Ukraine aims to strengthen the defense of over 3,000 kilometers of its border with Russia and Belarus. Roman Kostenko, Secretary of the Parliament Committee on National Security, says that to achieve this, Kyiv is seeking a temporary suspension of the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines, UkrInform reports. 

The Ottawa Convention bans anti-personnel landmines worldwide. Since 1999, it has drawn 164 countries committed to destroying their mine stockpiles and clearing contaminated land, as mines can cause severe injuries and deaths among civilians. However, given that Ukraine has the right to protect itself, the government temporarily suspended its participation in the treaty.

“Considering the over 3,000 km border with Russia and Belarus, it is necessary to create a minefield at least several dozen kilometers wide, a preventive defense,” Kostenko explains.

Anti-personnel mines are effective, low-cost, and straightforward means of holding positions and creating denial zones for enemy infantry. They can demoralize the adversary and significantly complicate their movements and operations.

Kostenko emphasizes that fortifications without mine barriers are often ineffective.

“The enemy bypasses them. They are not always built in the right places. Fortifications must be guarded or be part of a combined system with mine barriers. One without the other does not work,” he says. 

According to him, the use of anti-personnel mines will allow Ukraine to rapidly defend positions and significantly enhance the country’s defensive capabilities.

Six months ago, Lithuania and Finland also withdrew from the Ottawa Convention. Now, they are preparing to start the domestic production of anti-personnel landmines to supply their militaries and Kyiv. This decision reflects growing European concerns that Russia’s military ambitions may extend beyond Ukraine. China and the US never signed the document.

A Ukrainian female political prisoner has spoken out about brutal torture in Russian captivity. Journalist Iryna Danylovych has appealed to the European Parliament, asking to pay attention to the terrible conditions in Russian Women’s Colony No. 7 in Zelenokumsk, Zmina reports. 

Danylovych’s relatives have delivered the appeal to Pina Picierno, the Vice-President of the European Parliament. 

The Ukrainian woman describes the colony as “an endless hell.” At night, the Russians never turn the lights off, making it impossible to sleep even with a blindfold. Every day, loud equipment operates in the barracks for several hours, which is especially difficult for her due to chronic ear inflammation, which goes untreated there.

Prisoners are also forced to stand outside for hours in cold and bad weather.

The journalist calls on the European community and Russian Ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova to intervene in the situation.

Before her arrest, Iryna defended the rights of medical workers in Crimea and reported on violations in healthcare. In 2022, she was abducted by FSB agents, held in a basement without a lawyer, and later sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of possessing explosives.

Earlier, 22-year-old Ukrainian soldier Valentyn Marynych came back home from 36 months in Russian captivity. He said Russian troops beat him with rebar, bricks, knuckledusters, belts, fists, and boots during regular runs through crowds of occupiers. 

Ukraine has charged three Russian commanders suspected of ordering the rocket attack on a residential area of Chernihiv with Grad multiple launch rocket systems in 2022. The attack killed 20 people and wounded 28, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported.

The Prosecutor General’s Office, together with the Security Service of Ukraine, has identified Colonel Oleg Kurygin, a commander of the 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian 41st Army, as well as two subordinates, Major Ramis Zagretdinov and Captain Timur Suleymanov, who were responsible for battalion tactical groups.

On the morning of 16 March 2022, they ordered a massive strike on the residential area using unguided rockets, despite the absence of any nearby military targets. At that time, civilians were standing near a shop buying groceries.

“Russian military personnel were aware they were using weapons against civilians. This was a deliberate attack on the civilian population,” the Prosecutor General’s Office emphasizes.

Under international law, such actions constitute a war crime. The commanders are charged with violations of the laws of war, combined with the intentional murder of a group of persons by prior conspiracy.

The documentation of war crimes was conducted by the public organizations Truth Hounds and Global Rights Compliance.

According to the investigation, Kurygin personally gave the order to shell using high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, and his unit temporarily controlled the border areas of Chernihiv Oblast in 2022.

During a recent meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, Chinese leader Xi Jinping stated that China and Russia must “deepen their strategic partnership.”

The meeting took place the day after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump gathered in Washington, where both sides pledged greater support for Ukraine.

