July 24, 2023 - Your Morning Digest

Ukraine attacks Moscow, possible indictment coming for Trump today, and more

1) Ukraine Attacks Moscow

Overnight, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, an arm of the Ministry of Defense, announced that it carried out a drone attack on Moscow. Ukrainian drones hit two non-residential buildings, including the building housing the Cyber Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces. Many experts estimate that Ukraine used a Ukrainian “Beaver” Long-Range Attack Drone. In response, Russian authorities described the incident as a “thwarted” attack. It is highly likely that Russia will launch an attack in response to this incident. Stay tuned for more.

2) Possible 3rd Trump Indictment Coming as Soon as Today

A D.C. grand jury investigating Donald Trump’s involvement in the January 6th insurrection is moving closer to a federal indictment, and one could come as soon as today or later this week. Grand jurors are expected to meet in a D.C. Courthouse this week to hear more evidence and debate whether to bring an indictment of the former President. As previously noted, Trump received a target letter from the Special Counsel notifying him of three possible charges the grand jury is considering: (1) 18 U.S.C. § 371, conspiracy against the United States; (2) 18 U.S.C. § 1512 or 1513, witness tampering; and (3) 18 U.S.C. § 242 the deprivation of rights under the color of law, or the conspiracy to do the same. Each of these statutes are punishable by significant prison time. Stay tuned for more.

3) Judicial Reforms Move Forward in Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is moving forward with his controversial judicial reforms. Israeli lawmakers have begun debating the first judicial reform bill to come up for a final vote. This vote is expected soon and will occur while Netanyahu is currently in the hospital after having been fit with a pacemaker. The first prong of this plan, the reasonableness bill, would strip the Supreme Court of the power to declare government decisions unreasonable. Protests are continuing today, and it remains to be seen whether they will have an effect on the plan’s passage. Stay tuned for more.

4) Fighting Escalates in Crimea

Over the past 72 hours, Ukraine has increased its attacks on Russian occupied Crimea. Overnight, Moscow’s installed governor said that traffic on the railroad and highways of parts of annexed Crimea were suspended “for safety reasons.” Overnight, several large explosions were reported in the Krasnohvardiiske District of Russian-Occupied Crimea. This is the same District where an ammunition depot used by the Russian Armed Forces was Destroyed in a Ukrainian Drone Attack a few days ago. Stay tuned for more.

5) Russia Damages Historical Sites

Latest Russian strikes have badly damaged the historic Transfiguration Cathedral located in Odesa. The Cathedral is Odesa’s largest church building and was consecrated in 1809, before being destroyed during the Soviet era in 1936, only to be rebuilt when Ukraine gained its independence. The cathedral is located in Odesa’s city center and was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Italy has since announced that it will help in the restoration of this important religious site. Several other historic monuments were damages in this latest round of strikes. At least one person was killed and several others were injured in these attacks on Odesa.

6) Russia Raises Age Limit

This morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the age limit by five years for certain categories of citizens to remain in Russia’s military reserve. This new law will take effect on January 1, 2024 and comes amid reports of a major planned offensive early next year.