The $500 million Ukraine aid bill advanced in the US Senate after the Armed Services Committee approved it, according to The Hill. The package cleared its first major hurdle this week with strong bipartisan support from the Senate Armed Services Committee. The legislation adds $200 million for 2026 and extends the Pentagon’s Ukraine assistance program through 2028.

Senate committee advances long-term Ukraine support plan

The Hill reported on 11 July that the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) approved the $500 million Ukraine aid bill two days earlier as part of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The vote passed 26–1. The bill includes a $200 million increase in Ukraine aid for 2026 and extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through 2028.

NATO allies increase defense spending, EU unveils $162M rearmament plan

As part of broader coordination, NATO member states have earlier agreed to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP — a long-standing demand from Trump. This shift comes as the European Union moves to implement a $162 million readiness initiative aimed at rearming European forces within five years.

Ukraine’s allies prepare real countermeasures against Russian terror at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. On 10–11 July in Italy, the Ukraine Recovery Conference brought together a broad and high-level international delegation of over 6,000 to 8,000 participants from around 70 countries and 100 government delegations.

Key outcomes of bilateral meetings in Rome:

• Patriot Systems. Palisa says a dialogue with the US regarding the purchase and transfer of ten air defense systems to Ukraine is ongoing, including at the presidential level. Germany is already prepared to fund two systems, and Norway another one. Once the manufacturer gives formal confirmation, other European partners are expected to join as well.
• Joint defense production. Ukraine discussed cooperation and investment in scaling up domestic drone production with the prime ministers of Italy, Poland, and the Netherlands, as well as with the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
• Interceptor drones. According to Palisa, this topic came up in nearly every meeting as “everyone understands the importance of technological solutions in modern warfare.” Ukraine is working to attract large investments to boost the production scale.
• The UK–Ukraine agreement. At the conference, Britain and Ukraine signed a 19-year agreement that unlocks financing for over 5,000 Thales missiles for air defense systems.
• Increased payments for Ukrainian soldiers. Palisa says EU leaders are responding positively to this matter. Ukraine will seek solutions together. 

Not all decisions and agreements were announced publicly. Some remained classified due to the risk that Russia could exploit this information.

Also, during the Ukraine Recovery Conference, the “Coalition of the Willing” met. Around 30 key countries and partners participated, including French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who joined remotely via video.

For the first time, US representatives took part: Special Presidential Envoy Keith Kellogg, and Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal. They are co-authors of the bipartisan Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 (S.1241), which aims to increase sanctions pressure on Russia.

Kyiv to set up gunpowder production in US after Rome recovery conference

The main idea of the bill is to impose 500% tariffs on imports into the US from countries that continue to purchase Russian energy resources, such as oil, gas, uranium, and other raw materials. The goal is to economically isolate Russia and force countries around the world to stop supporting its war machine.

They are brave fighters who have already proven their strength on the battlefield. In the Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade Magura, a reconnaissance and strike group composed mainly of Colombian volunteers has been formed.

A video showcasing this unit of Colombian volunteers was published by ArmyInform. 

The company commander, known as Hamlet, personally organized the arrival of foreign volunteers, including Colombians and fighters from Peru, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Italy, and Mexico. Ukrainian state programs allow them to quickly undergo training and integrate into the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

“The work of the Colombian assault troops shows excellent results and significantly helps on the battlefield. They have already fought alongside elite Russian brigades and North Korean special forces in Kursk Oblast,” the command of the Colombian assault company states.

They have also been described as “brave and humane,” who retrieve their wounded comrades and injured Ukrainians from the frontline, and are ready to carry out essential missions.

Earlier, BBC Russian Service identified the names of 523 foreign mercenaries killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, using only open-source confirmations.

The outlet reported that those were from 28 countries and died in Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion. The database relies strictly on publicly available information, including Russian official announcements, social media posts by family members, and grave photographs. It excludes Ukrainian sources and Western intelligence.

Kyiv will manufacture gunpowder on US soil. On 11 July, Ukraine signed a relevant deal with its American counterparts during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, Oleksandr Kamyshin, presidential advisor, has announced, UkrInform reports.

Kamyshyn has explained that the company involved in the production has already been engaged in projects with Ukraine. He says such cooperation seemed “an unattainable goal just two years ago.”

“Now we’re entering a systematic, proper, and ongoing format of joint work,” he adds.

Kamyshin has also revealed more than five defense-related deals, some classified as public and others classified. Intergovernmental agreements, a memorandum between Ukraine’s Council of Arms Manufacturers and the Italian Association of Arms Manufacturers, and company-to-company deals are among them.

One of the agreements was signed by US General Keith Kellogg, a special envoy of US President Donald Trump.

The US has thousands of outdated missiles that could immediately save Ukraine. Instead of being disposed of, these significant missile stocks could be transferred to Ukraine at no additional cost, says Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukrainska Pravda reports. 

Zaluzhnyi notes that despite efforts to maintain support for Ukraine, European countries have proven unprepared for the rapid transformation of their defense industries, lagging behind Russia and primarily the capabilities of the US. He says some European countries are preparing for war as it was during World War II, burdening their budgets and failing to understand that the war since 2022 is of a different kind.

Moreover, in conditions of geopolitical instability, the very structure of Europe is expected to change. He states that European leaders fear their own electorates, who are not ready for worsening living conditions.

“Under such circumstances, expectations for long-term and, most importantly, urgently needed assistance should be approached with great caution,” he claims. 

At the same time, the US remains a country of virtually unlimited capabilities and the world’s most developed economy.

“Today, the US holds significant stocks of outdated or soon-to-be-decommissioned missiles, the transfer of which to Ukraine could be an effective solution,” emphasizes the former Ukrainian commander-in-chief.

This armament requires no additional budget costs for disposal and is critically necessary for Ukraine. 

By the end of 2023, the US had produced over 170,000 Hellfire missiles of various modifications. A significant portion of these munitions were manufactured between 1998 and 2018. They typically have a service life of 20 to 25 years, after which they require official write-off or disposal.

Furthermore, as part of a long-term Pentagon program, there is a gradual transition to the new JAGM missile system, which is replacing Hellfire both operationally and in production.

Therefore, Zaluzhnyi suggests that many of the outdated weapons will be either disposed of or transferred to other allied countries. 

“Ukraine can take advantage of this opportunity by systematically submitting official requests under various programs, justifying the need for urgent reinforcement of its defense capability and guaranteeing the US’s rational management of the stockpiles,” he concludes.

Earlier, sources reported that Trump planned to send Ukraine weapons through NATO. The proposed route would involve selling arms to the allies, who would then pass them on to Ukraine. The suggestion had already been discussed with European partners and Ukraine.

Russia suffering heavy losses for minor gains in Ukraine as summer offensive grinds on, ISW reports. The Institute for the Study of War says Moscow is throwing troops into battle for minimal territorial returns, citing The Economist’s data.

Russia suffering heavy losses for minor gains

Russia is suffering heavy losses for minor gains, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). In its 10 July assessment, ISW said Russian forces continue to burn through manpower at “staggeringly high” rates for “disproportionately small gains.”

Since the launch of Russia’s Summer 2025 offensive on 1 May, The Economist estimated about 31,000 Russian troops have been killed. In that time, Russia gained only 0.038 square kilometers — about nine acres — for each killed soldier.

Ukrainian Presidential Office Deputy Head Pavlo Palisa said that as of 4 June, Russia was losing around 167 killed or wounded troops per square kilometer of advance — or just 1.45 acres per casualty.

Offensive pace unlikely to hold

ISW reported that Russian forces captured 498.53 square kilometers in May and 466.71 in June, averaging 15.8 square kilometers per day. The Economist found a similar daily rate — about the size of Los Angeles International Airport.

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BBC identifies 523 foreign mercenaries killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine — from 28 countries

At that pace, The Economist estimated it would take 89 years for Russia to seize all of Ukraine. Capturing the remainder of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts — which Russia illegally claims — would take until February 2028.

ISW noted the pace is unusually fast compared to earlier phases of the war but stressed it is unlikely to continue. Gains have fluctuated based on weather, terrain, and the scale of operations.

Autumn likely to slow Russia’s push

ISW said Russian advances will likely slow again as autumn rains return. Mud and poor conditions have repeatedly hindered maneuverability during earlier phases of the war.

Despite the recent surge, Russia suffering heavy losses for minor gains remains the core dynamic of this campaign. ISW’s analysis, supported by The Economist’s casualty estimates, shows a war strategy trading lives for inches.

Russia is attempting to trade business cooperation with the US in exchange for concessions in its war against Kyiv. At the same time, Moscow relentlessly attacks civilians, killing women and children with record numbers of drones, demanding Ukraine’s surrender, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports. 

“The Kremlin continues efforts to use its diplomatic engagements with the United States in an effort to divert attention from the war in Ukraine and toward the potential restoration of US-Russian relations,” experts conclude.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement on the Rubio-Lavrov meeting, they discussed bilateral US-Russia issues unrelated to the war in Ukraine, including the restoration of contacts, economic and humanitarian cooperation, direct air travel, and the work of diplomatic missions.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that the US and Russia will continue dialogue on a “growing range of issues of mutual interest.”

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on 10 July that he sees no slowdown in the development of US-Russia relations.

The day before the meeting, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reaffirmed Russia’s initial military demands for regime change in Ukraine and demilitarization. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov again stated that Moscow insists on recognizing the “realities on the ground.”

“Kremlin officials’ public statements continue to demonstrate that Russia remains committed to achieving its original war goals in Ukraine and is not interested in good faith negotiations to end the war, however,” the ISW writes. 

The analysts emphasize that Kremlin officials often urge Ukraine to accept the “realities on the ground,” meaning the current frontline in Ukraine, implying Russia holds a stronger negotiating position due to the battlefield situation. They also demand that Ukraine concede to Russian demands to change its government, stop arms deliveries, and reduce its army.

BBC Russian Service identified names of 523 foreign mercenaries killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, using only open-source confirmations. The outlet says those were from 28 countries and died in Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion. Notably, the BBC Russian Service does not refer to them as mercenaries and follows Russian state language, labeling occupied parts of eastern Ukraine as the “self-proclaimed Donbas republics” or the “self-proclaimed DNR and LNR.”

BBC confirms deaths of over 500 foreign nationals in Russian ranks

According to a joint investigation by the BBC Russian Service and Mediazona, supported by a volunteer group, the names of 118,139 Russian military dead have been confirmed since the invasion began. Included in that figure are 523 foreign nationals who did not hold Russian citizenship at the time of enlistment.

The database relies strictly on publicly available information, including Russian official announcements, social media posts by family members, and grave photographs. It excludes Ukrainian sources and Western intelligence.

Central Asians recruited from prisons make up largest foreign group

The highest confirmed number of foreign mercenaries killed fighting for Russia came from Tajikistan (72 deaths) and Uzbekistan (66 deaths). In both cases, more than half had previously been incarcerated in Russian penal colonies. Many signed contracts with Wagner Group in exchange for sentence cancellation.

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Russia tricks Central Asian workers into Ukraine war with fake job promises

Nepalese fighters among the highest casualties outside post-Soviet states

Nepal had the highest confirmed number of indentified fighters killed. The BBC Russian Service documented 70 Nepali nationals killed fighting for Russia, with around 50 more missing. Nepalese authorities sent DNA samples to Russia to help identify the bodies.

The first known Nepali fatality was Sandip Tapalia, a 30-year-old former Gurkha who died in June 2023. He was buried in Ivanovo. 

Egyptian model’s war ends in Russian grave

One of the most publicly documented cases involves Ahmed Valed Deraz, a 25-year-old Egyptian model based in Yekaterinburg. Social media shows him living and working there since at least 2021. He last applied for modeling work in June 2023. At some point after that, he signed a military contract and was eliminated on 17 March 2024 in Ukraine.

He was one of four Egyptians confirmed dead fighting for Russia.

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Ukrainian forces capture Egyptian fighting for Russia

Sri Lankans, Americans, and Africans also among the dead

Russia also recruited from Sri Lanka, where at least 288 former soldiers joined the Russian military, according to that country’s government. Sixteen were confirmed killed. 

The list also includes individuals from Ethiopia, Zambia, the Central African Republic, Tanzania, and Togo.

Americans appear in the list as well. One of the most notable cases is Michael Gloss, son of a serving CIA deputy director, eliminated in Ukraine fighting for Russia. 

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ISW: Russia’s war effort now runs on crypto-mobilization and censored death stats

US intelligence estimates only a handful of American nationals fought for Russia. In contrast, 2,000–3,000 US citizens reportedly joined Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainians also found among Russian ranks

The BBC Russian Service listed 54 Ukrainian citizens who died fighting for Russia. These only the Ukrainian nationals, registered in the Ukrainian-controlled territory at the time the full-scale invasion began. This figure does not include individuals from the occupied territories, counted separately.

If not for a Spanish company, Russia could have run out of new artillery barrels. Barcelona-based Forward Technical Trade SL supplied at least one radial forging machine to Russia, initially built by the Austrian firm Gesellschaft für Fertigungstechnik und Maschinenbau (GFM), the Insider reports. 

The equipment, valued at $1.3 million, weighs 110 tons and was manufactured in 1983. The transfer reportedly occurred via a Hong Kong-based intermediary, Scorpion’s Holding Group Limited.

GFM denies any direct business ties with either the Spanish supplier or the Hong Kong firm. However, the UK’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) confirms that GFM machines are crucial for barrel manufacturing in Russia — and that the Russian defense industry remains entirely dependent on them.

According to US-based expert Pavel Luzin, Russia cannot produce these forging machines domestically. Facing severe shortages, Russian forces have already begun “cannibalizing” old Soviet stockpiles, endangering frontline performance.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence reported that the West still had not sanctioned 70 Russian companies behind the production of missiles that struck Kyiv’s largest children’s cancer hospital. 

The Okhmatdyt strike occurred the same day Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 8-9 July 2024, calling for a peaceful resolution to the war. While the two leaders spoke of peace, Russian missiles rained down across Ukraine, killing 47 people, including 33 in Kyiv.

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Russia’s weaker but destructive drone attack injured at least 27 civilians overnight as strikes hit Odesa, Kharkiv, Chuhuiv, and other cities overnight and in the morning of 11 July, local authorities reported. A separate Russian artillery attack on a medical facility injured at least three more people in Kherson Oblast.

Drones launched from three directions

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 79 drones, including Shahed explosive one-way attack drones and decoys, from Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

Air defenses reportedly shot down 44 drones, and 16 more were suppressed by electronic warfare and disappeared from radars. Nineteen reached their targets across at least eight locations. Debris also fell in three other areas, the report says.

Kharkiv: maternity ward and residential areas hit

In Kharkiv, three explosions occurred around 05:25. According to the Emergency Service, at least 11 people were injured. A dental clinic was hit, and 17 buildings were damaged, with around 200 windows shattered.

One Russian drone strike hit a maternity hospital, forcing staff to evacuate seven patients, three children, and 13 personnel. Medical director Oleksandr Kondratskyi told Suspilne everyone inside experienced severe stress. The blast shattered windows and doors, dislodged ceiling lights, and damaged medical equipment. Staff canceled a scheduled operation due to the destruction.

Chuhuiv: hospital, homes, and factory struck

In Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast, explosions shook the city around 01:20. The blasts injured four people, including a 65-year-old woman. Drones destroyed two detached houses, damaged several others nearby, and heavily damaged the city hospital.

Mayor Halyna Minayeva confirmed further drone impacts on private households in another district. Six drones also struck an industrial site, causing a fire, according to Oblast head Oleh Syniehubov.

Odesa: injured civilians and dead horse after drone hits stable

In Odesa, authorities issued an air alert at 09:19. Five explosions rocked the city as drones struck residential buildings, administrative facilities, and a stable. Local officials reported that 11 civilians were injured.

A drone strike on the stable killed a mare named Kameliia and wounded another horse. At the time of the attack, five horses and four ponies were inside the building.

Sumy: woman wounded, land contaminated

Russian drones struck Sumy early in the morning, the regional authorities reported. One drone injured a 62-year-old woman while she stood in her yard; medics are currently treating her. The blasts damaged non-residential buildings on the outskirts of the city. Environmental officials reported that debris from the attack contaminated 1,190 square meters of land.