On 14 July, the American leader announced the delivery of 17 Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv and a new agreement with NATO under which allies will pay for US weapons for Ukraine. Trump also issued an ultimatum: Russia will face 100% tariffs if it doesn’t end the war within 50 days.

At the meeting with Lavrov, the Chinese president claimed that the two countries must strengthen mutual support and unite Global South nations to form “a more just international order.”

Xi emphasized that the foreign ministries of both countries must implement the agreements reached between him and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, and enhance cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

“The SCO has become an influential regional organization that plays a major role in the stability of Eurasia,” the Chinese leader stressed.

The SCO was founded in 2001. Its mission has evolved from counterterrorism to broader economic and political cooperation. The organization currently unites 10 countries and is headquartered in Beijing.

China is Russia’s largest trading partner and has provided Moscow with economic support that has helped it withstand Western sanctions.

Xi and Putin have met dozens of times and signed a “no-limits partnership” in February 2022, less than three weeks before Putin sent troops into Ukraine, according to Ukrainska Pravda. 

This year, Putin and Xi signed another agreement to further deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a senior EU diplomat that China “cannot accept” a Russian defeat in the war against Ukraine, arguing that such an outcome would allow the US to shift its foreign policy focus toward Beijing.

Europe is preparing billions of dollars to deter Russian ruler Vladimir Putin. Denmark and the Netherlands have agreed to join US President Donald Trump’s new plan for jointly financing American weapons for Ukraine, including Patriot air defense systems, EurActiv reports. 

The agreement, which was announced on 14 July in Washington, provides that European NATO allies will purchase air defense systems from the US, including Patriot systems, and deliver them to Kyiv. Germany has already proposed purchasing at least two batteries.

“This is an appeal to all other European NATO members. They all need to open their wallets,” emphasized German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

According to him, Ukraine urgently needs to strengthen its air defense, as Russia escalates its attacks whenever peace is discussed.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has also confirmed that the country is “absolutely ready” to join the program, with details still being finalized. His Dutch counterpart, Caspar Veldkamp, has said the Netherlands is “positively inclined” to participate.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that the scheme would allow Ukraine to receive weapons from existing stockpiles, which would then be replenished with new purchases from the US. However, systems like the Patriot are scarce in Europe, and not all countries are willing to part with them.

In addition to the three countries, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and the UK are also considering joining the program. Final funding amounts and the list of weapons will be determined in the coming weeks. 

Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, passed alarming information to US Presidential Special Representative Keith Kellogg during their meeting in Kyiv. Russia is preparing for a major war, not only against Ukraine but also against NATO. 

The meeting was also attended by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Chief of the General Staff, Andrii Hnatov, and other intelligence officials. The American side was briefed on an updated assessment of the operational situation and the Kremlin’s plans for 2036.

“The Kremlin’s imperial ambitions are not limited to Ukraine. They encompass all of Europe. However, with US support, we are capable of stopping Russia and nullifying its military potential,” Budanov emphasized.

The head of the intelligence agency thanked the US for its assistance and stressed, “Russia respects only strength,” and that only through strong resistance can Ukraine achieve a true and lasting peace.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump, frustrated by fruitless “pleasant talks” with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine, issued an ultimatum to Moscow. He said that if the Kremlin doesn’t reach a peace agreement within 50 days, the White House will impose 100% tariffs on Russia. This effectively gives Putin 1,5 months to continue killing Ukrainian civilians. Trump also did not clarify what would happen if Moscow refuses to sign any deal with Kyiv. 

Later, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev openly mocked Trump’s statements, saying the Kremlin is indifferent to Washington’s new threats.

US President Donald Trump, frustrated by fruitless “pleasant talks” with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine, has issued an ultimatum to Moscow. The Kremlin responded by saying that Russia doesn’t care.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has openly mocked Trump’s statements, saying the Kremlin is indifferent to Washington’s new threats. According to him, Trump’s threats are theatrical in nature, and Europe had expected more.

“Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn’t care,” Medvedev wrote on X. 

On 14 July, the American president also said that the new tariffs would target Kremlin allies, though he did not specify which countries he meant. Notably, China is the largest sponsor of Russia’s war in Ukraine, while North Korea supplies over half of Russia’s ammunition and military personnel in exchange for technology.

