Russian sources have warned of a small Ukrainian breakthrough north of Bakhmut, while Ukrainian sources separately are boasting of further advances to the south, near Klishchiivka. In the Klishchiivka area, Ukraine has reportedly cleared out additional forested regions. They also managed another successful canal crossing attempt, to the west of Klishchiivka. From here, Ukraine can apply additional pressure against Klishchiivka and Kurdyumivka, or may simply press past both to target Andriivka. Some Ukrainian sources have reported that they aim to storm Klishchiivka itself tomorrow. In the northern Bakhmut front, Ukraine has probably driven a larger wedge between Berkhivka and Yahidne, based upon some vague hints. Russian sources have said that additional Russian reinforcements are being sent to the front, while Ukrainian officials have said that the situation within northern Bakhmut itself is "difficult" for Russian troops. There has been a lot of speculation in the past regarding a Ukrainian encirclement attempt of Bakhmut, which I have long been sceptical of, as Russia has long controlled a majority of the flanks; even with recent developments, they still do. Any possible encirclement of Russian troops is, at best, probably months off. But that doesn't mean that Russian troops aren't facing a more challenging position than before, as Ukrainian forces are coming closer to cutting some of the southern supply lines.
Ukraine has reopened the front in northern Zaporizhzhia oblast northeast of Vasylivka. Ukraine has launched a renewed push to capture Zherebyanky, which implies that Ukraine does control Pyatykhatky (both Russia and Ukraine have proclaimed control over the battered village). It's possible that Ukraine bypassed Pyatykhatky by pushing straight up a hill and through a first time reach the outskirts of Zherebyanky, but taking the road from Pyatykhatky would have likely been an easier route. In the Robotyne area, Ukraine likely made no further advances today. However, additional footage has emerged from the area confirming that Ukrainian troops are quite close to the town. To the east, Russian sources have warned that Ukrainian troops are further advancing south of Velyka Novosilka. Much as the region north of Bakhmut, Russia is reportedly sending additional troops to the area to ward off Ukraine's advances. As Ukraine has not reported on specific advances in this area, all we really have to go off of at this point in time is Russian milbloggers conceding that they have lost ground in the general area.
Some Russian sources claim that they crushed the Antonovskiy beachhead, while other sources said that combat is still ongoing in the area. Just about all sources have reported that heavy mutual shelling is still ongoing in the area. Ukraine is taking advantage of the higher density of Russian troops in the area to inflict higher casualty rates. Even if the beachhead was defeated, it will have likely come at a steep cost for Russia, and Ukraine still has other outposts along the Dnipro river islands.
Ukraine struck a massive ammunition depot in Makiivka, located immediately to the east of the city of Donetsk. The damage will reduce Russia's ability to effectively hold the line, as Ukrainian troops have flipped the script and are now pushing away from Pervomaiske and Avdiivka. Ukrainian troops even pushed against Spartak, which is part of Donetsk's main urban agglomeration though is technically a suburb. The attack towards Spartak was repelled, but the fact that it happened is a pretty strong demonstration of just how much Ukraine is committing to trying to reverse recent Russian advances around Avdiivka. Russian sources have also reported that Ukraine is pushing hard along the Pisky-Avdiivka like; I take this to mean that fighting has intensified in Vodyane and Opytne, both of which have been situated freight by the front for basically the entire time since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine.
British intelligence has assessed that Russia has lost around half of their combat effectiveness. This is despite their mobilization last year, and usage of PMCs to bolster their numbers. The United Kingdom also estimated that Russia can only produce around two hundred tanks a year; they are undeniably suffering far higher attrition rates of tanks. Of course, the United Kingdom is far from an unbiased observer, and it is worth taking that into consideration when discussing their assessment of Russian military capabilities.
Rhetoric regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has escalated drastically, to the point where I am starting to become concerned. Zelenskyy himself in his nightly address accused Russia of placing devices, allegedly looking like explosives, on top of the roofs or the third and fourth reactors of the plant. Ukraine's health ministry has put out a series of statements, advising of what to do in the event of a radiological emergency. Iodine pills have started to be distributed; these are used to reduce symptoms from radiation poisoning. Ukrainian sources have stated that Russian troops are abandoning the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and, more broadly, the Enerhodar area. However, the governor of Mykolaiv oblast (note; Enerhodar is part of Zaporizhzhia oblast) has said that he has no information about Russian troops abandoning the area. Russia has specifically accused Ukraine of aiming to heavily damage or destroy the plant through some combination of missile and drone strikes the night of July 5th. Separately, the plant has lost connection to its main power line after it was reconnected again just days ago.
The feud between Georgia and Ukraine has lasted another day, with neither country seemingly making headway with getting the other to accept their perspective on the issues they disagree over. Nor did it seem that there was any movement towards a compromise. Moldova has sided with Ukraine, requesting that Georgia release Saakashvili to Ukraine for medical treatment. Georgia has accused Ukraine of meddling in their internal affairs and of damaging their mutual relations.