Russia-Ukraine war updates for July 6, 2023

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday accused each Russian and Ukrainian forces of causing civilian casualties through the usage of cluster munitions.

The organization found that Ukrainian cluster bomb attacks on Russian-controlled areas in and across the eastern Ukrainian city of Izium in 2022 caused multiple casualties amongst Ukrainian civilians, while Russian forces have “extensively” used cluster munitions in Ukraine, killing and injuring many civilians.

“Cluster munitions utilized by Russia and Ukraine are killing civilians now and can proceed to achieve this for a few years,” said Mary Wareham, acting arms director at Human Rights Watch.

“Either side should immediately stop using them and never attempt to get more of those indiscriminate weapons.”

The U.S. government is considering a request from Ukraine for the transfer of stockpiled cluster munitions. Should President Joe Biden log off on the transfer, HRW said it will “inevitably cause long-term suffering for civilians and undermine the international opprobrium of their use.”

— Elliot Smith

A Russian missile attack struck a four-story apartment block overnight within the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, killing at the least 4 people and injuring at the least 32, in accordance with the Ukrainian interior ministry.

In a tweet early Thursday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video of the destruction, showing the highest two floors of the long, curved constructing either missing or reduced to rubble, and promised a “strong” response.

Lviv is the westernmost major city in Ukraine, just over 40 miles from the Polish border and greater than 600 miles from the frontline of the conflict. Many Ukrainians have relocated there in quest of safety since Russia’s invasion began within the east.

Around 60 apartments and 50 cars were damaged, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said in a post on his Telegram channel. Rescuers are still searching among the many debris for survivors and casualties.

“That is the largest attack on Lviv’s civilian infrastructure for the reason that starting of the full-scale invasion,” Sadovyi said, in accordance with a translation.

— Elliot Smith

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the Biden administration didn’t have news to share regarding the discharge of detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia.

“I wish I can stand in front of you and say that we’ve got news to share on Evan. Sadly, we would not have any news to share,” Jean-Pierre told reporters during a White House briefing.

“What I can say is Evan, together with Paul Whelan, who’re each wrongfully detained, as you realize, needs to be home. They needs to be home with their families. I just haven’t got anything to share right now,” she added.

Gershkovich was arrested by Russian authorities on March 29 on allegations of espionage. The Biden administration has denied that Gershkovich worked on behalf of the U.S. government as a spy.

— Amanda Macias

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi warned about rising tensions on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

“Nuclear power plants should never under any circumstances be attacked, nuclear power plants mustn’t be used as a military base,” Grossi told reporters during a press conference in Japan.

“The IAEA is there to watch, to watch this, and to tell the world community if this happens. In our latest inspections, we have not seen any activity, but, we remain extremely alert. As you realize there may be a counter-offensive ongoing, there may be a variety of combat,” he said, in accordance with an NBC News report.

“I even have been there just a few weeks ago and there may be combat there, very near the plant, so we cannot chill out and we can be informing and updating always,” the pinnacle of the nuclear watchdog agency added.

— Amanda Macias