Trump also did not clarify what would happen if Russia refuses to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine. Meanwhile, the 50-day deadline coincides with the timeframe reportedly shared by Putin during a recent conversation, in which he stated that Moscow plans to escalate military operations in eastern Ukraine within the next 60 days. This effectively gives Putin 1,5 months to continue killing Ukrainian civilians.

Putin reportedly told Trump during their 3 July conversation that Russia intended to continue offensive operations until it secured the full administrative borders of the occupied Ukrainian oblasts.

Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including most of Luhansk Oblast, two-thirds of Donetsk Oblast, and parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Oblasts. Moscow illegally declared the annexation of all four regions after sham referendums, despite not fully controlling any of them. At present, Russia has fully occupied only Crimea.

Vitalii Shabunin, Ukraine’s top anti-corruption activist and head of Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Action Center, has been charged in a controversial criminal case. The State Bureau of Investigation has accused him of evasion of military service and misuse of a vehicle intended for the military, sparking a public outcry and allegations of political persecution, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty writes. 

According to investigators, Shabunin allegedly “systematically evaded” military service during martial law and illegally used a vehicle imported as humanitarian aid for the Armed Forces, including for personal travel in Kyiv. They claim the vehicle was never officially registered for military use.

He has been charged under two articles of the Ukrainian Criminal Code:

• Part 4, Article 409 — evasion of military service under martial law
• Part 2, Article 190 — large-scale fraud

The maximum penalty is up to 10 years in prison. 

Shabunin’s response

The activist has denied all allegations and called the case politically motivated. He published a photo of his military ID issued on 25 February 2022, the day after Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

He says he served on the front lines with Ukraine’s Armed Forces from the first days of the war, first near Kyiv, then in eastern Ukraine. After combat duty, he joined the Ministry of Defense to work on logistics reform and digital projects, including the Delta situational awareness system, according to the BBC.

In February 2025, he was transferred to a border guard unit in Kharkiv Oblast, a move he links to retaliation for his outspoken criticism of the government.

Civil society reacts: “An attack on free speech and democracy”

More than 50 non-governmental organizations, human rights groups, and civic organizations have appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, and the State Bureau of Investigation’s Head, Oleksii Sukhachov, demanding that the investigation be dropped.

In their joint statement, they warned that the case is either a sign of gross incompetence or deliberate pressure on a government critic. Shabunin continued his anti-corruption work while in uniform, publicly opposing the sabotage of reforms and poor governance and defending the independence of Ukraine’s anti-graft institutions, Deutsche Welle reports.

Olena Shcherban, deputy director of Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Action Center, has called the case an attempt to destroy an organization that has fought for transparency for years. It could also be a broader crackdown on independent activists, a dangerous precedent for democracy under martial law.

The American foreign policy takes an unexpected turn as the US ramps up arms supplies to NATO for Ukraine. President Donald Trump has announced a sharp increase in arms shipments to European allies, intended for eventual transfer to Ukraine, a dramatic reversal of his earlier stance on the war, Axios reports. 

According to a well-informed source, the first wave of deliveries will see the US sell roughly $10 billion worth of weapons to NATO partners for Ukraine. 

“The supplies ultimately bound for Ukraine include missiles, air defense weaponry and artillery shells,” the report writes. 

This marks a fundamental shift in Trump’s stance towards Ukraine, as he initially refused to take sides and insisted on providing only defensive weapons to avoid escalating the war. 

In addition, he issued a stark ultimatum to Moscow: Russia has 50 days to agree to a peace deal, or face 100% tariffs. Journalists note that such a move could significantly impact global oil markets.

A White House official told Axios that Moscow must agree to a ceasefire during that time to avoid harsh sanctions and tariffs.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, for his part, reiterated that Ukraine seeks peace. He noted that the Alliance, which would pay for Kyiv’s weapons, would now assess what the country specifically needs. After that, NATO will properly structure military aid packages. The country will gain access to a wide array of weapons, including missile defense systems and ammunition.

Ukraine to receive record-breaking financial aid package from EU and partners for recovery, energy, air defense, and agriculture. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has announced multi-billion euro agreements reached during the Ukrine Recovery Conference in Rome.