Kherson Oblast: artillery hits medical site

In Bilozerka, Russian artillery struck a medical facility, wounding three people: a 40-year-old male patient with leg injuries, a nurse born in 1978 with wounds to her legs, head, and arms, and a driver born in 1976 with hand injuries. All are receiving medical care.

Mykolaiv: explosions and fire, no casualties

Explosions were heard in Mykolaiv after 01:30 during an air raid alert. Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych and regional head Vitalii Kim confirmed multiple blasts and a fire on the city’s outskirts. No injuries were reported.

Stability in Ukraine is in China’s own interest, and Beijing holds the most powerful levers to influence Moscow and urge Russian ruler Vladimir Putin to end the war, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi says, according to UkrInform. 

Tykhyi calls on China, which has been called the main sponsor of Russia’s war, to view Ukraine not merely as another European country, but as a future member of the European Union. He emphasizes that “Ukraine–China relations are ongoing, dialogue exists.” Kyiv is also openly responding to instances of Chinese citizens participating in combat on Russia’s side or engaging in acts of industrial espionage.

For instance, on 9 July, Kyiv detained two Chinese nationals, accused of attempting to steal classified documentation on Ukraine’s Neptune anti-ship missile system. The weapon that sank Russia’s flagship Moskva.

The younger suspect studied at a Kyiv technical university until 2023, when he was expelled for poor grades. Instead of returning to China, he stayed in Ukraine. The SBU suggests he used his remaining contacts to target someone with access to advanced weapons development.

“Recently, Chinese nationals were detained for gathering sensitive information about Ukrainian weapons. These facts are not being concealed,” the spokesperson says, adding that such incidents damage bilateral relations, and Ukraine cannot ignore threats amid all-out war.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a senior EU diplomat that China “cannot accept” Russia’s defeat in the war against Ukraine, arguing that such an outcome would allow the US to focus its foreign policy on Beijing. However, this does not fully indicate that Beijing is focused on Moscow’s victory. 

Ukraine hits four weapons factories in Tula, a regional capital next to Moscow, in a continuing effort to degrade Russia’s defense production capabilities. The drone offensive also struck other military-linked sites across Moscow Oblast, Kursk, Taganrog, Lipetsk, Orsk, and beyond, according to multiple reports. The full extent of damage is currently unknown.

Kamikaze drones strike deep into Tula’s defense industry

Four military-industrial facilities were struck in Tula and Tula Oblast overnight on 11 July, according to reporting by Russian news Telegram channel Astra. 

• Astra confirms that in Tula, drones hit the JSC Design Bureau of Instrument-Making, causing a fire in the administrative building. The same facility was previously attacked in June, when strikes damaged warehouses, a loading hangar, and a power substation — halting operations entirely at the time.
• Also in Tula, drones were shot down directly over the NPO SPLAV plant, which produces multiple launch rocket systems. 
• The fourth site struck was the Aleksinsky Experimental Mechanical Plant in Aleksin, Tula Oblast. Drone debris reportedly fell on the grounds of Workshop No. 4. The plant is involved in producing non-standard equipment for manufacturing explosives and solid propellants, and operates under the state defense-linked Techmash group.
• In addition, Astra reported that a drone hit the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk, also in Tula Oblast. The facility supplies nitric acid used in producing octogen and hexogen — key components of artillery munitions. It had previously been struck in both May and June.

Ukraine struck four weapons factories in Tula overnight, targeting Russia’s defense industry deep inside its territory. Drone attacks also hit sites in Moscow Oblast, Kursk, Taganrog, Lipetsk, Orsk, and more.



TG/Exilenova+, Supernova+ – the clips show the Tula attack. pic.twitter.com/R9CKsNg6YS

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 11, 2025

Drone offensive spreads beyond Tula to Moscow Oblast and other regions

According to Astra and Ukrainian Telegram channels, Exilenova+ and Supernova+, drones also targeted several high-value military and industrial targets in other parts of Russia overnight on 11 July.

• In Dubna, Moscow Oblast, explosions were reported near the Kronstadt Group facility — a drone development site previously attacked in May. Exilenova+ claimed the site was hit again and shared video evidence from the location.
• In Lukhovitsy, also Moscow Oblast, Ukrainian Liutyi long-range drones targeted and reportedly hit the Lukhovitsky Aviation Plant, a facility belonging to the MiG aircraft corporation under Rostec. Astra reports that at least two drones impacted the compressor station on the plant’s grounds, partially collapsing one wall. The nearby Lukhovitsy fuel depot was also in the vicinity of the strike zone. 

Lukhovitsy (Moscow Oblast): Ukrainian Liutyi drones reportedly struck the Lukhovitsky Aviation Plant, part of the MiG aircraft corporation. Astra said two drones hit a compressor station, causing partial collapse of one wall.

TG/Exilenova+, Supernova+ pic.twitter.com/Fa2E386F3T

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 11, 2025

More facilities targeted across Russian territory

Further strikes were reported in multiple other oblasts:

• Kursk Oblast — Drones hit industrial sites in Belyovsky and Kurchatovsky districts. The local governor stated that fires broke out in production areas. In one case, a warehouse reportedly burned after a UAV strike. 
• Taganrog, Rostov Oblast — A UAV was allegedly neutralized near the Beriev aircraft plant. The city’s mayor claimed that debris ostensibly fell onto the factory grounds. Such wording from local officials is often a euphemistic way to report a direct hit. Supernova+ shared footage, showing Ukrainian drones flying over the area.

Taganrog, Rostov Oblast — A UAV was allegedly neutralized near the Beriev aircraft plant.

The city’s mayor claimed that debris ostensibly fell onto the factory grounds. Such wording from local officials is often a euphemistic way to report a direct hit.

Supernova+ shared… pic.twitter.com/LzwhxNcQBP

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 11, 2025

• Lipetsk Oblast — The regional head claimed a drone fell on an agricultural enterprise in Khlevensky district, causing a fire and ostensibly resulting in casualties. 
• Orsk, Orenburg Oblast — Astra and Exilenova+ report that the Orsk Mechanical Plant, a key producer of artillery shell casings and rocket system components, experienced a fire inside its paint shop. Exilenova+ says the sabotage is suspected.
• Saint Petersburg — Rosaviatsia claimed that Pulkovo airport suspended flights temporarily due to security concerns overnight on 11 July.
• In Zhukovsky, Moscow Oblast, the Russian aviation agency Rosaviatsia announced temporary flight restrictions during the night. The same agency later claimed the restrictions had been lifted as of the morning of 11 July.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that a total of 155 drones were downed over Russian territory and occupied Crimea during the night. According to their statement, this included 13 over Tula Oblast, 11 over Moscow Oblast, and dozens across Kursk, Bryansk, Belgorod, Smolensk, and other areas. 

Update: Ukrainian military confirms some strikes

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that overnight on 11 July, Ukrainian drone units, together with other defense elements, struck two Russian military-industrial sites.

One target was the Lukhovitsky Aviation Plant in Moscow Oblast, which handles full-cycle MiG fighter jet production. Explosions were recorded at the site.

The second strike, carried out with support from Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces and the SBU, hit the Shipunov Design Bureau in Tula Oblast. The facility produces missiles for Russian air defense systems.

The General Staff said explosions, smoke, and emergency vehicle activity were observed near both targets. Damage is being assessed.

The United Kingdom is buying 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles from arms firm Thales—and plans to donate them to Ukraine. The 13-kg LMM, fired one at a time from a shoulder launcher, ranges as far as 8 km under infrared guidance.

The 5,000 missiles, built at Thales’ Belfast factory, could cost as much as $3.4 billion. The UK government announced it will loan the money to the Ukrainian government—with generous repayment terms spread over 19 years.

The LMM buy, first floated in March, “is not only a major boost to the UK’s defense capabilities but will also keep Ukraine in the fight, boosting their defense against Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion,” the government in London stated. 

But 5,000 missiles alone can’t keep Ukraine in the fight for very long. Russia is already overwhelming Ukraine’s air-defenses with vast numbers of explosive drones.

The LMM is just the thing to shoot down a relatively low- and slow-flying target such as Russia’s 200-kg Shahed attack drones, which range thousands of miles with 90-kg warheads. 

In three years, Russia has launched around 29,000 Shaheds—also known as Gerans—at Ukrainian positions and cities. 

Ukrainian forces shot down or jammed most of them. But Ukraine’s air-defenses are running low—and new models of the 440-pound, propeller-driven drone have additional satellite navigation receivers, making them jam-resistant.

Meanwhile, the pace of Shahed launches is increasing—meaning more and more of the drones are striking their targets … and killing or maiming Ukrainians. 

Ukrainian analysis group Frontelligence Insight crunched the numbers. “The 2,736 drones launched in June, many targeting Kyiv, make up nearly 10% of the total” number of Shaheds launched since Russia widened its war on Ukraine. 

This proves “growing production,” explained the Frontelligence Insight’s founder, Tatarigami.

“This aligns with earlier warnings from Ukrainian intelligence, which estimated Russia’s monthly output at around 2,700 Shahed-type UAVs and roughly 2,500 decoys,” Tatarigami noted. The decoys distract Ukrainian defenses, helping the armed Shaheds reach their targets.

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Swarms of drones

In August 2024, Ukrainian officials said Russia was producing about 500 Shaheds a month. “Since then, output has multiplied, and the drones have become deadlier: the warhead weight has increased from 50 kg to 90 kg, and maneuverability has improved,” Tatarigami wrote.

Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, warned that Shahed production could soon exceed 1,000 per day. “I’m not intimidating anyone,” Brovdi wrote. His warning is based on “analysis of the intelligence,” he said. 

“The growing scale is a serious problem for Ukraine,” Tatarigami intoned. 

Ukraine is shooting down the drones with mobile gun teams, surface-to-air missile batteries, fighter jets, gunship helicopters and interceptor drones. It’s also sending them off course with electronic warfare systems.

But the sheer number of drones overwhelms Ukraine’s defenses. Part of the problem is that many of the munitions the Ukrainians use to down the Shaheds are more expensive than the drones are. 

An LMM costs more than $500,000. A Shahed costs $200,000. 5,000 LMMs costing $3.4 billion, if they struck 100% of the time, would be enough to destroy a few weeks worth of Shaheds costing $1 billion.

For the Ukrainians, “it’s not just about increasing production” of anti-drone systems, “but also about reducing the cost per interception—making it much cheaper to intercept drones than to manufacture them,” Tatarigami explained.

The cheapest defense is jamming. It costs roughly $8 million to surround a city with jammers such as the Night Watch electronic warfare team’s Lima. The few cities that have enjoyed Night Watch’s protection have suffered almost no Shahed strikes for months at a time.

The Russians can jam-proof a drone by adding more antennas for satellite navigation, compelling the Ukrainians to add more channels to their jammers—or risk the electronic defenses failing. Right now, the Russians are evolving their drones faster than the Ukrainians are evolving their jammers, the Night Watch rep admitted.

Asked if Ukraine was losing the war on the Shaheds, a representative of Ukraine’s Night Watch electronic warfare team responded simply. “Yes, it is.”

5,000 missiles that cost slightly too much for anti-Shahed duty may not change that.

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Ukraine’s perfect German missiles never miss—but Russia’s drone factories never sleep

Ukraine’s human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets claimed the United Nations had finally accused Russia of the Olenivka prison massacre that killed Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs). The problem? No such UN report exists.

Lubinets posted the news 30 June with obvious satisfaction. “Finally, things are called by their proper names!” he wrote, linking to what he said was a UN investigation proving Russia planned and executed the attack on the correctional colony.

Mysterious international center investigated Olenivka massacre

Journalists at Slidstvo.Info followed Lubinets’ link and found something odd. The source was the Centre for Human Rights in Armed Conflict—an organization that explicitly denies any UN connection. Right on their website: “We are not affiliated with the United Nations or any other intergovernmental or governmental organization.”

The website was created on 22 May 2025, and contains only the single investigation about Olenivka with no other publications or detailed organizational information.

“We conduct thorough investigations into violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during armed conflicts, with a current focus on Ukraine and Gaza, to help establish the truth and bring perpetrators to justice,” the organization’s description on the website states.

Who runs the Centre? Nobody knows. No headquarters, no leadership names, no country of operation listed.

When Slidstvo.Info contacted Lubinets’ office, his team quickly backtracked. “Unfortunately, the Ombudsman’s Secretariat did not conduct proper verification,” they admitted, removing the post and promising “enhanced control over published information.”

The Centre itself later confirmed none of its report authors worked for the UN. They described themselves as “international experts who prefer not to reveal their identities” operating without a permanent headquarters and claiming none of its experts are located in Ukraine or Russia.

UN finds Russia responsible, but avoids public blame

The incident highlights confusion surrounding the actual status of UN investigations into the July 2022 Olenivka attack. According to Associated Press reporting, an internal UN analysis does conclude that Russia was responsible for planning and carrying out the attack, but this 100-page document was never intended for public release and does not constitute an official UN accusation.

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AP: UN investigation finds Olenivka attack planned by Russia

The UN analysis examined 70 open-source images, 20 statements from Russian officials, 16 interviews with survivors broadcast on Russian television, and conducted detailed interviews with 55 released prisoners of war. The analysis determined the missile flew from east to west, contradicting Russian claims that Ukraine struck the facility with HIMARS missiles.

However, the UN dissolved its official investigation mission five months after the tragedy because Russia refused to guarantee expert safety. 

Can Ukraine get justice for Olenivka? Currently, only Ukrainian prosecutors are investigating. No active international probe exists among the tens of thousands of war crimes cases.

Meanwhile, the mysterious Centre for Human Rights in Armed Conflict says it plans to publish reports on civilian casualties in Mariupol and Ukrainian military deaths since the full-scale war began —though their credibility remains questionable after the Olenivka controversy.

European firms stole drone secrets from a top Ukrainian manufacturer while falsely claiming their own UAVs were tested in combat, according to Skyeton CEO Roman Knyazhenko. He did not name the specific European companies allegedly involved. Skyeton’s flagship Raybird drone has flown over 350,000 combat hours, The Telegraph says. 

European drone makers accused of copying, then vanishing

In an interview with The Telegraph, Knyazhenko said some European manufacturers approached Skyeton under the pretense of cooperation. However, then they used the meetings to extract technical details and even plagiarized phrases from company materials.

“Sometimes I open presentations of other aircraft from Europe, and I see literally my own words, without any change,” he told the outlet.

He said firms conducted only a few drone flights far from the front line — such as in Lviv in western Ukraine — and still claimed their systems were “combat tested.” These misleading claims allowed them to secure government contracts worth billions, diverting funds from proven Ukrainian systems.

“They’re investing in technology that’s actually fake. In the end, you will have nothing,” Knyazhenko said, warning that the deception not only wastes money but also harms Ukraine’s war effort.

Skyeton says Raybird drones built under battlefield pressure

Skyeton, formerly focused on ultralight aircraft, now works directly with the Ukrainian army. CEO Roman Knyazhenko said roughly half the drone’s components have been replaced in recent years to enhance radar evasion and endurance. The system can reportedly fly 2,500 kilometers and stay airborne for up to 28 hours with various payloads. He added that pressure on engineers is extreme, with repairs often needed overnight to avoid leaving brigades without support.

“In peacetime, you would say a couple of weeks or a month. But right now, you have one night,” Knyazhenko said. “Because if you do not do it in one night, tomorrow the enemy will try and approach us and we will not have aircraft in the air, so we will have casualties.”

Poor foreign parts and legal limbo slow Ukrainian production

Skyeton says it had to start building more parts itself after receiving faulty imports. Knyazhenko cited one shipment of gimbal cameras where half didn’t work. Test logs showed they failed before leaving the factory, he said. The supplier denied responsibility. Legal action, Knyazhenko added, would take years — while frontline units went without equipment.

“Every day of delay will cost us millions,” Knyazhenko said, noting Skyeton’s strict government contracts and the constant demand from Ukrainian brigades.

Rapid evolution defines Ukraine’s drone edge

Skyeton says it constantly refines its drones for real combat conditions. Engineers, it claims, adjusted launch systems and designed UAVs that can take off from puddles within minutes. Knyazhenko said key technologies may become obsolete in two weeks.

“Three years here feels like 20 years in peace time,” he said.

