The Defender Dome

Per reporting from @KyivIndependent, Ukraine has effectively exhausted its supply of Patriot PAC-3 interceptors, leaving Kyiv with little ability to defend against Russia's ballistic missile attacks. During Russia's latest large-scale strike, Ukrainian officials say 23 ballistic missiles and six 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missiles reached their targets, while air defenses were still able to intercept 37 cruise missiles and 326 drones. Ukrainian officials attribute the disparity to a shortage of PAC-3 interceptors, which remain one of the few systems capable of defeating ballistic missiles. The shortage comes as global demand for Patriot interceptors has surged, with U.S. inventories strained by commitments in the Middle East and elsewhere. As a result, Russia appears to be placing increasing emphasis on ballistic missile strikes against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

Despite the separate Chinese NOTAMs being issued for today’s SLBM test that landed in the Pacific’s nuclear-weapon-free zone, Taiwanese Secretary General of the National Security Council Joseph Wu said that the trajectory of the test launched passed just north of the Philippines’ Luzon Island, calling the move a “provocation.” In addition to the statement, Japan’s Kyodo News has said that the missile did not fly over Japan’s exclusive economic zone or its airspace, which lends some credence to Secretary Wu’s claims that the launch originated in the South China Sea, passing Luzon, and not the Bohai Sea. This post will be updated should additional information come out.

Poland’s Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced Monday that several thousand U.S. Soldiers will arrive in Poland within the coming weeks, as the United States has committed to resuming its rotation of combat forces on NATO’s Eastern Front. This announcement comes amid reports that Russia is preparing to carry out “armed provocations” against Poland and other countries in Eastern Europe, in an effort to test NATO’s resolve on the defense of its allies and support for Ukraine.

According to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the PLAN conducted a scheduled test of a submarine launched ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean earlier today. The test, which would have been launched from a 09IV/A SSBN, marks the first time China has conducted such a test since 2024. Per the release, the Chinese pre-notified relevant nations prior to the test.

A review of commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, visible via http://MarineTraffic.com , shows the vast majority of vessels continue to transit via the Iranian (northern) traffic separation scheme, with only a small number opting for the U.S.-supported southern corridor through Omani waters. AIS use is not mandatory, so the number of vessels that transited is likely higher.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has released its latest Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) advisory announcing an expanded southern transit corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. While use of the corridor and coordination with authorities remain voluntary, vessels are advised the route is open 24 hours a day. The bulletin also encourages ships to keep AIS active, maintain radar and navigation lights, and continuously monitor VHF radio while transiting.

According to a release from the UK Ministry of Defense, on July 2, a Russian Tu-142 “Bear” anti-submarine warfare and patrol aircraft flew excessively close to the HMS Prince of Wales (R09) as it participated in a NATO exercise in the Norwegian Sea. Per reports, the aircraft deployed disposable sonar monitoring buoys near the Prince of Wales. The carrier scrambled its F-35Bs to intercept and escort the Russian aircraft away.

According to the Associated Press, two Tennessee National Guard soldiers assigned to the Trump administration's Memphis Safe Task Force fatally shot an armed man during a foot pursuit early Sunday morning. Authorities say the soldiers, who were assisting Memphis Police in responding to reports of gunfire, opened fire after the suspect allegedly turned toward them with a firearm. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts by two National Guard medical specialists. No law enforcement personnel were injured. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation. The incident marks the first fatal shooting involving National Guard personnel deployed under the administration's crime-reduction mission in Memphis, where the federal deployment has faced legal and political opposition since it began last year. Source: https://apnews.com/article/memphis-tennessee-national-guard-shooting-0ee15a07db84a17d709a1f0345858465

Major clashes are taking place in the Northern Mali town of Anefis, as elements of the Malian Army and Russia’s Africa Corps attempt to defend against wave after wave of fighters with the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). Russian and Malian positions are totally surrounded, with reinforcements, including helicopter gunship support, having between destroyed or turned back by attacks from the FLA.

Burning wreckage of an Mi-24 “Hind” Helicopter Gunship with Russia’s Africa Corps that was shot down by militants of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) yesterday in Northern Mali.

During clashes yesterday between the Malian Army, supported by Russia’s Africa Corps, and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), the FLA managed to successful down a Russian Mi-24 “Hind” Helicopter Gunship during an ambush on a military convoy, resulting in the death of several dozen Malians and Russians.

Video footage shows the moment that a Russian ballistic or cruise missile struck a residential block containing several high-rise apartment building earlier tonight in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Dozens feared dead and seriously injured as a result of a Russian ballistic missile impact tonight on a multi-story apartment building in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces has announced that, due to the ongoing activity of Russian long-range aviation against Ukraine, NATO fighter and support aircraft have been scrambled while ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance has been raised to a state of maximum readiness throughout Poland.

Smoke rising from the site of a Russian ballistic missile impact in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Additional launches from Bryansk and Kursk towards Kyiv.

Multiple Russian ballistic missiles launched tonight against Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, with a number of interceptions reported in the sky over the city by PATRIOT Surface-to-Air Missile Batteries.

Air raid alerts are beginning to spread across Ukraine, as Russia launches yet another large-scale drone and missile attack, primarily targeting Kyiv.

U.S. Airmen and Marines assist Venezuelan air traffic controllers at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, as part of ongoing disaster recovery efforts under U.S. Southern Command, in the aftermath of last month’s pair of major earthquakes which struck Northern Venezuela.

Large-scale Ukrainian drone attack currently underway against multiple locations across Western Russia, including Moscow as well as Russian-occupied Crimea.