Among them is the creation of a new European Flagship Fund worth €500 million, set to launch in 2026 with a focus on energy and infrastructure investment.

In addition, under the Ukraine Facility, agreements have been signed for:

• €1.8 billion in loan guarantees,
• €580 million in grants,
• and blended financing mechanisms.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, commenting on the deal, stated that the EU aims to unlock up to €10 billion in investments to “rebuild destroyed homes, reopen hospitals, support businesses, and ensure energy security.”

Switzerland has committed €5 billion for economic recovery efforts.

The European Investment Bank is providing Ukraine with:

• €134 million for transport infrastructure,
• and a €200 million loan to Ukrhydroenergo (with the first €120 million tranche) to help restore hydropower plants.

Separately, the UK is offering a $2.3 billion loan for Ukraine’s air defense needs. The funds will be used to procure weapons and defense materials from the UK. The loan has a 19-year term with a 6-year grace period.

Ukrainian farmers will also receive €50 million in grant aid.

Shmyhal added, “We’ve reached an agreement with the Council of Europe Development Bank to fund €100 million in housing certificates under the eRecovery program, and an additional €200 million loan to support internally displaced persons.”

US officials have been briefed. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reveals that during the visit of Keith Kellogg, the US presidential envoy, to Kyiv, the Ukrainian side shared alarming intelligence on the Kremlin’s plans.

The Ukrainian defense minister says that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff, Major General Andrii Hnatov, Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, and other intelligence officials held a briefing for the US side.

According to Umerov, Ukrainian officials explicitly warned their American counterparts: Russia is preparing for a large-scale war, not only against Ukraine, but also against the North Atlantic Alliance.

“They presented the operational situation, assessed enemy plans, and informed about Russia’s preparations for a broader-scale war,” the minister states.

Umerov describes the conversation with Kellogg as “substantive and candid,” focusing on achieving a lasting and just peace. Key topics included continued defense support, joint defense projects, and the localization of air defense and drone production in Ukraine and Europe.

He also notes that Ukraine has a “unique combat experience, especially in the field of drones, and we are ready to share it,” with the US, adding that some of the defense projects could be financed using frozen Russian assets.

On 14 July, US President Donald Trump confirmed the conclusion of a new agreement with NATO that provides for the delivery of a powerful military aid package worth billions of dollars to Ukraine, UkrInform reports. 

According to the American leader, some of these systems would arrive within days. Countries that currently possess Patriot systems have agreed to send them to Ukraine in exchange for new US deliveries. Trump said the systems have a full set of batteries intended to bolster Ukraine’s air defense.

He emphasized that the weapons would be financed by NATO allies, not American taxpayers. 

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, for his part, reiterated that Ukraine seeks peace.

During his meeting with President Trump at the White House, he said it is vital to provide Ukraine with everything necessary to defend itself from Russia. He called the decision for Europeans to pay for Ukraine’s aid entirely logical.

Rutte added that the agreement is the result of the Alliance summit in The Hague, where NATO members committed to gradually increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP, continuing to support Ukraine, and expanding defense production.

He noted that NATO would now assess what Ukraine specifically needs so that the alliance can properly structure military aid packages. Ukraine will gain access to a wide array of weapons, including missile defense systems and ammunition.

In his view, the US president’s decision will allow weapons to reach Ukraine at an accelerated pace.

At the same time, Rutte remarked that in light of the latest news from Washington, if he were in Russian ruler Vladimir Putin’s place, he would reconsider his approach to negotiations with Ukraine.

The new agreement is the result of a series of talks following Trump’s disappointment over Russia’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire. He also threatened Russia with tough secondary tariffs if negotiations fail within 50 days. 

The US is ready to hit the Kremlin with tariffs if peace isn’t reached soon. President Donald Trump has announced that he will impose strict secondary tariffs on Russia and its allies if a peace agreement on Ukraine is not reached within the next 50 days, UNIAN reports. 

He believes the proposed 100% tariff restrictions could serve as a decisive lever of pressure on Moscow.

In addition, Washington will supply Ukraine with 17 Patriot air defense systems, some of which are expected to arrive within days. The countries that agreed to transfer the systems will receive replacements from the US The coordination of deliveries will be overseen by Matthew Whitaker, the US representative to NATO, in cooperation with the Alliance.