He warned that visiting a Ukrainian factory doesn’t mean firms can replicate the work. “It’s the same story as building a BMW from scratch. It takes years,” he said.

In Foreign Affairs, former Biden officials Jon Finer and David Shimer said most countries — including the US — now lag behind Ukraine in drone warfare. Knyazhenko added that instead of rebuilding systems like the Raybird, Western countries should simply fund Ukrainian production abroad.

Ukraine is preparing to defend against Russia’s 1000 daily drones by mass-producing interceptor drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the technology is already proven—and now Kyiv is calling on international partners to help scale it up.

Russia plans mass drone attacks to destabilize Ukraine

During a press conference in Rome on 10 July, President Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia plans to launch 700 to 1,000 drones per day in an effort to pressure Ukrainian cities and exhaust the country’s defenses.

“They want to destabilize our society through long-lasting air raids,” Zelenskyy warned.

The President added that Ukraine “will respond,” stating:

“We will shoot down everything.”

Ukraine already has the tech—but needs the money

Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine’s scientists and engineers have developed effective interceptor drones capable of countering the Iranian-designed Shahed drones commonly used by Russia.

“We have found a solution as a country,” Zelenskyy said. “Scientists and engineers have found a solution. This is the key. We need finances. And we will raise it.”

The President emphasized that with adequate funding, Ukraine could mass-produce these drones and deploy them across the front.

Interceptors show better results than “Shahed cowboys”

Recently, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that the new interceptor drones already demonstrate a 70% success rate—nearly double the effectiveness of mobile fire teams.

However, Syrskyi noted that the interceptors still lack radar systems, and consistency is not yet guaranteed. Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces stated the drones show good results, but “it is too early to talk about consistency.”

Unmanned Systems Commander Robert “Magyar” Brovdi recently cautioned about Russia’s 1000 daily drones in the near future: he said, Moscow may soon be capable of deploying more than 1,000 Shaheds per day. 

Trump plans to send Ukraine weapons through NATO, according to three sources familiar with internal discussions who spoke to Axios. The proposed route would involve selling arms to NATO allies, who would then pass them on to Ukraine.

NATO route to Ukraine weapons discussed, Trump confirms intent

Axios reports that President Trump is actively planning to sell weapons to NATO countries with the understanding that those allies will transfer the arms to Ukraine. The proposal has already been discussed with European partners and Ukraine, according to two sources familiar with those discussions.

In an interview with NBC News, Trump “seemed to confirm” the plan, Axios says:

“So what we’re doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and NATO is paying for those weapons,” he said.

Despite this, two administration officials told Axios that the United States is not directly arming Ukraine. One official stated,

“POTUS is sending defensive weapons to NATO. NATO can decide what to do with it. We’re not sending weapons to Ukraine.”

Allies consulted, offensive weapons not ruled out

Axios reports that the scheme was discussed at the recent NATO summit. The discussions included both Ukrainian and European officials. One source told Axios that the sales could go beyond air defense systems and include offensive weapons as well.

A senior European official confirmed to Axios that their government had been involved in conversations about the plan. However, that official noted that no final decision or implementation timeline had been agreed upon.

Trump emphasizes NATO responsibility and payment

Trump presented the arrangement as one in which NATO assumes both operational and financial responsibility. “NATO is paying for those weapons,” Trump told NBC, underlining that the United States is not directly providing aid.

An official told Axios that while Trump continues to oppose direct arms packages to Ukraine, he is pursuing this route through NATO. The goal appears to be enabling Ukraine to receive weapons without direct US involvement.

Trump’s earlier Ukraine policy and shifting stance

Earlier, the Trump administration halted deliveries of certain weapons that had been approved under former President Joe Biden. Some of those shipments later resumed.

Trump previously allowed some existing Biden-era arms shipments to proceed, but had not approved any new aid packages since taking office. Reuters says he plans to approve his own first shipments using his presidential drawdown powers.

Exclusives

Russian troops beware: use thermal camo correctly, or get droned. Russian troops are wearing heat-trapping thermal blankets to hide them from Ukraine’s lethal infrared-sensing night drones—but they’re wearing them all wrong. And it’s getting them killed.

Ukraine quietly unleashed its top tank brigade—now drones lead, infantry fights, and tanks wait. Ukraine’s tank brigades are disappearing. The army is getting new heavy mechanized brigades that are better for the infantry-first fighting.

European court makes history: Russia guilty of Ukraine human rights violations since 2014 and plane downing MH17. The European Court of Human Rights recognized Russia’s actions as a “targeted campaign to destroy the Ukrainian state as a subject of international law.”

Ukraine’s perfect German missiles never miss—but Russia’s drone factories never sleep. Ukraine is getting 2,000 new German IRIS-T air-defense missiles. Against endless Russian drones, it still might not be enough.

Military

ISW: Moscow’s drone strategy now targets morale more than military value. Even failed strikes help feed Russia’s psychological war, the think tank assesses.

NYT: Putin believes Ukraine’s collapse is near — and he’s acting like it. Despite Trump’s frustration, Kremlin insiders say Putin sees no reason to stop his full-scale invasion.

Lithuania tracks fake Russian Shahed from Belarus—NATO jets scrambled. Russia’s Gerbera styrofoam drone entered Lithuania from Belarus then crashed. Vilnius failed to identify it.

Reuters says Trump activates drawdown powers for the first time to arm Ukraine. Sources told Reuters the $300 million aid, not yet finalized, may include medium-range guided rocket launchers and air defense interceptors.

As of 10 JUL 2025, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • • Personnel: 1030580 (+920)
    • Tanks: 11011 (+11)
    • APV: 22972 (+3)
    • Artillery systems: 30140 (+38)
    • MLRS: 1437 (+3)
    • Anti-aircraft systems: 1193
    • Aircraft: 421
    • Helicopters: 340
    • UAV: 44781 (+324)
    • Cruise missiles : 3445 (+6)
    • Warships/boats: 28
    • Submarines: 1
    • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 54656 (+81)

Intelligence and technology

NATO allies test German AI drone as Ukraine already destroys Russian equipment with it. German company Helsing designed the HX-2 AI drone as Europe’s answer to Russia’s Lancet loitering munition.

Storm Shadow returns: MBDA restarts SCALP missile Ukraine used to hit Russian command. France signals fresh production in 2025; Militarnyi hints Ukraine could receive new deliveries.

Reuters: Trump resumes GMLRS rocket and 155mm artillery deliveries to Ukraine after Russia’s largest airstrike. The US resumed weapons shipments to Ukraine after a brief pause. On Tuesday, Russia launched more than 740 drones and missiles in a single night.

Zelenskyy asks Trump’s Ukraine envoy Kellogg for US missiles – Trump calls Patriot systems “very expensive”. As Russian strikes intensify, Ukraine is pressing its case directly to Trump’s circle, while questions linger over the price of protection.

International

UK is ready for Ukraine peacekeeping mission—if there’s ever peace to keep. British troops would help enforce an agreement that remains out of reach.

US restarts shipments of rockets and shells to Ukraine — munitions already on the way. Washington sources confirm that guided rockets and artillery shells are once again flowing to Kyiv.

Germany is ready to buy US Patriots—Trump undecided. Chancellor Merz says Berlin can fund extra systems for Ukraine, but Washington hasn’t finalized anything.

Netherlands pledges € 300 million for Ukraine recovery projects amid Russia’s aggression. Russia has spent three years targeting Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, making economic assistance essential for the country’s survival.

The Atlantic: Trump’s erratic weapons policy leaves Ukraine flying blind. Ukrainian officials say unpredictability from Washington may prove more damaging than lost weapons.

Humanitarian and social impact

Ukraine’s sleepless nation: 80% trapped in chronic stress from nightly Russian attacks. Millions of Ukrainians maintain economic activity despite “fatigue, tension and despair” from Russian constant bombardment of civilians, Ukraine’s First Lady told international partners in Rome.

Russia’s war against Ukraine prompts Czechia to train teenagers in combat skills to strengthen national defense. Czech Army General announced the initiative aims to expand national reserves while introducing young people to military service amid Russia’s security threat.

Russia strikes Kyiv for 10 hours—two women killed including 22-year-old metro police officer (updated). Explosions were heard citywide as homes, schools, and hospitals sustained blast damage.

Political and legal developments

Russian intelligence paid Ukrainian teenager and her mom for arson attacks in Odesa. Russian operatives target financially vulnerable civilians who burn military vehicles to cause damage and demoralize the population in Ukraine.

Frontline report: Russia’s running out of oil money—so a Moldovan fraud king built a fake crypto boom. With oil profits down 30%, Russia’s betting on a crypto scheme run by Ilan Shor — a fugitive oligarch, convicted fraudster, and Kremlin-backed power broker in Moldova.

Other developments

Russian propagandists shift stance on Trump, call him “Bidenized” after Putin criticism. Earlier, the US president said “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin.”

Read our earlier daily review here.

Armed forces across Europe are conducting trials of a German-developed HX-2 strike drone that could reshape the continent’s military capabilities, while Ukrainian pilots already fly it against Russian targets.

France, Germany, Britain and other European nations are evaluating the HX-2 strike drone manufactured by German company Helsing, according to the company’s Vice President of Sales Simon Brünjes, as reported by Hartpunkt.

The testing schedule reflects urgent military priorities. The German Bundeswehr aims to complete its evaluation by year-end, positioning itself for potential procurement decisions. Simon Brünjes, Helsing’s sales chief, indicated that Germany has assigned the project high priority compared to other defense initiatives to meet this timeline.

Why the rush? Brünjes won’t say directly. But the company designed the HX-2 as Europe’s answer to Russia’s Lancet drone—a weapon Helsing calls “very effective” against Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine has received initial HX-2 units for qualification testing, with results expected within weeks. The timing aligns with broader European efforts to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities while evaluating systems for their own militaries.

Single operator controls multiple AI drones that navigate without GPS signals

The HX-2 incorporates design elements from both missile systems and traditional drones. Its X-wing configuration enables agile maneuvering while four electric propellers provide 100-kilometer (62 miles) range and loitering capability compared to rocket-powered alternatives.

Terminal speed: 220 kilometers per hour (136 miles/hour).

But the real innovation sits in the software. Helsing’s Altra system gives the drone three capabilities that matter in electronic warfare:

First, it navigates without GPS. A downward camera constantly matches terrain features against stored maps, letting the drone operate even when Russia jams satellite signals.

Second, it tracks targets automatically during final approach. Lose radio contact? The drone still hits what it was aimed at.

Third, it recognizes targets using artificial intelligence (AI). The system identifies and classifies objects using both visual data and context clues.

Helsing’s Altra software makes it possible for a single operator to coordinate swarm attacks while the AI handles navigation, target tracking, and electronic warfare resistance. Each drone carries several kilograms of payload which is enough to destroy tanks, artillery pieces, or infrastructure.

Here’s the catch: Brünjes says the AI could make the kill decision itself, but Helsing programs human oversight into every mission. “For ethical reasons,” he explains, matching Western military requirements for human control.

Europe grows HX-2 drone production

The German manufacturer designed its system specifically for large-scale production to achieve lower unit costs than conventional systems.

Current production stands at 450 units monthly at Helsing’s Resilience Factory in southern Germany, with capacity to expand to 1,000 units through additional personnel training. A planned second factory could bring total monthly output to approximately 2,500 HX-2 drones. The company also plans to build more factories across Europe to scale production rapidly in response to conflicts worldwide.

Compare that to combat consumption. Ukrainian forces have already used “several hundred” of Helsing’s earlier HF-1 drones out of 1,950 delivered, according to Brünjes. Combat video shows these drones destroying both stationary and moving Russian vehicles.

The math matters for European defense planners. Can a single German factory supply multiple armies plus Ukraine’s wartime needs?

Co-founder Gundbert Scherf says they built the HX-2 “from scratch for mass production” to beat the Russia’s Lancet on both performance and price. Ukraine calls the cost “very economical”—helped by Helsing taking zero profit on Ukrainian deliveries.

Europe learns from Ukraine battlefield drone lessons 

In February, Helsing announced 6,000 additional AI-powered HX-2 drones for Ukraine, following a prior order of 4,000 HF-1 drones currently being delivered in cooperation with Ukrainian industry. That’s 10,000 AI-powered strike drones heading to one battlefield.

The HX-2 builds on lessons from Ukraine’s use of the earlier HF-1 model. Same software, different hardware. Where the HF-1 uses conventional wings, the HX-2’s X-shaped design enables sharper maneuvers that are useful when dodging air defenses.

Helsing’s Ukrainian partner handles HF-1 production while the German company provides software. That division of labor gets updated constantly based on combat feedback from the front lines.

The company delivered 1,950 HF-1 units to Ukraine, with several hundred deployed in combat operations against Russian forces.

British forces also demonstrated the HX-2 at Salisbury Plain training facility while preparing for NATO enhanced Forward Presence deployment in Estonia, though Brünjes noted that Britain has not yet made formal procurement commitments.

Will European armies buy what Ukraine is already using? The testing programs underway suggest defense ministries want their own evaluation even when the weapon comes with battlefield validation.

Trump activates drawdown powers for the first time in his current term to approve Ukraine military aid, according to Reuters. The $300 million package may reportedly include Patriot missile systems and guided rockets—probably, GMLRS for HIMARS systems.

Trump may be activating drawdown powers to send $300 million in arms from existing US stockpiles

Two sources familiar with the decision told Reuters the aid would come from US weapons already in storage. The package is expected to be pulled from Pentagon stockpiles using Presidential Drawdown Authority. One of the sources said a final decision on the equipment could be made at a meeting on “Thursday.”

The reported $300 million in aid may include defensive Patriot missile interceptors and offensive medium-range rockets. However, “a decision on the exact equipment has not been made,” according to a source. According to Reuters, the equipment is likely to be delivered quickly because the systems are already staged in Europe.

Reuters said the Pentagon and the White House declined to comment when asked about the plans.

First planned direct aid under Trump since return to office

By now, the Trump administration has only “approved”—or, more accurately, did not block—deliveries authorized under Biden.

If finalized, it would be the first time Trump activates drawdown powers to directly send weapons to Ukraine, Reuters notes. The use of authority may show a shift in Trump’s Ukraine policy.

Presidential Drawdown Authority allows the president to transfer weapons quickly from US stocks, bypassing the need for new legislation.

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska revealed that more than 80% of Ukrainians are experiencing chronic stress and persistent emotional strain due to war.

Speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on 10 July, Zelenska painted a picture of a population ground down by sleepless nights and constant bombardment.

“Our economy continues to function thanks to millions of people who go to work after nights spent in basements,” she said. “The main emotions they experience are fatigue, tension and despair.”

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My bomb shelter is a bathroom floor

Why focus on mental health at a reconstruction conference? Zelenska’s answer was direct: “Without people, a country becomes a monument.”

The cases reveal the war’s brutality. Patients arrive with burns, blast wounds, crushed limbs from Russian strikes. “Saving their lives is not enough,” Zelenska said. “We must help them live fully.”

“Destruction is not only a physical concept, but also a social one, which manifests as difficulties, security threats, and psychological suffering,” she explained. “It can spread far beyond the battlefield and affect everyone.”

How is Ukraine building mental health infrastructure during wartime? The country established a Mental Health Coordination Center under the Cabinet of Ministers, according to Zelenska. The goal: getting mental health services into every community across Ukraine.

The challenge requires international help. “Much effort is being made to expand operations so that mental health services are available in every community, and this requires partner support,” Zelenska told conference delegates.

Ukraine now has 11,000 rehabilitation specialists—seven times more than in 2022. These professionals have treated 600,000 Ukrainians injured by combat and enemy strikes over the past 18 months.

But Ukraine isn’t just receiving expertise—it’s sharing it. “We learn from the world’s best clinics, but our own experience has also grown to such a level that we can already share it,” Zelenska said. 

Can a country rebuild while its population remains traumatized? Zelenska invited conference participants to join Ukraine’s medical partnership, suggesting the answer lies in international collaboration on both physical and mental reconstruction.

In June, Ukraine opened its first specialized mental health center in Lviv, targeting survivors of Russian captivity and torture. The Saint Leo the Great Mental Health Center offers residential care with art therapy studios and aims to treat 1,000 patients annually, including former prisoners of war. Belgium’s Flanders region funded the €1.5 million facility to address systematic torture experienced by up to 90% of returned Ukrainian POWs.

