified that it has seen combat use.

Videos of the day

An example of what responses successful Ukrainian medium range drone strikes have prompted. It is only a three second clip yet it shows two Russian drones attempting to eliminate the threat.

Warning - the footage includes graphic scenes. It depicts a wounded Ukrainian soldier being extracted from a pickup truck destroyed by a drone while others stand guard expecting another incoming danger.

What are the losses

No update on Friday.

By Tuesday (7 July) Russia had verifiably lost 23,806 items of heavy equipment (on Tuesday 23 June the figure was 23,668). Of these 18,785 (18,686) items were destroyed by Ukraine 992 (988) were damaged 1,199 (1,199) were left by crews and 2,830 (2,830) were seized by Ukrainian forces. This covers 4,424 (4,404) tanks of which 3,327 (3,310) were destroyed in fighting.
Ukraine has lost 11,683 (11,546) items of equipment of which 9,068 (9,011) were destroyed 687 (687) damaged 683 (677) left behind and 1,191 (1,189) captured. This covers 1,440 (1,437) tanks of which 1,101 (1,099) were destroyed in fighting.

Note: Neither side routinely reports its fatalities or destroyed equipment. Ukraine issues daily numbers for Russian losses and destroyed equipment which cannot be independently confirmed. In this summary we draw on data from the Oryx project which since the war began has assembled a list of equipment losses documented solely by photographic proof.