Trump has also agreed with the EU on a joint program to supply weapons to Ukraine. Production will remain US-based, but the financial burden will fall largely on EU countries.

The US president has also recognized the bravery of the Ukrainians resisting Russia’s massive strikes on a daily basis. According to Trump, Russia continues targeting civilian infrastructure, not just military targets, destroying cities, power grids, and residential areas, posing a long-term humanitarian crisis for Ukraine’s population.

He has also voiced disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin, from whom he had expected a readiness for a ceasefire two months ago. However, the Kremlin has continued its aggressive course, prompting the US to prepare a powerful economic response.

Earlier, reports emerged that Trump was considering providing Ukraine with powerful air-launched JASSM cruise missiles.

With a range of up to 370 km, a 450 kg warhead, and high-precision targeting, the JASSM could change the dynamics of Ukraine’s defense capabilities, especially amid Russia’s summer offensive.

The US is taking an unprecedented step to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses. President Donald Trump has announced that 17 Patriot surface-to-air missile systems will soon be transferred to Ukraine, RBC-Ukraine reports. 

Some of them are expected to arrive within days. He made the statement during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

According to Trump, the Patriot systems will be provided by a partner country that won’t be needing them, and the US is already arranging their rapid delivery.

Last week, the US president confirmed that Patriots would be sent to Kyiv and that European allies would cover their cost.

The announcement comes amid continued Russian attacks and could prove to be a key factor in reinforcing Ukraine’s air defense capabilities in the coming weeks. In June alone, Moscow launched 330 missiles and 5,000 drones on Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has documented 232 civilian deaths and 1,343 injuries the same month, marking the highest monthly casualty toll in three years as Russian forces launched ten times more missile strikes and drone attacks than in June 2024.

The surge demonstrates Moscow’s strategic shift toward terrorizing populations across practically every Ukrainian region as Russian military casualties exceed one million, forcing reliance on terror tactics against defenseless civilians rather than battlefield advances.

Earlier, reports emerged that Trump was considering providing Ukraine with powerful air-launched JASSM cruise missiles.

With a range of up to 370 km, a 450 kg warhead, and high-precision targeting, the JASSM could change the dynamics of Ukraine’s defense capabilities, especially amid Russia’s summer offensive.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering providing Ukraine with powerful air-launched JASSM cruise missiles, according to Military Watch Magazine.

These missiles, capable of being launched from F-16 fighter jets, would significantly boost Ukraine’s ability to strike strategic targets deep behind Russian lines.

With a range of up to 370 km, a 450 kg warhead, and high-precision targeting, the JASSM could change the dynamics of Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

Only four countries operate this advanced weapon system, including Poland, which purchased 110 JASSMs for its F-16s. The US had previously denied such exports to allies like South Korea, underscoring the technology’s sensitivity.

Trump has already expressed support for delivering Patriot air defense missiles to Kyiv and hinted at broader arms transfers. 

Today, the Russians are receiving reinforcements for the start of the second wave of their summer offensive. Moscow concentrated 100,000 troops in Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast from the overall 700,000-strong Russian grouping.

Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including most of Luhansk Oblast, two-thirds of Donetsk Oblast, and parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Oblasts. Moscow illegally declared the annexation of the four oblasts as Russian following sham referenda in late 2022, while not fully controlling them.

Ukraine is strengthening its alliance with the US amid escalating Russian attacks. On 14 July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Keith Kellogg, US presidential envoy, to discuss concrete steps toward peace, with a focus on enhancing air defense, expanding joint weapons production, and increasing sanctions pressure on Russia.

“We are grateful to the US president for all his messages and truly firm decisions to resume support. We’ve made some very positive decisions for both our countries,” Zelenskyy said.

The talks came against the backdrop of intensified Russian assaults, over 330 missiles, 5,000 drones, and 5,000 aerial bombs launched in June alone, making air defense a top priority during the meeting.

Key topics included:

• Strengthening Ukraine’s air defense systems
• Joint drone production
• Direct US purchases of Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles
• Joint weapons procurement with European partners

Zelensky also emphasized the importance of new US sanctions legislation, particularly the bipartisan bill by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, which has already gained support from more than 80 senators.