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Ukraine opens first rehab center for torture survivors after Russian captivity

The Russian military knows it has a nighttime camouflage problem. It’s begun circulating a field manual instructing befuddled troops on the proper fit for their thermal blankets. 

The main point, according to the manual, is to make sure the blanket isn’t warmer than the nighttime landscape. “Before putting on the anti-heat-vision cape, it should be taken outside in advance and cooled by hanging it in the shade for at least one hour,” the manual advises, according to a translation posted online by Canadian drone expert “Roy.” “It is necessary in order for the cape to reach ambient temperature.”

By the same token, soldiers should make sure their thermal camo isn’t cooler than the landscape. That advice is a matter of life and death. 

Consider what happened to a trio of Russian troops that tried to sneak across open terrain toward the front line presumably somewhere around Novomykolaivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast in late June.

The Russians did the smart thing and moved at night, under thermal camouflage that should—in theory—hide them from surveillance drones with infrared sensors. But the Russians hid under thermal blankets that were cooler than the surrounding summertime terrain was.

Instead of disappearing from Ukrainian drones’ heat sensors, they stood out. A bomber drone from the Ukrainian army’s 59th Assault Brigade spotted them—and approached with a clutch of grenades. 

The Russians knew they were in trouble. They apparently heard the drone coming, crouched in place and pulled their blankets tightly over them. But it didn’t help.

It wasn’t some exposed limb sticking out from under a blanket that gave them away—it was the blankets themselves. The temperature differential between the ground and the outside of the blankets was so great that that blankets appeared as black shapes amid the gray and white landscape on the bomber drones’ infrared sensor.

The drone operator took their time aiming their grenades. The first round hit within meters of the crouching Russians. Arterial blood spray from one badly wounded Russian glowed hot on the drone’s camera. The ammunition the Russians were carrying, which cooked off following the second grenade impact, glowed even hotter.

The blasts left the landscape painted with blood, body parts and hot fragments.

How not to hide

Drones are everywhere all the time as Russia’s wider war on Ukraine grinds into its 41st month. Even on a quieter stretch of the 1,100-km front line such as that held by the 59th Assault Brigade. Even at night.

Both sides urge their troops to conceal themselves from the ever-present drones. “Use thermal blankets, similar to those that are often placed in … first-aid kits,” the Ukrainian government advised its forces in its own counterdrone field manual. “If possible, take care and use mylar capes, blankets, cloth. They effectively reflect infrared radiation.”

But the thermal camo can work poorly—or too well. Cheaper mylar blankets tend to trap too much heat or too little. When the ground is warmer than the outside of the blanket is, the wearer will appear as a solid dark square on any infrared sensor. When the ground is cooler, the wearer will appear as a solid white square.

A thermal blanket must be the same temperature as its surroundings. Placing the blanket outdoors in the shade in order to cool it is one necessary step, according to the Russian manual. A proper fit—loose but totally covering the wearer—is another necessity. “Do not allow the cape to be pressed against your body,” the manual warns. “It will warm up the cape quickly in places of pressing and begin to ‘glow’ in the thermal imager.”

Given the many instances of Russian troops getting spotted and droned while wearing badly fitting, too-hot or too-cold thermal camo, the Kremlin surely hopes its surviving forces heed the manual. Ukrainian drone teams, hunting by night with infrared sensors, surely hope the Russians don’t heed it.

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Ukraine just declared open season on Russia’s drone nests in urgent strategy shift

The famed 1st Tank Brigade is the third of Ukraine’s five tank brigades to undergo the transformation. After its reorganization, the brigade now has just two ostensibly 31-tank battalions instead of three—but has added a second mechanized battalion with, on paper, 31 infantry fighting vehicles.

Big, cumbersome, easy-to-spot tanks are just too vulnerable to the tiny first-person-view drones that are everywhere all the time all along the front line. “The reduced time between detection and engagement, driven by real-time drone surveillance and the high velocity of FPV attack drones, has created a hostile environment for traditional armored platforms on the battlefield,” Ukrainian analysis group Frontelligence Insight explained.

Prior to the reorganization, the brigade operated T-64 and T-72 tanks and BMP fighting vehicles. Its equipment may change as its structure changes.

It’s the latest chapter in the long history of a legendary brigade, which fought in some of the hardest battles of the initial Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and, as the invasion widened eight years later, won a decisive battle in the city of Chernihiv, 100 km north of Kyiv and just 60 km from the border with Russia.

Russian commanders assumed the 1st Tank Brigade would be an easy target on day one of the wider war. In the early morning hours of Feb. 24, Russian missiles and artillery struck the permanent garrisons of many of Ukraine’s ground combat brigades.

But these brigades, including the 1st Tank Brigade, had dispersed. The Russian bombardment mostly destroyed empty buildings. The 1st Tank Brigade’s several thousand troopers and roughly 100 T-64 tanks lay in wait in the fields and forests surrounding Chernihiv.

The Russian 41st Combined Arms Army barreled south from its staging areas around the Belarus-Russia border, quickly arriving at Chernihiv. On paper, the 41st CAA with its 20,000 troops and hundreds of T-72 tanks vastly outmatched the 1st Tank Brigade.

In reality, the 1st Tank Brigade held key advantages, analysts Mykhaylo Zabrodskyi, Jack Watling, Oleksandr Danylyuk and Nick Reynolds revealed in a study for the Royal United Services Institute in London.

The autoloader in the three-person T-64 and the Ukrainian army’s superior training made the most difference in the chaotic early fights around Chernihiv. “The first days of fighting saw numerous meeting engagements in forests at around 100 m to 200 m range, where restricted movement limited the Russian ability to bring their mass to bear against a specific tactical situation,” Zabrodskyi, Watling, Danylyuk and Reynolds wrote.

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“Better crew training combined with short-ranged engagements where their armament was competitive, and the faster autoloader on the T-64, allowed Ukrainian tank crews to achieve significant damage against surprised Russian units.”

The 1st Tank Brigade bled the 41st CAA for several days until Russian commanders decided simply to bypass Chernihiv. As Russian battalions rolled past, the 1st Tank Brigade “found itself encircled.” A territorial brigade garrisoned in Chernihiv screened the 1st Tank Brigade’s T-64s as the brigade adopted an all-around defense of the city.

For six weeks the brigade and its supporting territorials held out. “Communication with the 1st Tank Brigade was maintained along a small supply road running northwards on the left bank of the Dnipro [River] that the Russians failed to sever, despite having an overwhelming force presence,” the RUSI analysts wrote. 

The Russian army ultimately failed to capture Kyiv and bring the war to a swift end. In late March, the Kremlin ordered its battered forces around the capital city to retreat. That’s when the 1st Tank Brigade attacked. On March 31, the brigade liberated the M01 highway connecting Chernihiv to Kyiv.

Victory in Chernihiv

The 1st Tank Brigade had won its hardest fight. But wider trends doomed its status as one of Ukraine’s five tanks brigades alongside the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 17th Tank Brigades. 

FPV drones haven’t rendered tanks obsolete. But they have forced tank crews to operate extremely carefully—hiding most of the time in buildings or dugouts and rolling out only occasionally to fire a few shells.

It’s a new “era of the cautious tank,” David Kirichenko, an analyst with the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, D.C., announced in September.

Tanks are even more cautious now than they were last fall. “Overall, there is less armor being deployed to the front, especially compared to 2023,” Kirichenko said. “So we are still in the era of the cautious tank, or we could say that it has even gotten more cautious now.”

The Ukrainian army responded to the changing environment. The 17th Tank Brigade reorganized in October or November, reducing its tank inventory to become the first of the Ukrainian army’s new heavy mechanized brigades. The 5th Tank Brigade underwent its reorg in December.

The Ukrainian ground forces are also adopting a new corps structure that places similar brigades fighting in the same sectors under a single command. It’s possible these corps—there should be 13 of them—will each have just one separate tank battalion.

The forces for these battalions—the tanks and crews—could come from the tank brigades, some of which “may be disbanded,” Militaryland reported. Meanwhile, the tank battalions in the mechanized, motorized and mountain brigades “will be reduced in size.”

Today, the Ukrainian military should have 30 or so tank battalions with around a thousand tanks. The possible reorganization could cut that structure in half. Fewer battalions—and many more tanks in reserve to replace losses from drones.

The tanks are assuming a secondary role as infantry—and the armored trucks and tracked vehicles that speed them to and from their trenches—take on the lead role in this new era of ever-present drones and cautious tanks.

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Ukraine deploys Leopard 1A5 “sniper tanks” with 7 brigades

Britain is ready to send troops to Ukraine, UK Defense Secretary John Healey confirmed, as part of a “Coalition of the Willing” proposed international effort to keep the peace in Ukraine. While no peace agreement exists and does not seem reachable in the near future, the UK government says it stands prepared to help reenforce a ceasefire.

Healey confirms UK would send troops

Speaking to Times Radio, John Healey was asked whether sending troops to Ukraine was still on the table.

“Yes,” he replied. “The prime minister has always been clear that he’s ready to put troops into Ukraine to help reinforce a ceasefire.”

As Express reports, this would place British soldiers in Ukraine as part of a coalition peacekeeping mission. France and the UK are expected to provide the core of the force, but support from the United States would also be required. 

“There had been reports that the UK had abandoned plans to send a peace-keeping force… but the Defence Secretary’s comments show the idea has not been abandoned,” Express wrote.

The development comes amid broader defense coordination between London and Paris, focused on strengthening European responses to future threats.

UK and France deepen defense ties with new military commitments

French President Emmanuel Macron is in the UK on a state visit, meeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as part of the 37th Franco-British summit held at Downing Street. According to Defense Secretary John Healey, the summit is the first with a European ally since Brexit and reflects efforts to rebuild strategic defense ties.

The UK and France will create a joint rapid deployment force of 50,000 troops to defend Europe and respond to “extreme threats.” Plans include closer coordination on nuclear deterrence, military exercises, and operational readiness. 

The two countries will also order more Storm Shadow missiles and begin developing a successor to the long-range weapon, which has been supplied to Ukraine, Express says.

Russia’s Gerbera drone crash in Lithuania occurred after the object entered from Belarus and fell near the Šumskas checkpoint. According to Delfi, it resembled the type of UAV Russia uses in its war against Ukraine.

Lithuanian military tracked object from Belarus before crash

On 10 July, around 11:30, Lithuanian Armed Forces detected an object approaching from the direction of Belarus. In a Facebook post, the Armed Forces said the Air Force activated NATO fighter jets already in the air by switching them from training to mission mode.

Shortly after detection, the object fell to the ground. The mission was canceled. Military units notified the State Border Guard Service (VSAT), and troops were sent to the crash site.

The Lithuanian military said the object appeared homemade and posed no danger.

Drone crashed near closed Šumskas checkpoint

Delfi, citing border guards, reported the drone crashed approximately one kilometer from the Belarusian border, close to the closed Šumskas checkpoint in Vilnius District Municipality.

BNS initially reported the object as a Shahed 136 drone — an Iranian-designed craft carrying 50 kg of TNT, which Russia widely uses to target Ukrainian cities. However, that was later corrected. A VSAT representative confirmed it resembled a homemade UAV.

Giedrius Mišutis, spokesperson for VSAT, stated the drone was first detected by the Kenna outpost.

“It appears to be a homemade UAV,” Mišutis said. “There is no indication the object carried any cargo.”

The object was reportedly made of plywood and foam. Officials said it posed no threat.

Mišutis also noted that VSAT had not recently observed smuggling activity involving drones, balloons, or improvised aircraft.

Defense Express: Lithuania failed to identify or down the drone

The Ukrainian outlet Defense Express criticized Lithuania not only for failing to intercept the drone, but for failing to identify it altogether. The publication emphasized that the deeper issue lies in the lack of basic knowledge about Russian drone types.

“The real problem,” the outlet noted, “is that they don’t know what even Ukrainian children consider common knowledge.”

Germany is ready to buy US Patriots for Ukraine if Washington gives the green light, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on 10 July. The statement comes as Ukraine’s air defense capacity weakens under escalating Russian air strikes and limited US support.

Merz says Berlin will fund more Patriots for Ukraine

Germany is ready to buy US Patriots and deliver them to Ukraine, Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed during a press briefing in Rome, Reuters reported.

“We are also prepared to purchase additional Patriot systems from the US to make them available to Ukraine,” Merz stated.

He said he raised the matter directly with US President Donald Trump last week. According to Merz, the United States holds sufficient reserves of the systems.

“The Americans need some of them themselves, but they also have a lot of them,” he said, noting that a delivery decision had not yet been finalized.

The Patriot system—short for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target—is among the most advanced US air defense platforms. Built by Raytheon Technologies, the theater-wide surface-to-air missile system is designed to counter aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones.

Ukraine uses its Patriot systems to intercept Russia’s ballistic missiles, the fastest munitions in the Russian arsenal.

Trump earlier offered 10 Patriot missiles. Those are enough for one battle at most 

On 8 July, Axios reported that Trump promised to immediately send 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal added that Trump is considering delivering an entire Patriot system. 

Ukraine’s military, however, voiced skepticism. Speaking to The Times on 9 July, an unnamed senior Ukrainian Air Force officer—Ukraine’s air defenses report to AF—noted:

“If they actually send us ten [missiles], it will be nothing more than a bad joke,” he said, according to NV. “That’s not enough for even one battle.”

Axios also reported that Trump is pressuring Germany to transfer one of its Patriot batteries to Ukraine, adding further political complexity to Merz’s initiative.

Earlier statements from German officials noted “intensive talks” with the United States regarding Patriot system transfers.

Russian state media and other propaganda outlets have altered their rhetoric toward US President Donald Trump following his increasingly critical statements about Vladimir Putin and the emergence of leaked audio recordings, according to Russian news agency Agentstvo Novosti.

The shift in tone represents a departure from previously more favorable coverage of Trump in Russian media.

The Netherlands committed €300 ($350) million for Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery efforts spanning 2025 and 2026, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp’s announcement at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on 10 July.

 According to the Dutch government, the funding allocation includes:

• €52 million – Repairing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and drinking water supplies in 2025
• €30 million – Supporting Dutch businesses and organizations to set up reconstruction projects through the Ukraine Partnership Facility grant programme
• €4 million – Construction of a new wing at the children’s hospital in the western city of Lviv (partnership with Princess Máxima Center in Utrecht)
• €20 million – Boosting Ukraine’s cyber resilience (€10 million per year for 2025 and 2026)
• €194 million – Remaining funds for other reconstruction and recovery purposes.

Minister Veldkamp outlined the rationale behind the comprehensive support approach, stating that Russia has spent more than three years attempting to destroy Ukraine’s society and economy through continuous attacks on energy infrastructure, water supplies, grain storage facilities, houses and apartments. He emphasized that international community support must extend beyond arms to include financial, economic and social assistance.

“Ukraine’s economy and society must be kept running because that will help the country in its struggle. It is, as it were, another front line,” Veldkamp said, according to the government statement.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome will also feature the signing of a cooperation agreement between Veldkamp and Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko, extending the Ukraine Partnership Facility grant programme established in 2023.

The programme supports Dutch businesses and organizations working on projects in agrofood, sustainable energy, healthcare, water and circular construction sectors that benefit Ukraine’s recovery efforts.

Since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, the Netherlands has provided approximately €10 billion in military aid by mid-2025, including the delivery of 24 F-16 fighter jets, Patriot air defense systems, Leopard 2 tanks, CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, armored vehicles, ammunition, and small arms.

The Netherlands has also supplied 100 drone-detection radars and 20 medical evacuation vehicles as part of a recent €175 million aid package, with €80 million specifically allocated to support drone efforts through an international drone coalition. Additionally, the country committed €500 million to Ukraine’s Drone Line project, supporting domestic production of over 600,000 drones. 

Police and Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) operatives have detained a mother and her 13-year-old daughter in southern city of Odesa for conducting arson attacks on Ukrainian military infrastructure under direction from Russian intelligence services.

The case began when the minor was recruited through a messaging application, according to investigators.

Her assigned role involved coordinating target selection with her Russian handler and providing video documentation of completed attacks as proof of execution.

Law enforcement officials established that in early July, the teenager doused a railway relay cabinet with flammable liquid and set it ablaze. The relay cabinet belonged to Ukrainian Railways infrastructure.

