Explosions in Mykolaiv, Ukrainian cargo plane crash in Greece: last night's highlights

Ten explosions went off in Mykolaiv at once, law enforcement officers detained the ex-head of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and the media reported the crash of a Ukrainian transport aircraft in Greece. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.

Explosions in Mykolaiv

On the night of July 17, ten powerful explosions rang out in Mykolaiv during an air raid, the mayor of the city, Oleksandr Senkevych, said. According to early reports, a fire broke out in the city as a result. The mayor promises to provide more information later.

Detention of the former head of the Crimean SBU department

Ukrainian law enforcement officers detained the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Oleh Kulinich. The place and reasons for the detention were not announced, but the mass media write that Kulinich is charged with several articles of the Criminal Code, including treason.

In October 2020, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Oleh Kulinich as the head of the Main Directorate of the SBU in Crimea. On March 2, 2022, the president fired him.

Plane crash in Greece

A Ukrainian transport plane An-12, which was performing a commercial flight from Serbia to Jordan, crashed on the evening of July 16, near the Greek city of Kavala, according to local media. Early information suggests one of the four engines of the plane caught fire: the pilot attempted an emergency landing at the nearest airport, but failed to reach it.

According to KAVALA POST, there were three people on board, while ERT reported that there were eight people inside the plane. On the morning of July 17, the military will arrive at the site with special groups of pyrotechnicians who will try to approach the site of the crash.

Saboteurs in Donbas

The head of the Luhansk regional military administration, Serhiy Hayday, said that in Donbas, the Russian occupying forces are constantly throwing sabotage and reconnaissance groups into battle in order to find weak points in the defense of Ukraine. However, Hayday says that the Armed Forces are cracking down on all identified subversive groups.

The regional governor noted that most of the Luhansk Oblast is under the control of the Russians, however, fierce fighting is still going on in Bilohorivka and Verkhnyokamyanka.

Successes of the Armed Forces in the south

The Operational Command "South" reported that on July 16, the Ukrainian military in the south of the country destroyed 36 occupiers, two field depots of ammunition and equipment, in particular the anti-aircraft missile complex Tor.

The command says that the situation in the south is remains tense. The enemy continues to defend and use missile, artillery and air strikes as a way to demonstrate their superiority. The Ukrainian army says that such tactics do not bring the Russians military success: they only commit crimes against the civilian population.

Do not believe "horror stories from anonymous sources"

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ukrainians not to believe "horror stories from anonymous sources" after information spread on July 16, about an alleged mass missile attack on Ukraine.

Before that, a number of Telegram channels spread reports of the alleged launch of 48 rockets from Astrakhan over the territory of Ukraine. The mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ruslan Martsinkiv, also announced on social media that a massive missile attack on Ukraine was allegedly being prepared, but later deleted the post.

Germany's struggle for energy independence

Germany has decided to restart 16 power plants that run on coal and oil, as well as extend the operating permit for 11 more such plants. Thus the country wants to reduce energy dependence on Russia.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed regret over such a decision and stressed that it was only a temporary measure. The politician assured that his government will try to do everything to fight the climate crisis.