He thanked Keith Kellogg for his visit, US President Donald Trump, and the American people for their continued support.

Estonian troops have conducted their first live-fire exercise with HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems following four months of training, ERR reports.

Following the exercise, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, accused the Baltic states of “provocative actions.” He stated that Russia, as a Baltic state, will defend its interests in the region.

“Russia is a Baltic state that intends to firmly defend its legitimate interests in the region. The fact that many countries are engaging in provocative actions there is an obvious reality,” Peskov said.

Six HIMARS systems were ordered from the US after Naryshkin’s claims. They were officially delivered to the Estonian Defence Forces at the Ämari air base. The US-funded delivery is part of a broader security assistance package aimed at strengthening NATO’s eastern flank.

Lithuania and Latvia have also purchased HIMARS systems. Vilnius acquired eight launchers, while Riga signed an agreement to receive six systems by 2027, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The first live-fire drills took place on 11 July. According to the Estonian Defence Forces, the rockets were launched from the shores of Saaremaa island and hit sea targets 15 kilometers away in under a minute.

“In fact, we didn’t do much damage to the sea since these were training rounds without warheads. As for accuracy, I can say we can hit a bucket from a very long distance,” said Sergeant Margus Oras of the rocket artillery unit.

HIMARS systems are capable of launching precision-guided munitions that support integrated fire missions and can strike point or area targets at distances exceeding 300 kilometers.

The maximum firing range potentially allows Estonia to target areas near the Russian border, including in Russia’s Leningrad Oblast, New Voice reports. According to local reports, Estonia now not only has artillery forces but its own missile forces as well.

Dmytro Zhmailo, a Ukrainian expert and the Executive Director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, says Kyiv troops managed to stop the first wave of the Russian offensive. Currently, Moscow is trying to fulfill its main objective — the complete capture of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, UNIAN reports.

He notes that the second wave of Russian forces’ so-called summer offensive has just been launched. Although the Russians have had some successes in certain areas, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were able to repel the first wave of the offensive.

Zhmailo explains that the main reason for Russia’s advance near the Kostiantynivka settlement in Donetsk Oblast is the large concentration of Moscow’s units. About 100,000 troops from the overall 700,000-strong Russian grouping are concentrated there. Currently, the Russians are receiving reinforcements for the start of the second wave of the offensive.

However, according to him, the battle for Kostiantynivka has not yet begun. The city’s administration and police are still operating, although there is an ongoing humanitarian crisis with issues in water and electricity supply. Ukrainian troops hold positions in Chasiv Yar and on the outskirts of Toretsk, holding back the Russian occupiers’ rapid advance.

Moscow troops are focusing their most significant efforts along the Pokrovsk–Kostiantynivka highway, trying to “breakthrough” villages to get closer to the city. In the northern part of the region, activity has increased in the Lyman direction, with the prospect of reaching Sviatohirsk and squeezing the non-occupied territories of Donetsk.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov says Russia has created a unit called “Rubikon” to hunt Ukrainian drone operators. However, due to increased autonomy powered by artificial intelligence, Ukrainian operators can gradually be removed from the front lines, RBC reports.

He explains that the current task is to ensure maximum remote control of drones so that operators can manage them from any city in the country. The next step is to implement full drone autonomy.

Fedorov also notes that full drone autonomy requires significant development and investment, which may take years. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence technologies are already actively used in the military sphere for decoding images, target guidance, and operating FPV drones.

Ukraine is even launching a special grant program to develop military technologies based on artificial intelligence, which, according to the minister, will become “the future battlefield.”

Earlier, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi said that hoping for a return to the 1991 borders without a technological leap is pointless. He added that Kyiv could expect reaching victory only in the case of waging a high-tech war of survival, the one that uses minimal human resources and minimal economic means to achieve maximum effect.

The German conglomerate Rheinmetall expects orders worth up to 70 billion euros solely from the Bundeswehr. This concerns the delivery of up to 7,000 armored vehicles. The rapid growth is driven by Russia’s war against Ukraine, BILD reports. 

The new order includes Leopard 2 tanks, Puma infantry fighting vehicles, and Boxer armored personnel carriers, says Armin Papperger, the company’s CEO. 