Several days later, the girl received instructions to target a Volkswagen vehicle owned by a female Ukrainian service member. The car had been used at the front lines for evacuating wounded soldiers, investigators determined. Facing this more complex assignment, the teenager approached her 58-year-old mother for assistance.

Rather than declining to participate, the woman agreed to join the operation. The pair carried out the vehicle arson during nighttime hours in the regional center, using similar methods to their previous attack.

Ukrainian prosecutors have classified the actions as attempted sabotage committed during martial law and obstruction of Armed Forces operations during the special period. The adult defendant faces charges under the latter statute, which carries a maximum penalty of eight years imprisonment, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The minor has been transferred to custody and guardianship authorities rather than facing criminal prosecution due to her age. Compulsory educational measures may be applied in her case, officials stated.

Earlier, Ukrainian law enforcement reported that Russian intelligence is conducting a covert sabotage campaign across Ukraine and Europe by recruiting vulnerable individuals, especially elderly Ukrainians, through deceptive phone calls and messaging apps like Viber.

They impersonate Ukrainian security officials, such as the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) or police, to blackmail pensioners with fabricated charges—like alleged collaboration for buying Russian-made medicines—and coerce them into carrying out sabotage tasks or paying money.

Similar recruitment tactics are used in European countries, including the Baltic states, where operatives lure locals with money or blackmail, treating them as expendable pawns. 

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Russia recruits elderly in covert sabotage campaign across Ukraine and Europe

Today, the biggest news comes from the Russian Federation. Russian oil revenue is collapsing faster than expected, with over a third evaporating as global energy prices drop and sanctions tighten. In response, the Kremlin has turned to offshore crypto schemes in a last-ditch effort to stay financially afloat—an unusual and revealing sign of just how unstable its financial position has become.

Russia’s oil revenues just dropped nearly 30% in June compared to the same month last year, bringing in just under $5.4 billion, with total oil and gas revenue falling by a third. This sharp decline stems from falling oil prices, Russia’s shrinking market share, and decreasing exports as shadow fleet routes face growing interference.

Budget deficit soars to $45 billion

These figures are not just technical; they expose the collapse of a revenue stream that once funded nearly half the Russian national budget. As a resource-exporting economy, or petrostate, Russia has long relied on oil and gas exports to support everything from social payments to military procurement. In wartime conditions, with sanctions increasing and operating costs surging, the Russian federal budget cannot absorb these losses for long. The annual deficit is now estimated to be over 2.5% of Russian GDP, roughly translating to $45 billion.

To close the gap, Moscow is burning through reserves and raising domestic borrowing, but cannot sustain these efforts for long. Unless replacement income is found, Russia’s ability to sustain high-intensity operations in Ukraine while also running the country will start to break down.

Kremlin pushes crypto to raise funds

To compensate, Russian authorities have launched a cryptocurrency project aimed at generating income and skirting sanctions. The A7A5 cryptocurrency, created in Kyrgyzstan, is reportedly backed by Promsvyazbank, Russia’s main defense-linked bank, and Ilan Shor, a fugitive oligarch known for Moldova’s billion-dollar fraud. The system generates income by selling tokens, charging transaction fees, and incentivizing activity to attract users. It mimics a functioning payment network, allowing the Kremlin to extract value from users or controlled intermediaries.

Russia uses crypto to dodge sanctions

Separately, it helps circumvent sanctions by hiding who is sending and receiving money. Crypto wallets don’t require verified identities, and payments can be routed through anonymous channels outside the SWIFT international banking system. This provides Russian entities with a way to acquire restricted goods or pay foreign actors while avoiding Western surveillance.

Although over $9 billion in transactions has been reported already, most of this volume is likely artificially inflated by moving funds between accounts run by the same person to simulate real usage, creating the illusion of popularity and large-scale adoption. Even if the platform works, it falls far short of what Russia needs. A single cryptocurrency cannot replace tens of billions of dollars in lost oil and gas revenue this year, nor can it match the reliability of formal trade routes.

Digital currency can’t plug oil gap

To make a real dent in its deficit, Russia would need significantly higher usage and trade partners willing to accept this currency at scale, all while avoiding legal consequences from Western regulators now scrutinizing suspicious crypto transactions. With no clear entrance into stable markets and nothing backing the currency, the project remains marginal in economic returns and politically radioactive due to the threat of secondary Western sanctions.

Moscow risks pariah status with crypto move

Unless Russia either expands this cryptocurrency drastically or builds multiple parallel networks to launder and move money—catering to underworld organizations—it will remain a fringe tool, not a lifeline. This would essentially make Russia act as a banker for arms traffickers, criminal syndicates, and terrorist networks already accustomed to moving money through untraceable systems.

That may keep the flow alive in the short term, but it also places Russia deeper into pariah status with its allies on the geopolitical stage.

Overall, Russia’s turn to cryptocurrency reflects improvisation and desperation, not strategy. The budget hole left by collapsing oil revenue is too large for a crypto scheme to fill, and while creative, it is built more for evasion than resilience. Unless Moscow finds a real alternative to its former energy income, the strain will spread—not just on the battlefield in Ukraine, but across the entire Russian war economy. What we are witnessing is not a new financial model, but a state trying to keep the lights on with tools made for evasion and black market trade, not endurance.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Trump’s erratic weapons policy leaves Ukraine fighting both Russia and mounting uncertainty from Washington, The Atlantic reports. Ukrainian officials told the Atlantic that they are constantly reworking their battlefield strategies due to unpredictable US aid. One senior official compared the process to roulette and said he would bet on zero.

Sudden shifts in US support disrupt Ukraine’s defenses

Military planners said that each pause or reversal forces Ukraine to move units, adjust targets, or cancel operations altogether. When Patriot missile deliveries stalled, Ukraine had to shift air defense systems from other zones.

Josh Paul, a former State Department official, told the Atlantic that such changes pull resources from critical missions. 

Trump’s erratic weapons policy also affects repairs and logistics

According to the Atlantic, delays don’t only affect new weapons. They also impact spare parts, replacements, and technical support. Even one short-term halt can stop Ukraine from fixing damaged systems in time.

Transporting US weapons to the front line requires weeks of planning. Without predictability, Kyiv cannot coordinate operations or logistics.

Ukraine no longer trusts political promises alone

The Atlantic reports that Trump’s approach echoes his first term, when he froze military aid while pressing Zelenskyy for political help. That episode led to his impeachment.

This time, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paused deliveries without White House coordination. When asked who made the decision, Trump replied, “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”

After a call with Zelenskyy, Trump said the weapons would resume. But there were no guarantees of future support. Ukrainian officials are now preparing for more delays, no matter what Washington says.

No new aid authorized under Trump administration

Future supplies will depend on defense contracts with US companies. These systems may take years to arrive. For now, Ukraine is ramping up production with European partners and expanding its own capabilities.

Zelenskyy said political decisions are in place. But he added that they must now be implemented fast—to protect lives and positions.

France says Storm Shadow missile production at MBDA’s UK site restarts this year. The long-range air-launched missile has been actively used by Ukraine in strikes against Russian targets. 

SCALP/Storm Shadow production to resume in 2025 after long pause

France is restarting production of the Storm Shadow missile—known in France as SCALP EG—in partnership with the United Kingdom. French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that manufacturing will resume in 2025, 15 years after the last order. The missiles will be produced at MBDA’s facility in Stevenage, England.

Lecornu made the statement during a visit to the UK site alongside his British counterpart, John Healey on 9 July.

“Supplied to Ukraine, the Franco-British SCALP/Storm Shadow missile has demonstrated its effectiveness in modern high-intensity combat, in decisive situations,” he said.

The SCALP/Storm Shadow has played a prominent role in Ukraine’s defense against Russia, striking hardened targets far behind the front line.

MBDA reactivates line for joint missile project

The missile is manufactured by MBDA, a joint venture of France, the UK, Italy, and Germany. 

France’s Senate had outlined plans to order new munitions, including SCALP missiles, in December 2024.

Air-launched weapon designed to hit fortified targets

SCALP/Storm Shadow is a long-range air-launched cruise missile designed for deep strikes against heavily defended and fixed targets such as command bunkers. The missile weighs up to 1,300 kg, including a 450 kg warhead, and measures 5.1 meters in length.

The export version has a declared range of over 250 km, while domestic variants used by France and the UK can reach up to 560 km. The French and British models differ slightly in software and aircraft compatibility, but are otherwise identical.

US weapons shipments to Ukraine have resumed, with deliveries now confirmed by the Associated Press and the New York Post sources to include precision-guided GMLRS rockets and 155 mm artillery shells. This marks the first clear confirmation of resumed aid content since the Pentagon quietly paused certain deliveries weeks ago.

Guided rockets and artillery shells confirmed in resumed deliveries

The Associated Press and the New York Post report that the United States is once again sending GMLRS munitions for HIMARS launchers and 155 mm howitzer rounds to Ukraine. According to two American officials who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity, the deliveries are already underway. Some shipments had reportedly reached Poland before the initial halt took effect.

These specific munitions were not publicly confirmed until now. Though the Trump administration announced on 7 July that deliveries would resume, neither the Pentagon nor the White House initially revealed what would be included in the new packages.

Pentagon’s pause drew internal backlash

The pause was first implemented last week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, reportedly to reassess US military stockpiles. The move caught other branches of the administration off guard, including the State Department and White House, according to AP.

President Donald Trump later addressed the issue directly, expressing frustration.

“I will be the first to know. In fact, most likely I’d give the order, but I haven’t done that yet,” he said. Asked who ordered the pause, Trump replied: “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”

A White House official, also speaking anonymously, claimed there was never an official “pause,” only a review to ensure alignment with US defense strategy.

• The Pentagon halted the weapon supplies to Ukraine earlier due to concerns over the depletion of American munitions stockpiles. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly ordered the halt.
• In response, 17 members of Congress and the Senate called on Defense Secretary Hegseth to fully resume all weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
• On 7 July, the Pentagon announced that President Trump had directed a resumption of deliveries, though specifics were not provided until this week.

Exclusives

European court makes history: Russia guilty of Ukraine human rights violations since 2014 and plane downing MH17. The European Court of Human Rights recognized Russia’s actions as a “targeted campaign to destroy the Ukrainian state as a subject of international law.”

Ukraine’s perfect German missiles never miss—but Russia’s drone factories never sleep. Ukraine is getting 2,000 new German IRIS-T air-defense missiles. Against endless Russian drones, it still might not be enough.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church says it left Moscow. Documents say otherwise.. Church officials can claim what they want, but the paper trail doesn’t lie—and it leads straight back to Moscow.

Russian oil flows through Hungary unchecked—investigation traces deals to PM Orbán’s closest allies. Russian crude keeps pouring into the EU pipeline, enriching figures tied to both Putin and Orbán.

Military

First battlefield capitulation to robots: Ukrainian drones force Russian surrender and seize fortified position (video). The 3rd Assault Brigade seized fortified Russian positions using kamikaze land drones and quadcopters.

741 projectiles: Russia’s biggest attack since war began follows suspicious lull in massive overnight bombing. Russian forces combined 728 drones with 13 missiles in the 9 July assault on Ukraine, while the night before they launched just dozens of projectiles, creating a stark contrast.

Reuters: Trump resumes GMLRS rocket and 155mm artillery deliveries to Ukraine after Russia’s largest airstrike. The US resumed weapons shipments to Ukraine after a brief pause. On Tuesday, Russia launched more than 740 drones and missiles in a single night.

Zelenskyy asks Trump’s Ukraine envoy Kellogg for US missiles – Trump calls Patriot systems “very expensive”

. As Russian strikes intensify, Ukraine is pressing its case directly to Trump’s circle, while questions linger over the price of protection.

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine catches Chinese spies trying to steal secrets of missile that sank Russia’s flagship. The Security Service of Ukraine claims to have detained father and son spy team who attempted to acquire production documentation for the Neptune cruise missile system that has struck multiple Russian naval vessels.

“Limpet mines are the new sanctions”: Ukraine is targeting Russia’s shadow oil fleet, says former Royal Navy officer. Six tankers linked to Russian oil exports have been damaged by underwater explosions this year. Former Royal Navy officer Tom Sharpe says Ukraine is likely using limpet mines placed by divers or drones to target Putin’s shadow fleet.

Lithuania and Finland to start domestic landmine production for themselves and Ukraine amid Russian threat. Other NATO’s eastern flank countries like Poland, Latvia, and Estonia also withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention that banned landmines.

WSJ: Trump weighs sending Ukraine another Patriot air defense system as Putin rejects peace

. This decision follows Trump’s disappointment with Putin after their phone call and after a Pentagon weapons delivery pause created confusion within his own administration.

CNN: Hegseth ordered halt to Ukraine arms—White House learned from the press. Senior US and Ukrainian officials were blindsided by the sudden stop in missile deliveries.

International

Russia’s war against Ukraine prompts Czechia to train teenagers in combat skills to strengthen national defense. Czech Army General announced the initiative aims to expand national reserves while introducing young people to military service amid Russia’s security threat.

The Pope asked Zelenskyy to hold peace talks at the Vatican—even though Putin already said no. As Russia launches its largest drone barrage of the war, the Pope offered Zelenskyy the Vatican as a venue for talks—an idea the Kremlin had previously rejected.

German Chancellor: Russia’s “criminal regime” made diplomacy impossible, threatens entire Europe freedom

. Friedrich Merz told lawmakers he would continue military assistance to Ukraine “despite opposition from the political left and the Russia-friendly right here in the house,” framing the conflict as a threat to European political freedom.

EU considers € 100 billion Ukraine fund amid US support uncertainty and no war end in sight. EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters the bloc remains “ready to provide all necessary support for Ukraine for as long as it’s needed.”

Baptist-led church council in Kyiv warns: Russia must be condemned or real peace won’t come. Clergy say “peace” without justice only rewards atrocity and emboldens future aggression.

Political and legal developments

Ukrainian commission confirms Moscow-linked church remains under Russian control. Documentation contradicts three years of independence assertions.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Russia’s drone strikes target Ukrainian morale more than military assets, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports. Moscow now prioritizes psychological pressure over battlefield gain, using massive drone swarms and targeted civilian damage.

Russia turns drone swarms into tools of psychological warfare to degrade morale

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its 9 July report:

“The continued increase in the size of strike packages is likely intended to support Russian efforts to degrade Ukrainian morale in the face of constant Russian aggression.”

Colonel Yurii Ihnat of the Ukrainian Air Force said Moscow launched over 400 decoy drones in one attack on 9 July, which included 728 UAVs and 13 missiles. The decoy drones also carried warheads, creating not just confusion but real explosions on Ukrainian soil.

ISW notes that this tactic intends to overwhelm air defenses and emotionally exhaust Ukraine’s population. Modified drones now cause wider damage across larger areas, increasing the psychological burden on civilians.

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NYT: Putin believes Ukraine’s collapse is near — and he’s acting like it

Ukrainian forces face constant drone waves, many with no clear military objective.

“ISW assessed in previous years that Russia has used strike packages targeting civilian areas to generate a morale effect in Ukraine, as seems to be the case with the most recent strikes,” the think tank wrote.

Ukraine says enlistment offices are under attack to block mobilization

Colonel Vitaly Sarantsev of the Ukrainian Ground Forces told the Washington Post that Russia now targets enlistment offices. These strikes aim to scare people away from joining the military. Sarantsev added that Moscow wants to make Ukrainians believe recruitment is dangerous.

Russia may escalate drone strategy further

The New York Times reported on 9 July that Russia may soon launch over 1,000 drones in a single strike. Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Major Robert Brovdi warned about the same possibility.

Electronic warfare expert Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov said Russia already increased Shahed production sevenfold. He expects up to 800 drones per strike soon.

ISW previously reported that Russia has expanded long-range drone production. Some production lines reportedly involve Chinese companies manufacturing “Geran-2 drones (the Russian-made analogue of the Iranian-origin Shahed-136 drones)” drones.

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes Ukraine’s collapse is near, according to The New York Times. The paper reports that this belief is driving a sharp escalation in Russia’s war. Despite multiple calls with US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin continues to press forward. Russian insiders told NYT that Moscow expects Ukraine’s defenses to fall and sees no reason to compromise.

