Russian strikes reduce Ukraine's ability to make missiles — chief of general staff

Lead

Russia's Chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, has reported to President Vladimir Putin that a series of massive retaliatory strikes has significantly reduced Ukraine's capabilities for producing long-range weapons, including cruise and ballistic missiles. The report, delivered during a regular morning briefing, also detailed the scope of the strikes, which targeted military-related facilities in Kyiv and other populated areas.

Coverage comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported the developments across two articles. The first, published on July 2, focused on the immediate results of the retaliatory strike, citing Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who emphasized that the strikes targeted only military or military-related facilities. The second, published on July 4, highlighted the longer-term impact on Ukraine's domestic weapons production, quoting Gerasimov directly. Both reports frame the strikes as a response to Ukrainian actions and emphasize the effectiveness of Russia's military operations.

Key claims

Retaliatory strikes on Kyiv and other areas

According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Gerasimov reported the results of the massive retaliatory strike to President Putin during his regular morning briefing. The strikes were directed at targets in Kyiv and other populated areas, with Peskov stressing that they hit "solely military or military-related facilities." TASS quoted Peskov saying, "The strikes targeted solely military or military-related facilities."

Air defense interceptions

A separate report from Russia's top brass, carried by TASS, said that air defenses downed 327 Ukrainian drones over Russia overnight. The drones were intercepted over multiple regions, including Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Nizhny Novgorod, Veliky Novgorod, Oryol, Pskov, Rostov, Saratov, Tambov, Tula, Moscow, and Krasnodar.

Reduced missile production capability

General Gerasimov reported to President Putin that as a result of the strikes, "the capabilities of the Ukrainian industry for the production of long-range weapons, including cruise and ballistic missiles, have been significantly reduced." This assessment, delivered on July 4, indicates a broader impact of the strikes beyond immediate damage.

Growing dependence on Western supplies

Gerasimov further stated that due to the reduced domestic production capabilities, the "Kiev regime's critical dependence on supplies of components, explosives and fuel from Western countries continues to grow." This observation underscores a longer-term strategic effect as cited by the Russian military.

Perspectives

This article is based solely on reporting from TASS, a Russian state news agency. The information presented reflects the perspectives of Russian military and official government sources, including President Putin, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, and Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Their views on the strikes and their effects are outlined above. No other sources were available to this article.