July 4, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Helen Regan, Andrew Raine, Amy Woodyatt, Hafsa Khalil and Ed Upright, CNN

Updated 8:45 a.m. ET, July 5, 2022
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1:57 a.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Australia to send $100 million aid package to Ukraine as Anthony Albanese meets Zelensky

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky give a press conference in Kyiv, on Sunday.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky give a press conference in Kyiv, on Sunday. (Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the Kyiv region on Sunday, travelling to Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin, before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv Governor Olexiy Kuleba said on his official Telegram channel. 

Kuleba said Albanese expressed Australia's solidarity with Ukraine and the crimes committed in the Kyiv region. 

According to Kuleba, Albanese was “stunned by what he saw: ruined civilian buildings, traces of mines, the ruined Antonov Airport.”

Albanese then announced a new assistance package to Ukraine, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office.

The package includes:

  • A$99.5 million (US $67 million) in military assistance, including 14 armored personnel carriers, 20 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles and other military equipment.
  • A$8.7 million (US$6 million) to upgrade border management equipment, improve cyber security and enhance border operations in the field.
  • Australia will also prohibit imports of Russian gold, joining countries who've made similar pledges, including Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and United States.
  • Australia will impose targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on 16 additional Russian ministers and oligarchs.
Russia’s brutal invasion is a gross violation of international law. I saw first-hand the devastation and trauma it has inflicted on the people of Ukraine," Albanese said, according to the statement.
“My visit to Kyiv and recent visits by other world leaders sends a clear message that democratic nations like Australia will stand side-by-side with the Ukrainian people in their time of need.”

8:16 a.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Zelensky acknowledges Ukraine's retreat from Lysychansk, vows army will return

From CNN's Mariya Knight and Jonny Hallam

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the city of Lysychansk, in Donbas on Sunday.

In his nightly televised address to the nation, Zelensky said the retreat from Lysychansk was meant to save the lives of Ukrainian troops facing an onslaught of thousands of Russian artillery shells.

“The fact that we protect the lives of our soldiers, our people, plays an equally important role. We will rebuild the walls, we will win back the land, and people must be protected above all else,” Zelensky said. 
"If the command of our army withdraws people from certain points of the frontline, where the enemy has the greatest military firepower advantage, in particular, this also applies to Lysychansk, it means only one thing."

Zelensky vowed Ukraine's armed forces would retake Lysychansk and Donbas when they receive new modern weapons.

We will return thanks to our tactics, thanks to the increase in the supply of modern weapons,” Zelensky said. 
8:16 a.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Ukrainian military "forced to withdraw" from Lysychansk: Ukrainian Armed Forces

From CNN's Julia Kesaieva and Radina Gigova

Damaged residential buildings in Lysychansk, on Sunday.
Damaged residential buildings in Lysychansk, on Sunday. (Luhansk region military administration/AP)

The Ukrainian military has been "forced to withdraw" from the city of Lysychansk, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Sunday on its official social media platforms.

"After heavy fighting for Lysychansk, the Defense Forces of Ukraine were forced to withdraw from their occupied positions and lines," the general staff said in a Twitter post, alongside a photo that read: "Lysychansk: We'll be back."

The general staff said the decision to withdraw was made in "order to preserve the lives of Ukrainian defenders."

"In the conditions of the multiple superiority of the Russian occupying forces in artillery, aviation, MLRS, ammunition and personnel, the continuation of the defense of the city would lead to fatal consequences," it said in another Facebook post.

The armed forces said it will "continue the fight."

"Unfortunately, steel will and patriotism are not enough for success — material and technical resources are needed," the post read. 

Read more on this here.

12:56 a.m. ET, July 4, 2022

At least 6 dead in Sloviansk shelling, Ukrainian authorities say

From CNN's Julia Presniakova in Lviv and Oleksandra Ochman in Kyiv

At least six people were killed and 15 injured during shelling of the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk on Sunday, according to Tetiana Tiurina, the head of the Public Information and Communication Department of Donetsk region.

In a video message posted to Facebook on Sunday, Sloviansk Mayor Vadym Liakh said "many" people had been killed and wounded due to shelling in the city.

The mayor said the city was experiencing its heaviest shelling in recent days and up to 15 fires are blazing around Sloviansk.

The nearby city of Kramatorsk was also hit with three missile strikes on Sunday morning but there were no casualties, according to Ukraine's Donetsk regional military administration. 

A residential complex and part of a road in a residential area were damaged, the regional military administration said. 

"For the second day, the occupiers are hitting Kramatorsk with SMERCH anti-aircraft missiles. They destroy civilian infrastructure and target the civilian population," Kramatorsk Mayor Oleksandr Honcharenko claimed while posting photos of the damage.

CNN has been unable to independently verify those claims. 

12:56 a.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Russia's Ministry of Defense claims Ukraine targeted Russian cities with cluster munitions

From CNN's Zahra Ulla and Darya Tarasova

The Ukrainian military launched "a deliberate strike" with Tochka-U ballistic missiles with cluster munitions and drones on residential areas of the Russian cities of Belgorod and Kursk, a Russian Ministry of Defense spokesperson claimed Sunday. 

"Tonight, from 3:00 to 3:30 Moscow time, the Kyiv regime launched a deliberate strike with Tochka-U ballistic missiles with cluster munitions and Tu-143 Reys drones on residential areas of Belgorod and Kursk, where there are not any military installations," Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said.
"I want to emphasize that this missile attack was purposefully planned and carried out against the civilian population of Russian cities."

Konashenkov claimed the three Tochka-U ballistic missiles with cluster warheads launched by "Ukrainian nationalists" at Belgorod were destroyed by Russian air defense systems in the air.

The wreckage of one of the missiles fell on a residential building in the city, he claimed.

Konashenkov also claimed Russian air defense systems destroyed two Ukrainian military drones as they approached the city of Kursk, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Belgorod.

CNN has been unable to independently confirm those claims. 

The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the strikes. 

Earlier: The local governor of Russia’s Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov said at least three people were killed and dozens of residential buildings were damaged in Belgorod after it was hit by explosions early Sunday morning.

At least four more were injured, including a man currently in critical condition and a 10-year old child, according to Gladkov. Five houses were fully destroyed in the blasts, while 11 apartment buildings and 34 private residential houses were also damaged, Gladkov said.

12:56 a.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Ukraine destroys Russian military base in occupied Melitopol, says exiled mayor 

From CNN’s Wayne Chang

Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian military base in Russian-occupied Melitopol early Sunday morning, the city’s exiled mayor Ivan Fedorov said in a video address. 

According to Fedorov, between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday local time, “more than 30 shots were fired exclusively at the military base,” rendering it “unable to function.” 

“Now the whole city is covered in smoke. This has been going on for three to four hours. Warehouses on the territory of the transport aviation base are burning,” Fedorov said. 

The head of the Russia-installed council in the Zaporizhzhia region, Evgeny Balitsky, said that "shells fell on the territory on the airfield" and that "there were no casualties," in a Telegram post Sunday.  

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti also confirmed the attack, reporting that Ukraine had hit the Aviagorodok area of Melitopol, but did not specify what had been targeted. 

Volodymyr Rogov, a local Moscow-installed official in the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia region, said on Telegram that between 16 to 18 Ukrainian MLRS rockets had hit Melitopol in two strikes.

Melitopol fell to Russian control in early March, weeks into the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.