Putin rejects any pause, believing Ukraine’s collapse is near

Two people close to the Kremlin told NYT that Putin expects Ukraine’s front lines to fail within months. They said the Russian president views any halt in fighting as unacceptable unless Ukraine agrees to sweeping concessions.

“He will not sacrifice his goals in Ukraine for the sake of improving relations with Trump,” said Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

Putin believes he sees momentum on the battlefield and believes time favors Moscow. He continues to press for Ukrainian capitulation rather than any negotiated freeze of his was in Ukraine.

Trump’s personal diplomacy fails to slow Moscow’s offensive

Since February, Trump has spoken with Putin by phone six times. Russia and Ukraine also held two rounds of direct talks in Istanbul.

On 9 July 2025, Trump voiced his anger:

“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin,” he told reporters. “He’s very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”

Despite the breakdown, Putin continued to praise Trump. At a 27 June press conference in Belarus, he called him “a courageous man.” Referring to Trump’s frustration, Putin added:

“That’s how it is. Real life is always more complicated than the idea of it.”

Putin reiterates goals: NATO rollback, Ukraine neutrality, legal changes

The Kremlin’s war aims now go far beyond territorial control. Putin demands that NATO halt eastward expansion and remove infrastructure from Eastern Europe. He also wants Ukraine to adopt a neutral status and reduce the size of its military. Another key demand: alleged protection for the Russian language in Ukrainian law.

Most significantly, Putin insists Ukraine withdraw all forces from its territory claimed by Russia. That condition continues to block any potential cease-fire.

Kremlin sees no value in compromise — yet

For Putin, the re-opening of direct contact with Trump marked a diplomatic breakthrough after years of Biden-era isolation.

Still, the Kremlin is frustrated that Trump refuses to separate peace in Ukraine from broader US-Russia ties. That approach has stalled Moscow’s hopes of striking a deal quickly, NYT says.

Last night’s Russian missile and drone strike on Kyiv killed two women — a 22-year-old female police officer and a 68-year-old resident — and left more than a dozen others injured. Explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital for nearly 10 hours overnight on 10 July, damaging homes, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure across at least eight city districts.

Two women killed as Kyiv comes under one of its longest assaults this month

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that both fatalities occurred in Kyiv’s Podilskyi district. The victims were a 22-year-old corporal with the metro police and a 68-year-old civilian woman. Klymenko said more than a dozen people were injured and warned the number would grow, while Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported by 7:50 a.m. that the total had reached 16. Emergency crews continued door-to-door checks in affected neighborhoods to locate anyone needing help.

The Kyiv City Military Administration and Klymenko (KMVA) reported that the strike damaged residential, medical, educational, transport, and commercial facilities. Fires broke out in several locations, prompting a large-scale emergency response. Around 400 rescue personnel and 90 units of firefighting, engineering, and robotic equipment were deployed, including climbing and bomb disposal teams.

People watch a residential building burn after a Russian attack in Kyiv on 10 July 2025. Photo: Suspilne News / Ivan Antypenko

Civilian injuries and widespread damage reported across city districts

Air raid sirens began in Kyiv shortly after midnight as Ukrainian airspace monitoring channels tracked incoming drones from multiple directions. Soon after, Kyiv authorities issued alerts about ballistic missile threats from Russian territory. Explosions followed within minutes. KMVA confirmed active air defense operations, but several drones and missiles made it through.

The KMVA and Klitschko reported damage in Shevchenkivskyi, Darnytskyi, Solomianskyi, Podilskyi, Obolonskyi, Holosiivskyi, and other districts.

In Shevchenkivskyi, drone debris ignited a fire on the upper floor of a residential building and damaged rooftops, facades, and interiors. A drone also hit a roof near a gas station and another home nearby. Three residents were injured there: an 86-year-old woman with acute stress reaction, a 45-year-old man with multiple injuries, and a 59-year-old man with a cut foot and closed chest trauma.

Rescuers and emergency crews respond after Russian strikes in Kyiv on 10 July 2025.
Photo: Suspilne

In Darnytskyi, falling debris caused fires in garages and a gas station. Drone fragments also landed in the courtyard of a residential building.

Solomianskyi district saw strikes on non-residential buildings and rooftops catching fire at two separate addresses. In Obolonskyi, suspected drone debris also fell. In Holosiivskyi, a drone strike set a cargo truck on fire.

Kyiv Oblast also hit in overnight attack

Kyiv Oblast also came under fire during the same Russian missile and drone strike. Head of the Oblast Military Administration Mykola Kalashnyk reported nearly 10 hours of continuous air assault on 10 July. Four districts — Boryspilskyi, Brovarskyi, Obukhivskyi, and Vyshhorodskyi — sustained damage.

In Brovarskyi, private homes and outbuildings had windows shattered, doors broken, and facades torn by shrapnel. One private home caught fire but was extinguished. Two vehicles were also damaged.

Vyshhorodskyi saw a garage fire, while in Obukhivskyi and Boryspilskyi several private homes were damaged. A 51-year-old man was injured in Obukhivskyi and hospitalized.

Kalashnyk warned that the total number of damaged structures could still rise as assessments continue.

The flight paths of the Russian air assets plotten by the Ukrainian airspace monitoring channels show that the

Flight paths of Russian Shahed drones and missiles targeting Ukraine on 10 July 2025. Source: Telegram/mon1tor_ua, monitorwarr

Russian missiles and most drones targeted Kyiv, with some hitting Poltava, and several more cruising across western Ukraine to trigger air raid alerts there too.

Poltava Oblast: drones downed, buildings damaged

The Poltava Oblast Military Administration reported drone attacks on the night of 10 July. Most were intercepted by air defenses, but some reached the Hlobyne community, where a residential building and an outbuilding were damaged. No injuries were reported.

Separately, a forest fire broke out in Velykobudyshchanska community. The cause is under investigation. Over 150 households temporarily lost electricity. Emergency crews began restoring the grid early Wednesday.

Update: Ukraine downs 178 out of 415 Russian aerial weapons in overnight Kyiv-focused attack

Overnight on 10 July, Russian forces launched 415 aerial attack assets toward Ukraine, primarily targeting Kyiv, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

The strike package included 397 drones, approximately 200 of them Shahed-type, launched from Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Kursk, Oryol, and Millerovo. Of those, 164 Shahed drones were shot down, while 204 more were suppressed or lost from radar by electronic warfare.

Alongside the drone swarm, Russia launched:

• 8 Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Bryansk Oblast — all 8 were intercepted,
• 6 Kh-101 cruise missiles from Saratov Oblast airspace — all 6 shot down,
• 4 S-300 missiles from Kursk Oblast — no interception data provided.

“Impacts from enemy aerial attack assets were recorded at 8 locations (33 strike UAVs), and debris from downed drones fell in 23 locations,” the Air Force wrote.

The United States has resumed weapons shipments to Ukraine, delivering 155 mm artillery shells and guided missile systems, two US officials told Reuters. The deliveries come after a short pause in arms transfers by the Trump administration that raised concerns in Kyiv and Washington.

Diplomatic efforts remain frozen, while Russia escalates its attacks. On 9 July, Moscow launched the largest combined missile and drone assault of the war, firing over 740 projectiles at Ukrainian infrastructure. The barrage signals Russia’s hardened military posture and fuels fears the war could stretch on for years.

US sends artillery shells and GMLRS missiles

The resumed shipment includes 155 mm artillery shells and GMLRS (guided multiple launch rocket system) missiles—vital to Ukraine’s front-line operations. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not disclose the size of the shipment or confirm if deliveries were complete.

The pause, which occurred last week, was reportedly tied to Pentagon concerns over depleted US munitions reserves. The White House has not formally commented on the internal review.

Trump: “I don’t know who ordered the pause”

President Donald Trump told reporters he was unaware of who had ordered the temporary halt in arms deliveries. He added that the US would continue sending weapons to Ukraine, with an emphasis on defensive systems to counter advancing Russian forces.

It is unclear whether the resumed shipment reflects a broader shift in policy or a continuation of prior aid commitments.

Russia escalates with record drone and missile barrage

Ukraine reported over 740 drones and missiles launched by Russia in a single night—the most extensive aerial attack since the war began. Strikes targeted infrastructure across multiple regions.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by calling for tougher sanctions on Russian revenue sources, especially oil exports.

Ukraine expands military coordination with US

In a statement on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said he has ordered expanded coordination with the United States to secure urgent deliveries of air defense systems and other military aid. Kyiv continues to press Washington for faster and more consistent support amid ongoing attacks.

Czechia began its inaugural voluntary military training program for high school students, with 718 participants beginning four weeks of intensive instruction at eight military bases across the country in the first program of its kind.

The initiative represents part of a broader defense strategy aimed at strengthening national security capabilities while providing youth development opportunities.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the program attracted nearly 750 applicants aged 18 to 22 years, with five candidates failing entrance medical examinations and others withdrawing for personal reasons. Female students comprise approximately 20% of the participant cohort, all of whom must be enrolled in secondary education to qualify.

Army General Karel Řehka, Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, stated that the program seeks to “actively reach out to the young generation and introduce them to military service” while “expanding our reserves” through increased societal resilience.

Participants will receive comprehensive military instruction including:

• tactical fundamentals
• small arms training
• grenade handling
• topographical navigation
• engineering preparation
• first aid certification.

The curriculum also incorporates physical conditioning through morning exercises and field maneuvers, culminating in a two-day field exercise under natural conditions.

Can teenagers handle this intensity? The military thinks so. Students who complete the program take a ceremonial oath in their garrison town and receive 40,498 Czech crowns—roughly $1,900—before taxes.

But the money isn’t the real incentive here. The Czech Ministry of Defense frames this as preparation for “crisis situations” while strengthening “the state’s defense capabilities.” 

The initiative coincides with the Czech military’s Reserve Resources 2025 mobilization exercises conducted in June, which focused on emergency and wartime conscription procedures, according to previous ministry announcements.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Rome with Keith Kellogg, the special envoy on Ukraine for US President Donald Trump. The meeting took place during the Ukraine Recovery Conference, where Kellogg led the American delegation.

Diplomatic progress remains stalled, even as Russia intensifies its assault. On 9 July, Moscow launched its largest combined missile and drone attack of the war, firing more than 740 projectiles at Ukrainian infrastructure. The barrage underscores Russia’s hardened stance and raises fears that the conflict could drag on for years.

“I thanked him for participating in the Conference, where General Kellogg is heading the US team,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “We discussed arms supplies and the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense. Amid intensified Russian attacks, this remains a top priority.”

Zelenskyy also noted discussions on procuring US weapons, joint defense production, and expanding military manufacturing inside Ukraine.

Sanctions on Russian oil under review

Zelenskyy said the meeting also covered efforts to ramp up sanctions on Russia—particularly in the energy sector.

“We understand the need to tighten restrictions on Russian energy, especially through secondary sanctions targeting buyers of Russian oil,” he said.

He expressed support for a bipartisan bill introduced in the US Congress by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal aimed at limiting Russia’s oil revenues.

“This would undoubtedly force Russia to take peace more seriously,” Zelenskyy added.

I had a substantive conversation with US Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg @generalkellogg. I thanked him for participating in the Ukraine Recovery Conference, where the General leads the US delegation.

We discussed weapons supplies and strengthening air… pic.twitter.com/nIHPaPktrA

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 9, 2025

Trump: Patriots “very expensive,” Ukraine made a request

President Trump commented on reports that his administration is considering sending additional Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. Speaking to reporters after a Wall Street Journal article broke the news, Trump acknowledged Ukraine’s request.

“They’ve requested them. They’re very rare, you know, because a lot of systems have already been sent [to Ukraine],” Trump said. “We’ll have to see—they’re very expensive.”

When asked whether he had looked into the reported pause in US arms shipments, Trump replied, “I haven’t really thought about that. Right now we’re looking at Ukraine and ammunition. But I haven’t gone deep into it.”

He added, “If such a decision was made inside my administration, I would know. Most likely, I would have been the one to give that order—but I haven’t done that yet.”

Trump confirms new military aid as frustration with Putin grows

Despite the lack of clarity on earlier decisions, Trump confirmed on Tuesday that he had approved a new shipment of arms to Ukraine. The move comes amid his increasing criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the continuation of Russian strikes.

Reports: Pentagon paused some aid without White House approval

On 1 July, the US paused shipments of specific munitions to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles. CNN reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the decision without consulting the White House.

Later, both the Pentagon and State Department clarified that weapons deliveries had not been fully suspended.

A wave of covert explosions striking tankers tied to Russian energy exports appears to be the work of Ukrainian special forces, according to a detailed analysis by Tom Sharpe OBE in The Telegraph. While no official confirmation has been issued, the precision and pattern of the attacks strongly suggest a coordinated sabotage campaign.

“Someone – and bluntly, that someone is the Ukrainian special forces – is making highly effective use of these weapons,” Sharpe writes.

Sanctions, oil, and the shadow fleet

Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the West imposed sweeping sanctions and a $60-per-barrel oil price cap to choke off funding for the war. In response, Moscow has leaned on a vast and opaque “shadow fleet” of aging tankers operating under obscure ownership and dubious flags of convenience. These vessels now carry more than 60% of Russia’s crude exports, helping sustain the oil revenues that fund Putin’s war.

Despite sanctions, the fleet continues to operate, with the US, EU, and UK stepping up enforcement through ship sanctions, port bans, and insurance crackdowns—efforts that so far have had limited effect.

Limpet mines: Targeted maritime sabotage

Military analysts and investigators believe the attacks were carried out using limpet mines, specifically Russian-made BPM-1 or BPM-2 models. These mines are designed to be manually attached to ship hulls by divers or delivered via unmanned underwater systems—tools of precision sabotage, not broad sea denial.

Their use indicates a high level of operational expertise, likely involving rebreather diving, manual or sonar-based navigation, and possibly mini-submersible delivery systems.

Sixth incident: Eco Wizard explosion in Ust-Luga

The most recent incident occurred on 6 July, when the Eco Wizard tanker was rocked by two explosions while loading ammonia at the Russian port of Ust-Luga. Though not a direct gas shipment, Sharpe notes that “ammonia is made of natural gas,” making it, in effect, a form of energy export.

This marks the sixth such attack this year. Previous explosions targeted tankers near Libya, Italy, Türkiye, and again in Ust-Luga. Many of the affected vessels had previously anchored near Malta and Libya—regions frequently linked to Russia’s shadow fleet operations.

Legal constraints and the grey zone at sea

Western powers have struggled to interdict the shadow fleet due to legal protections under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which enshrines freedom of navigation. Efforts to board or inspect suspect vessels under environmental or flag-related pretexts have had only limited success.

Sharpe also notes that many of these tankers are now accompanied by Russian warships or warplanes, raising the stakes and making direct intervention politically risky.

Strategic shift in maritime warfare

The suspected use of limpet mines by Ukrainian forces signals a strategic escalation in the maritime dimension of the war. These covert, deniable strikes target the infrastructure sustaining Russia’s war economy—without crossing into open confrontation.

As Sharpe concludes, this is a clear demonstration of “highly effective” unconventional warfare, exploiting vulnerabilities the West has yet to fully address.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered a landmark ruling on 9 July, finding Russia responsible for widespread human rights violations during its war against Ukraine and the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Why does this matter? It’s the first time an international court has held Moscow accountable for human rights violations since Russia’s invasion began in 2014.

The case combined four separate legal challenges into one massive proceeding. Ukraine filed complaints about systematic abuses in occupied Donetsk and Luhansk, including something particularly disturbing: the kidnapping of children from orphanages and their deportation to Russia. The Netherlands joined with its own application over MH17. Then Ukraine added a fourth complaint covering violations since the 2022 full-scale invasion.

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“Putin’s Hitler-Jugend.” Russia builds tomorrow’s army with stolen Ukrainian children, Yale lab reveals

What did the court actually find? The Russian violations include:

• killings of civilians and Ukrainian soldiers
• torture
• arbitrary detention
• forced displacement through so-called “filtration” camps
• systematic suppression of the Ukrainian language.

But here’s what makes this ruling unprecedented: 26 countries and an international organization joined as third parties. That level of international backing is extraordinary.

Ukrainian judge Mykola Hnatovskyi put it bluntly: this is “probably the largest and most important case in the entire history of the ECHR.”

