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Kyiv drone strike followed Vilnius security pledge
Summary
A look back at 14 July 2023, days after G7 officials unveiled a long-term security framework for Ukraine and while Russian attacks on civilians continued.
What did Ukraine's security picture look like on 14 July 2023? It was shaped by two things: a new international framework meant to protect the country over the long term, and Russian attacks that continued to hit civilians.
The framework came first. On 12 July 2023, at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, G7 officials announced that they had unveiled an international framework for Ukraine's long-term security. As announced, its aim was to boost Ukraine's defence against Russia and deter future aggression. The measures would include bilateral talks, military hardware, training and intelligence-sharing, along with plans to rebuild the country's economy.
The summit itself, held in Vilnius on 11–12 July 2023, brought together the heads of state and government of NATO's thirty-one members, partner countries and the European Union. It was notable for discussions about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the prospective memberships of Sweden and Ukraine in the alliance.
Attacks continued
The fighting did not pause for diplomacy. On 12 July 2023, the same day as the G7 announcement, Russian shelling in Kherson killed an 81-year-old man and injured his wife.
On 13 July 2023, a Russian drone attack on Kyiv injured at least two civilians and damaged infrastructure.
Taken together, the reports from 12 and 13 July 2023 set long-term pledges of support beside the immediate danger civilians faced in Ukrainian cities. The framework promised sustained help, while the attacks on Kherson and Kyiv showed the pressure the country remained under as the summit ended.
