It’s Day 130 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As Russian troops advance in Lysychansk and other areas of the Luhansk region, Ukrainian officials have declared they will consider an armistice only when the Kremlin removes its soldiers from Ukrainian territory.
President Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said that Ukraine would consider a ceasefire only if it would serve as a means of ending the war and removing Russian troops from Ukraine.
In a recent interview with the Polish Press Agency, Yermak stressed that his country is not interested in a suspension of hostilities merely to freeze the conflict. „This is not Ukraine’s plan,” he explained. „We’re interested in winning the war, and this will surely happen.”
Source: Radio Poland
Ukrainian consul Oleksandr Plodostyi joined Gdańsk officials on Friday to dedicate a square in Wrzeszcz to the heroic defenders of Mariupol.
The newly renamed „Skwer Bohaterskiego Mariupola” at the intersection of Partyzantów and Matki Polki streets in Wrzeszcz is located only a few dozen meters from Russia’s consulate general.
As the Ukrainian consul explained during the event, Mariupol is now „a symbol of the barbarity of the Russian army.” Over 90% of the city is reportedly in ruins, with one Gdańsk official lamenting the once-beautiful city „now looks like Gdańsk in 1945.”
By Plodostyi’s estimate, some 460,000 residents of Mariupol were forced to flee, with some residents remaining under occupation and thousands more killed during the destruction of the city.
Friday’s ceremony also featured the inauguration of the open-air exhibition „Mariupol – a heroic city,” jointly prepared by the Museum of Gdańsk and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War in Kyiv.
The exhibition features photographs by journalist Wiaczesław Tverdochlib, who was in Mariupol working as a volunteer up until the end of March. In the exhibit images of the Russian destruction of Mariupol have been juxtaposed with photos of the city before the war.
The exhibition at the intersection of Matki Polki and Partyzantów streets will be available until the beginning of September.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Iga Świątek was knocked out of Wimbledon yesterday in the tournament’s third round after losing her match against Alize Cornet of France.
Despite being unseeded in the Grand Slam tournament, Cornet showed great composure to secure a 6-4, 6-2 win against the reigning WTA ranking leader.
The defeat marks Świątek’s first loss in four months and ends her record-setting victory run of 37 matches. It was the longest winning streak in women’s tennis since Martina Hingis in 1997.
Earlier in the day, Magdalena Fręch also crashed out of the singles’ tournament after losing to Romania’s Simona Halep yesterday.
Fręch has a chance for redemption today as she and her Brazilian doubles partner Beatriz Haddad Maia take on Australian Ellen Perez and American Nicole Melichar-Martinez in the doubles competition today at 14:00.
Source: Radio Poland, wtatennis.com
As summer holidays kick into high gear, residents and visitors are reminded to check local water quality before going swimming.
As of Saturday at noon, the water in all bathing areas in the Pomeranian voivodeship – including beaches by the sea and local lakes – is suitable for swimming, according to reports by the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS).
Blooms of cyanobacteria are common in the Gdańsk Bay in summer and can cause a range of adverse reactions for swimmers, including skin rashes, eye irritation, and gastrointestinal problems if the water is ingested. Cyanobacteria should not be confused, however, with mats of green macroalgae that occasionally wash ashore and decompose, as they are not harmful or a source of toxins.
Before going swimming in any body of water, members of the public are advised to check for up-to-date water quality information >>>HERE.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be sunny and warm with very little chance of rain and a gentle breeze coming in from the east. Temperatures will peak around a high of 23°C, or 74°F, dropping to an overnight low of 14°C or 57°F. Warmer weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for rain and thunderstorms in the morning and early afternoon.
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Elizabeth Peck/MarWer