Ukraine’s lawyers forge unprecedented international case against Russia for decade

Behind this landmark ruling lies years of painstaking legal work. Marharyta Sokorenko, the Commissioner for ECHR Affairs at Ukraine’s Justice Ministry, called the case “the culmination of a long and thorny path of fierce legal confrontation for law and truth.”

How grueling was the process? Sokorenko described it as “the result of more than ten years of complex work, sometimes ‘on the edge’ and ‘this is the last time,’ by the entire team.” She added that Ukrainian lawyers “were pioneers in forming the interstate lawsuit and evidence base.”

For the legal team, this wasn’t just another case. “For each of us, this case goes far beyond official duties,” Sokorenko wrote on Facebook ahead of the ruling.

Russia missile attack killed 298 people in MH17 air crash

On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine by a Russian-supplied Buk missile. All 298 passengers and crew members died, including 196 Dutch nationals—making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Dutch history.

The human cost extends far beyond the immediate tragedy. A decade later, research by Professor Jos de Keijser from the University of Groningen reveals that one in eight families of the victims still struggle with severe, chronic grief. These survivors face insomnia, depression, PTSD, and concentration problems that persist years after the disaster.

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Decade after MH17 disaster: 1 in 8 families of victims still grapple with severe grief 

Russia controlled part of Ukraine where plane was hit

For nearly a decade, families of the 298 people killed when MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine waited for justice. Now they have it—sort of.

The European court determined Russia was responsible for downing the Malaysia Airlines flight on 17 July 2014. This marks the first international judicial finding holding Russia accountable for the disaster.

How solid is the evidence? A Joint Investigation Team from five countries spent years building the case. Last November, a Dutch court sentenced three men to life imprisonment: Russians Igor Girkin-Strelkov and Sergey Dubinsky, plus Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko. They remain out of prison because Russia has refused to extradite its citizens. The court also ordered over €16 million in compensation to victims’ families.

Crucially, during that verdict reading, The Hague District Court also recognized that Russia controlled the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” from at least May 2014—months before MH17 was destroyed.

Netherlands Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans called the ECHR decision “an important step toward justice.”

“The suffering of the relatives of MH-17 is immense, intensified by Russia’s denial. Now the European Court confirms what we have known for 10 years: Russia is responsible. I hope it contributes to processing the grief,” Brekelmans wrote.

Russia denies involvement. But the evidence trail led investigators to conclude Moscow’s control began well before the tragedy occurred.

Court recognizes Russia wants to destroy Ukraine

The court ordered Russia:

1. to release all people illegally detained in occupied territories
2. cooperate in creating an international mechanism to identify kidnapped children and return them to their families.

Will Russia comply? History suggests no. Moscow has ignored international court rulings before.

But Ukraine’s Justice Ministry sees this differently. They called the ruling “unprecedented” and noted the court satisfied nearly all government complaints. More importantly, the court recognized something Ukrainian officials have argued for years: Russia is conducting “a targeted campaign to destroy the Ukrainian state as a subject of international law.”

The ministry went further, stating that the court found “Russia’s aggression is not limited to Ukraine—it is a global threat that questions the very idea of coexistence of states in the legal field. In particular, Russia demonstrates hostility toward other member states of the Council of Europe.”

Ukrainian judge Hnatovskyi explained why this case stands apart: “No previous conflicts examined showed such unanimous condemnation by the international community of the respondent state’s flagrant disregard for the principles of international legal order established after World War II.”

What’s the broader significance? This ruling doesn’t just address past violations—it creates legal precedent for holding Russia accountable for systematic human rights abuses. The question now is whether international pressure can translate into meaningful consequences for Moscow’s actions.

Explore further

ICAO acknowledges Russia’s responsibility for shooting down flight MH17

Pope Leo XIV has formally offered to host peace talks between Ukraine and Russia at the Vatican, renewing the Holy See’s role as a potential mediator in the ongoing war. The offer was extended during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence.

Peace talks remain stalled as Russia escalates attacks

Diplomatic efforts remain frozen, even as Russia intensifies its military offensive. On 9 July, Moscow launched the largest drone and missile barrage of the war, deploying over 740 drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. The escalation underscores Russia’s resistance to peace negotiations and fuels growing concerns that the war could stretch on for years.

Vatican reaffirms commitment to peace

The Vatican confirmed the Pope’s willingness to bring together representatives from both nations, stressing the need for an “urgent search for just and lasting peace” and the essential role of direct dialogue in resolving the war.

Russia rejects vatican as venue

Despite the renewed offer, Russia had already signaled its opposition to holding peace talks at the Vatican when the idea was first floated earlier. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov questioned the appropriateness of a Catholic setting for negotiations between predominantly Orthodox nations, calling it “somewhat inelegant.”

This refusal comes in spite of the Vatican’s neutral stance and long-standing reputation as a credible venue for international diplomacy.

New pope continues Vatican’s diplomatic legacy

Pope Leo XIV, elected in May after the death of Pope Francis, has continued the Vatican’s call for peace without directly condemning Russia. This measured approach mirrors that of his predecessor and appears aimed at keeping communication channels open with both sides.

President Zelenskyy, among the first global leaders to meet the new Pope, welcomed the Vatican’s ongoing efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Two Chinese nationals sit in Ukrainian custody tonight, accused of attempting to steal classified documentation on Ukraine’s Neptune anti-ship missile system. The weapon that sank Russia’s flagship Moskva.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says it caught the pair red-handed in Kyiv. A 24-year-old former university student and his father, who resides in China but made periodic visits to Ukraine.

Chinese father-son espionage in Ukraine

The younger suspect studied at a Kyiv technical university until 2023, when he was expelled for poor grades. Instead of returning to China, he stayed in Ukraine. The SBU suggests he used his remaining contacts to target someone with access to advanced weapons development.

His father allegedly traveled to Ukraine to personally coordinate intelligence operations, according to the security service’s investigation. The family business, apparently, was espionage.

The student attempted to recruit a Ukrainian citizen connected to cutting-edge defense projects. The goal: technical documentation on Neptune missile production that could be smuggled back to Chinese intelligence services.

Ukrainian counterintelligence officers say they identified the operation early and arrested the student during a document handover. His father was detained as he prepared to transfer the stolen information to Beijing.

During searches, investigators seized mobile phones containing what they describe as coordination messages between the two suspects.

Both face espionage charges under Ukraine’s Criminal Code. Maximum sentence: 15 years with property confiscation.

Why would China want Neptune missile secrets?

The weapon has proven its worth in combat. Two Neptune missiles sank the Russian cruiser Moskva in April 2022—the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship and a potent symbol of Russian naval power. In March 2024, another Neptune strike hit the landing ship Konstantin Olshansky at its occupied Crimean base, rendering the vessel incapable of combat. 

The missile itself measures just over five meters long and weighs 870 kilograms (1 918 lbs). Range: up to 280 kilometers (173 miles). It can sink vessels displacing up to 5,000 tons.

Recent modifications expanded the Neptune’s capabilities beyond ships to ground targets that has an extended range of up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).

This advancement allows Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, including strategic targets such as oil refineries, exemplified by a likely 14 March strike on a refinery in Tuapse about 450 km (279 miles) from the front line. 

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Ukraine says it hit Russia’s stolen Ukrainian ship with Neptune missile in occupied Crimea

Desperate to blunt escalating Russian bombardment of its cities, Ukraine contacted Germany with an urgent request four new air-defense systems and as many as 2,000 new missiles for them.

Germany responded with equal urgency—and said yes. Now Ukraine is set to receive four additional launchers for IRIS-T missiles as well as a huge stock of the 130-kg missiles, which range as far as 40 km under infrared and radar guidance. 

The IRIS-T isn’t the kind of missile you’d shoot at an incoming ballistic missile. Ballistic missiles such as Russia’s Iskander move too quickly for smaller air-defense missiles. It takes a heavy missile in the class of the US-made Patriot to kill an Iskander.

What the IRIS-T is, is a drone-killer. In its primary role defending against slower and lower-flying targets—Russian Shahed drones and cruise missiles, for example—the IRIS-T has a nearly 100% success rate, according to Helmut Rauch, the CEO of Germany’s Diehl Defense, the lead manufacturer of the missile. 

The Ukrainian 540th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade corroborated that figure. During one recent Russian cruise missile barrage, the brigade’s IRIS-T launchers shot down all 27 incoming missiles. “The enemy did not accomplish its mission,” a brigade officer said in an official video translated by German Aid to Ukraine and an associate.

Russian industry has ramped up production of the 200-kg Shahed and can now fling hundreds and hundreds of them at Ukrainian cities every day. Ukrainian forces jam their navigation signals, shoot them from the air and the ground and even ram into them with special interceptor drones—and yet, 10% or more of the Shaheds get through.

The devastating air raids targeting Ukrainian cities on 4 July involved 539 Shaheds, according to the Ukrainian air force. 268 Shaheds were shot down, and another 208 flew off course, likely owing to Ukrainian jamming. 63 Shaheds struck, damaging buildings and killing or wounding civilians.

“There must—and there definitely will—be more protection for life,” Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in the aftermath of the raid.

Yesterday, the 540th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade — which has just received the 7th IRIS-T SLM fire unit Germany has delivered to #Ukraine — has shared a video featuring IRIS-T SLM launchers, a TRML-4D air surveillance radar and an IRIS-T SLS launcher.

Thanks to @S1epanS, I'm… pic.twitter.com/GSKu2gt46o

— German Aid to Ukraine (@deaidua) July 4, 2025

No panacea

The new batch of IRIS-Ts will help, but they’re no panacea. 

Reading between the lines of leaked documents that German newspaper Bild obtained, German Aid to Ukraine concluded new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had already signed off on Ukraine’s request for four new IRIS-T launchers and 2,000 missiles. Each launcher costs $140 million. Each missile costs $600,000.

Ukraine already has seven IRIS-T launchers donated or financed by Germany and Norway. It has lost one launcher and one supporting TRML-4D radar to Russian action. Prior to the current request, Germany and Norway had pledged another 13 launchers. 

The IRIS-T is on track to become one of Ukraine’s most important medium-range air-defense systems. It alone can’t fully protect Ukrainian cities, of course. For starters, it might take years for German industry to deliver all the launchers and missiles.

Moreover, even 2,000 missiles is a small number of missiles when Russia can launch many hundreds—potentially 1,000—of its $200,000 Shaheds every day. It’s not for no reason Ukrainian industry is working so hard on jammers that can throw the Russian drones off course—and also building more and more interceptor drones that cost less than a Shahed does.

The jamming might be the most cost-effective defense. “Since the enemy counts Shahed production at 500 to 1,000 per day, jamming is the only economically viable solution,” said “Alchemist,” the head of the Night Watch electronic warfare team in Kyiv.

With newer Shaheds climbing as high as 3,500 meters and flying right through heavy clouds that can obscure them from view, Ukraine’s interceptor drones “can’t keep up,” Alchemist claimed. “Cost, scalability, resources—all prohibit such countermeasures.”

Ideally, IRIS-T would be the final line of defense, plucking the last few Shaheds that make it through the jamming and interceptor drones. 

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Ukraine learned how to jam Russian bombs. So Russia made them fly beyond the jammers

Lithuania and Finland are preparing to begin domestic production of anti-personnel landmines next year to supply themselves and Ukraine, according to officials from both NATO member states who spoke to Reuters.

The countries are ready to begin manufacturing once their six-month withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention is complete.

Lithuania shares 274 kilometers (170 miles) of border with Russia and 679 kilometers (421 miles) with Belarus, a key Kremlin’s ally, so they are concerned about the country’s security amid continued Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

“We are going to spend hundreds of millions of euros on anti-tank mines, but also on anti-personnel mines. It will be a significant amount,” Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Karolis Aleksa told Reuters. How many? Tens of thousands, possibly more.

Can they actually produce them? “Our national industry will be one of the sources. Our industry can make these,” Aleksa said.

Helsinki had more than 1 million anti-personnel landmines before joining the Ottawa Convention in 2011. They destroyed them all, following the rules. Now they’re rebuilding that capability as Finland’s border with Russia stretches 1,340 kilometers (832 miles)—longer than any other NATO state.

Both countries have concluded the same thing: when your neighbor stockpiles weapons banned by treaties they never signed, you need every defensive option available.

Other Eastern European countries consider mines production amid Russia’s threat

Three additional NATO and European Union states – Poland, Latvia and Estonia – are also exiting the treaty, citing heightened security concerns about Russia due to its war in Ukraine. While these three countries have not announced production plans, officials in Poland and Latvia indicated they could begin manufacturing quickly if necessary, and Estonia views it as a future possibility.

All five NATO countries say they won’t create minefields during peacetime. Instead, they’ll store the mines for rapid deployment if threatened. Poland has already designated zones that could be mined within days as part of future military fortifications along its eastern frontier.

Ukraine has similarly announced its withdrawal from the 1997 Ottawa treaty to better defend against Russia, which is not a party to the agreement.

This decision comes after nearly two decades of compliance since Ukraine joined the treaty in 2005, but the full-scale Russian invasion and Russia’s ongoing use of mines have forced Ukraine to reconsider its position.

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Ukraine exits global mine ban for self-defense reasons as Russia ignores international law

The Ukrainian government argues that the treaty unfairly restricts its right to self-defense under the UN Charter, especially as Russia cynically employs mines and other weapons without regard for international law. 

Lithuania and Finland plan to supply Ukraine with mines

Vincas Jurgutis, head of Lithuania’s defense industry association, said once production is established, Lithuania would be positioned to supply others including Ukraine.

Finland could also supply landmines to Ukraine, Finnish parliament defence committee chair Heikki Autto said. “It is not only right and our duty to support Ukraine, it is also important for Finland’s own security.”

But here’s the humanitarian concern: Anti-personnel mines detonate when triggered by contact, vibration or tripwires, and can harm civilians as well as combatants. Many remain in the ground long after conflicts conclude.

Anti-mine campaigners have criticized the countries leaving the Ottawa Convention, arguing that reintroducing anti-personnel mine production could be expensive and time-consuming to make fully operational.

Russia’s ambassador to Helsinki said in April that Finland’s decision to quit the Ottawa treaty would create risks only for Finnish residents since its military planned to mine only Finnish territory.

The countries’ governments, however, say any minefields must be marked for post-conflict clearance and regard such munitions as deterrence. “When we have them in storage, that is the best guarantee that they will never have to be used,” Autto said.

Ukrainian authorities have confirmed that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) remains legally subordinate to Russia’s Orthodox Church despite its claims of independence.

The State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) concluded in a 21-page investigation that Ukraine’s second-largest Orthodox denomination has maintained canonical ties to Moscow through its governing documents and institutional structure.

The timing proves significant as it comes just one week after Ukraine stripped UOC MP leader Metropolitan Onufriy of Ukrainian citizenship for allegedly concealing his Russian passport since 2002.

Russian church charter still governs Ukrainian operations

The DESS investigation revealed that the UOC MP continues to cite the 1990 Gramota (Charter) from then-Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow as its constitutional foundation. The document explicitly states that “the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is connected through our Russian Orthodox Church to the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.”

According to the findings, the UOC MP must still commemorate the Moscow Patriarch in liturgy, have its statutes approved by Moscow, receive holy chrism from Russia, and ensure Ukrainian bishops participate in Russian church councils as obligated members.

Religious scholar Yuriy Chornomorets, who participated in earlier expert evaluations, told Euromaidan Press that “the conclusions use only facts; therefore, its findings are impossible to counter.”

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The documents that prove Ukraine’s Moscow Patriarchate Church never left Russia

Limited response to Russian diocese seizures

The commission noted that Russian authorities have unilaterally transferred three UOC MP dioceses on occupied territories to direct Moscow control since 2022, including dioceses in Crimea, Rovenky, and Berdiansk. The UOC MP leadership offered no resistance to these transfers.

When 33 UOC MP bishops condemned Moscow’s diocese seizures in October 2024, their own church’s governing bodies remained silent, the investigation found.

Legal implications under Ukraine’s church ban

The findings provide legal justification for implementing Ukraine’s August 2024 law banning Russian-affiliated religious organizations. The legislation gave religious groups nine months to sever Russian connections or face dissolution through court proceedings.

DESS will now compile a list of religious organizations connected to the banned Russian Orthodox Church structure, potentially affecting the UOC MP’s approximately 8,000 parishes.

The UOC MP has consistently maintained it severed ties with Moscow after Russia’s February 2022 invasion, but the Ukrainian investigation concludes these claims lack documentary foundation.

Explore further

Ukraine just stripped citizenship from the leader of Putin’s favorite church—his 8,000 parishes are next

The historically Moscow-aligned Ukrainian Orthodox Church is still affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church despite claims to the contrary, a Ukrainian state committee has found.

In a lengthy investigation, the Ukrainian State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has concluded that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC MP) is still legally part of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The law gave religious organizations nine months to sever relations with Russia. Now, DESS is probing whether the connections are still there.

But, how does one establish such matters? After all, the UOC MP insists it supports Ukraine and that it already cut its Russian ties back in 2022.

Moreover, it is leading a global campaign decrying alleged state religious persecution. This initiative has been particularly fruitful among American Republicans, in part thanks to lavish lobbying efforts.

Canonically speaking

The path of an Orthodox church to autocephaly (independence) is notoriously vague and complicated. Unlike the Catholic Church, governed by a single primate from Rome, global Orthodoxy is defined as a constellation of amicable jurisdictions that received independence according to pastoral needs.

Ideally, of course. In practice, however, the path to church independence has been fraught with political strife, stonewalling, and competition between two centers of Orthodox gravitas—the Moscow and Ecumenical patriarchates.

Enter the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The UOC MP’s predicament stems from centuries of imperial church politics. The 1686 transfer of the Kyiv Metropolitanate from Constantinople to Moscow began Russian control over Ukrainian Orthodoxy—control that outlasted the Soviet Union and continued into independent Ukraine.

This pattern wasn’t unique to Ukraine. The Russian Orthodox Church historically granted limited “autonomy” to Orthodox communities in its sphere—a status somewhere between full independence and direct diocesan control. The Japanese Orthodox Church, Latvian Orthodox Church, Estonian Orthodox Church, and Ukrainian Orthodox Church all received similar arrangements.

True autocephaly, by contrast, means complete independence—as Moscow granted to the Polish Orthodox Church in 1948 and the Orthodox Church in America in 1970. The language was unambiguous: full canonical independence with no mention of accessing global Orthodoxy “through” another church.

What the documents say

So what about Ukraine’s status today?

The 21-page report reads like a forensic autopsy. It dissects the UOC MP’s claims using two key criteria:

1. What the church’s foundational documents say
2. and what its actions reveal.

The smoking gun lies in a 1990 document: the Gramota (Charter) issued by then-Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow. The UOC MP still cites this in its governing statutes. It grants the Ukrainian church “independence and autonomy in its governance”—but with a crucial caveat.

“The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is connected through our Russian Orthodox Church to the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church,” the Gramota declares.

Emphasis ours

For DESS investigators, this single line proves subordination. Ukraine’s second-largest Orthodox denomination remains canonically tied to Moscow.

But wait—doesn’t the UOC MP claim it severed these ties after Russia’s 2022 invasion? The church leadership has repeatedly insisted they’re no longer part of the Russian Orthodox Church structure.

The investigation reveals a different story. A 2017 addition to the Russian Orthodox Church’s statutes—Chapter X, titled “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church”—still mandates that the Ukrainian church must:

• Commemorate the Moscow Patriarch’s name in all Ukrainian churches
• Have its statute approved and confirmed by the Moscow Patriarch
• Have its primate blessed by the Moscow Patriarch
• Submit decisions about creating or dissolving dioceses to Moscow’s Archiereus Council for approval
• Ensure Ukrainian bishops participate in Russian church councils as obligated members
• Accept Moscow’s Holy Synod decisions as binding
• Receive holy chrism (consecrated oil) from the Moscow Patriarch

What about the 27 May 2022 Local Council at Feofania Monastery? The UOC MP points to this gathering as proof of their independence. The council did adopt changes to the church statute, removing some explicit references to Moscow.

But the DESS investigation calls this a “notable step toward independence” that “did not mean the withdrawal” from the Russian Orthodox Church. Why not?

The Gramota remains the constitutional foundation.

The investigation found no documents from the UOC MP’s governing bodies—its Sobor, Bishop’s Council, or Holy Synod—declaring withdrawal from the Russian Orthodox Church structure. The silence is deafening.

UOC MP actions speak louder

But documents only tell half the story. What have the churches actually done?

Russian church authorities have been unilaterally transferring UOC MP dioceses on Russian-occupied lands to direct Moscow control since 2022. Three Crimean dioceses in June 2022. The Rovenky diocese in October 2022. The Berdiansk diocese in May 2023.

Some UOC MP bishops have publicly supported Russian aggression. Metropolitan Panteleimon of Luhansk and Alchevsk participated in pro-war events and attended celebrations for Patriarch Kirill’s anniversary.

True, some clergy operate under Russian occupation, where resistance could mean imprisonment. But the church’s response reveals its priorities.

The UOC MP aggressively condemns priests who defect to the rival Orthodox Church of Ukraine, granted independence by Constantinople in 2018. It bans them from serving.

When Moscow transfers entire dioceses? Silence.

In October 2024, 33 UOC MP bishops condemned Moscow’s unilateral diocese transfers. Were they supported by their colleagues? No. The church’s governing bodies said nothing.

This shows they can resist when they choose to. They just don’t choose to resist Moscow.

UOC MP leader’s Russian citizenship

Ukraine just stripped citizenship from the leader of Putin’s favorite church—his 8,000 parishes are next

The grassroots revolt

Between 2022 and 2024, multiple groups of clergy and laypeople issued appeals to Metropolitan Onuphrius. They demanded complete canonical separation from Moscow.

Were these appeals considered? The investigation notes they were “left without consideration by the highest organs of church authority and governance of the UOC MP.”

The verdict

The DESS conclusion is unequivocal: the Kyiv Metropolitanate remains affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church under all four criteria established by Ukrainian law:

1. the UOC still belongs to Moscow’s structure
2. its documents still reference Russian control
3. Moscow still makes binding decisions for Ukrainian dioceses
4. Ukrainian bishops still sit on Russian church councils.

For Ukrainian authorities, this provides legal justification for potential further action. For the church itself, it represents a canonical Catch-22. It must maintain the Russian connection that legitimizes its existence while operating in a country that has banned that very connection.

Is the commission biased?

While the UOC MP hasn’t responded officially to the DESS conclusion, prominent figures like Iona Cherepanov have decried it as “Soviet,” implying that the commission is biased and implements state decisions to, allegedly, persecute the UOC MP.

That’s impossible, says religious scholar and philosopher Yuriy Chornomorets, who had previously taken part in an expert committee that arrived at similar conclusions. The DESS conclusion uses only facts; therefore, its findings are impossible to counter, Chornomorets told Euromaidan Press.

The sophistication and detail of analysis testify to the high level of expertise of the DESS experts, he maintains. Moreover, the conclusions in the documents are supported by quotes from UOC MP leaders themselves.

Theologian Cyril Hovorun told Euromaidan Press that the conclusions “correspond to canonical realities as they are understood in Eastern Christianity.”

The UOC still references Moscow’s 1990 charter. It still operates under Russian Orthodox Church statutes. Ukrainian bishops still sit on Russian church councils.

These aren’t interpretations—they’re documented facts.

Why doesn’t the UOC MP break free from Russia?

The path forward is surprisingly straightforward, according to Chornomorets. The UOC would need to officially decide to leave the Russian Orthodox Church. It must notify all Orthodox patriarchs of its new status. It should condemn Moscow’s seizure of Ukrainian dioceses.

“The UOC must start acting like an autocephalous church,” he argues.

So why haven’t they?

This question haunts Ukrainian religious observers. The UOC’s response reveals a stunning contradiction.

“Today the UOC admits it remains part of the Russian Orthodox Church but claims it intends to become autocephalous,” Chornomorets notes. “Yet it demands Ukrainian authorities treat it as if it already achieved independence.”

The duplicity runs deeper. “When UOC bishops operate outside Ukraine—in Europe, for instance—they demand local Orthodox hierarchs treat them as Russian Orthodox Church representatives,” he explains. They want to be independent in Ukraine but Russian abroad.

Religious historian Andriy Smyrnov believes Metropolitan Onuphrius is waiting for the war to end. Why? “To return to the Russian Orthodox Church.”

Chornomorets offers a blunt explanation. “UOC leadership maintains passivity because they’re not afraid of Ukraine’s democratic state—they’re panicked by Putin.” He suggests UOC leaders fear they could end up dead like Russian officials who displease the Kremlin.

Financial incentives provide another explanation. Influential Russian-born oligarch Vadym Novinskyi—who obtained Ukrainian citizenship in 2012 under Viktor Yanukovych, serves as a UOC deacon, and is widely considered the church’s main financial patron—allegedly channels VTB Bank loans to pro-Russian bishops.

Novinskyi’s funding could be part of the explanation, Hovorun believes. But not all of it.

Meanwhile, Smyrnov believes the UOC MP hasn’t declared autocephaly “because it would place them in a schism.” Breaking away unilaterally would leave the church without recognition from other Orthodox patriarchates.

“But really, over three years they could have appealed to church primates, could have restored communication with the Ecumenical Patriarch [severed in 2018 – ed] and asked for help,” he says.

The irony is palpable. While Chornomorets notes that 74% of UOC faithful support immediate separation from Moscow, their bishops cling to Russian ties that Ukrainian law now explicitly forbids.

What happens next?

DESS expert Viacheslav Horshkov, one of the report’s authors, outlines the immediate next steps. “It’s too early to talk about parishes now,” he tells Euromaidan Press. “The next step is a directive to the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the UOC to eliminate signs of affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church.”

The church will have 30 days to comply, with a possible 60-day extension upon request. If they meet the requirements—which Horshkov considers realistic—the matter closes.

If not, the Kyiv Metropolitanate will be officially recognized as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church, and the case goes to court.

The timeline remains uncertain. But if the court strips the Kyiv Metropolitanate of its legal entity status, questions will arise for subordinate structures—diocesan administrations, monasteries, missions, and spiritual educational institutions.

Parishes face different options. “Parishes can peacefully transition to independent status or exist without legal entity status,” Horshkov explains. “They have several options for determining their fate. They can even register a new association.”

“The new law preserves Russians’ right to worship freely, hold gatherings, and maintain their own temples,” Chornomorets explains. “But it strips them of privileges to use approximately 3,000 religious buildings belonging to the state as historical monuments or local communities.”

He notes the law’s limitations.

“The sanctions are too mild—loss of legal entity status for religious communities, monasteries, seminaries, dioceses, and the Kyiv Metropolitanate, but nothing that would constitute a real ‘ban on the Russian Orthodox Church.'”

DESS will now compile a list of religious organizations connected with the banned Russian Orthodox Church structure. “If a parish ends up on the list and doesn’t comply with the directive to eliminate affiliation, and uses state property, then the lease agreement will be terminated,” Smyrnov says.

But there won’t be mass prosecutions. The focus remains on the Kyiv Metropolitanate itself.

Smirnov expects Metropolitan Onuphrius might convene a bishops’ council to declare the UOC independent in response to the DESS directive.

But the 75-year-old Metropolitan, who came of age in Moscow’s Holy Trinity-St.Sergius Lavra, represents a generation of church leaders whose worldview remains fundamentally tied to the Russian Orthodox tradition, regardless of political circumstances.

Why does it matter if the UOC MP is still affiliated with Russia?

Since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion, Ukraine has attempted to prod the UOC MP with its 8,097 parishes, vs the roughly 9,000 of rival independent OCU, into ditching Moscow, thus reducing the amount of Russian soft power in the embattled country.

The UOC MP has been viewed as Russia’s soft power tool for decades, promoting a version of the “Russian world” ideology that envisions Ukraine as part of a “Holy Rus” rather than an independent state.

As Andriy Smyrnov notes, the church spread Russian narratives that Ukraine should exist as Russia’s province, not a sovereign nation.

The stakes extend beyond theology.

Ukraine’s second-largest Orthodox denomination faces a choice: genuine independence or continued subordination to a church that blesses the bombs falling on Ukrainian cities.

Editor’s note: the article was updated to include comments from Viacheslav Horshkov

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that diplomatic solutions to the Russo-Ukrainian war have reached their limits, while committing to maintain Berlin’s assistance to Ukraine, according to Tagesschau and ZDF heute.

Merz promised continued German support “even against the resistance of the political left and the Russia-friendly right here in the house.”

The Chancellor justified the stance by arguing that traditional diplomatic channels no longer offer viable solutions.

“Diplomatic resources have been exhausted,” he told lawmakers, framing the situation as one where “a criminal regime uses military force to openly challenge the right to exist of an entire country and seeks to destroy the political freedom of the entire European continent.”

On defense spending, Merz framed Germany’s military investment as essential European leadership. “We’re taking on the leadership responsibility that Europe expects from us,” he said. The constitutional amendment enabling increased defense spending wasn’t just about Germany—without it, “NATO would probably have fallen apart in the 70th year of our membership.”

The Chancellor’s remarks come as Germany prepares substantial military assistance for 2025. In June, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans for Berlin to provide €9 billion ($10 billion) in military aid to Ukraine next year, with portions allocated specifically for long-range weapons production financing.

However, contradictions have emerged in Germany’s weapons policy. While Pistorius rejected any current consideration of transferring long-range TAURUS cruise missiles to Ukraine, Chancellor Merz had described such weapons deliveries as possible just one month earlier.

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Ukrainian drones seized a Russian fortified position and captured prisoners-of-war in Kharkiv Oblast. The 3rd Assault Brigade calls it the first battlefield capitulation to robotic platforms. Ukrainian infantry didn’t engage in combat. They entered only after Russian forces surrendered, and the treeline was clear.

Ukrainian drones seize fortified position, force surrender

On 9 July, Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade announced that its drone and ground robot operators forced Russian troops to surrender in Kharkiv Oblast — without any infantry engagement or Ukrainian losses.

According to the Brigade, the robotic strike involved both an FPV drone and a kamikaze ground drone carrying three antitank mines — a total of 21-22.5 kg of TNT. The FPV and the first ground drone’s blast hit a dugout entrance in the Russian position. As another land robot moved in for a second strike, two surviving Russian soldiers waved a cardboard sign reading “We want to surrender” in Russian.

“The explosion with the three antitank mines — that was a very powerful blast. The dugout wasn’t fully destroyed, so we got the order to hit it again. We moved in, and they realized we were going to blow it up again. […] ..and they very quickly put the sign out,” one of the Ukrainian soldiers said.

Drone footage shows moment of surrender and remote-led capture

The 3rd Assault Brigade’s Telegram post includes a video file timestamped 8 July, featuring aerial footage of the engagement and the enemy’s surrender. Additionally, Ukrainian drone operators narrate the footage and recount the operation. However, the exact date of the robotic engagement itself is not explicitly stated.

The video shows an aerial FPV drone strike, a powerful explosion of an “NRK”—a remotely controlled “ground robotic complex”—at the entrance to the dugout, and the Russian soldiers displaying the sign.

As recounted by the NC13 unit of the DEUS EX MACHINA drone company, a small reconnaissance UAV was used to guide the surrendering soldiers safely to Ukrainian lines.

“Then the major flew down the Mavic (a Chinese drone, widely used for reconnaissance by both sides, – Ed.), we showed them with the drone — like, come here. [..] They followed the Mavic precisely and lay down in the ‘dolphin pose’ on the ground,” the military said.

After the Russian surrender, Ukrainian infantry moved in quickly and secured the position. The brigade noted that previous Ukrainian attempts to storm the area had failed. This time, however, the assault team held back while drones led the operation.

Ukrainian drones seize fortified position in 15 minutes without a shot

Once the Russian troops were taken prisoner, the planned infantry clearing operation began — but was largely symbolic. The drone operator noted in the interview:

“A clearing operation was planned there — we were supposed to carry out the strike, and they were supposed to clear the area. But it turned out that… that unit took over the dugout’s treeline in just 15 minutes. The entire strip was already ours — literally, and without any losses. You could say, not a single shot was fired.”

He said the drone-led engagement proved that robotic platforms “make operations significantly easier.” In some cases, they “even free the infantry from the task entirely.”

“Our example proved that with robotic platforms, it’s possible not only to storm positions but also to take prisoners,” another drone operator emphasized.