To handle the volume, the conglomerate is building ten new factories, most of them in Germany. Rheinmetall plans to increase its workforce from 40,000 to 70,000 employees. The company is already valued higher than BMW or Mercedes-Benz and is second only to Lockheed Martin among Western defense companies by market capitalization.

“Our goal is to increase sales volume to 40–50 billion euros by 2030. This will be a tenfold increase compared to the pre-war 2021. We want to create jobs here, in Germany,” Papperger says.

Last week, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that its soldier began to use Rheinmetall’s Oerlikon Skynex short-range air defense (SHORAD) system against Russia’s Shahed drones, deploying the advanced cannon system to defend critical infrastructure. 

The German-supplied Skynex uses the Oerlikon Mk3 35-mm cannon with an effective range of 4,000 meters and a rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute. Each cannon is equipped with its own radar and electro-optical system, enabling precise targeting even against small drones.

Satellite imagery has confirmed a successful Ukrainian strike on the Krasnozavodsk Chemical Plant in Russia’s Moscow Oblast. The facility one of the key objects producing thermobaric munitions and explosive components for Shahed kamikaze drones.

The strike occurred on 7 July. Local residents reported loud explosions and a fire at the site. Ukraine’s General Staff later confirmed that units from the Drone Systems Forces, in coordination with other elements of the Defense Forces, carried out the attack.

According to the General Staff, the plant had been manufacturing not only flares, powder charges, thermal decoys, and gas generators, but also the thermobaric warheads used in drone strikes on Ukrainian cities.

The CyberBorosno project has analyzed satellite images and concluded that one of the plant’s production buildings, likely used for assembling explosive munitions, was hit.

The plant underwent modernization in 2017, expanding its capacity to produce thermobaric weapons for Russian security forces, including the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

On the same day, Russian air defense reportedly downed drones not only in Moscow Oblast, but also over many other oblasts. According to their data, 20 drones flew over Belgorod Oblast, 14 over Kursk, and nine over Lipetsk.

Eight were reported over both Bryansk and Voronezh oblasts, and seven over the Black Sea. Three drones each appeared over Novgorod, Tver, Tambov, and Leningrad oblasts. Two more were intercepted over Oryol Oblast, and one each over Vladimir Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, and occupied Crimea.

Germany will not transfer its Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine. However, instead, Berlin will finance the production of hundreds of similar systems capable of striking deep behind Russian lines, ZDF reports. 

The first of these weapons is expected to be delivered by the end of July, as part of a new defense initiative launched in May. Production is projected to reach “high triple digits,” says Major General Christian Freuding, head of the Ukraine support staff at Germany’s Ministry of Defense. 

The initiative is based on a contract between the Ukrainian industry and Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, with funding from Berlin. The program is expected to significantly enhance Ukraine’s air defense and missile capabilities in the coming months, according to UkrInform. 

The new weapon systems will be capable of penetrating deep into Russian territory, able to strike supply depots, command centers, airfields, and aircraft.

Additionally, Germany is involved in talks with the US on acquiring more Patriot systems for Ukraine. This topic will be discussed during German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s upcoming visit to Washington in July.

According to German representatives of Ukraine’s support team, the frontline situation remains extremely tense. Russian forces hold the initiative and are making slow but steady advances, inflicting casualties as Ukrainian troops focus on defensive operations.

Despite an escalation in the skies, Ukraine’s air defenses remain effective, intercepting around 80% of aerial targets. However, further air defense reinforcement is necessary to stabilize the front and protect cities.

Germany is working with partners to supply Ukraine with medium- and long-range air defense systems and is also helping develop new anti-drone technologies.

Kyiv has secured record-breaking aid at the latest international summit in Italy. During the fourth and largest Recovery Conference in Rome, Ukraine signed nearly 200 agreements and memorandums totaling €11 billion in support, says First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko.

“The Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome was the most extensive yet, both in terms of participants and the quality of agreements. Over 6,000 participants from 70 countries, around 200 agreements signed, worth approximately €11 billion,” Svyrydenko states.

One key outcome was the launch of the largest European investment fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction, with four countries and major European development banks pledging support.

Under the Ukraine Investment Framework, a new aid package worth over €2 billion was announced. The Netherlands committed an additional €500 million over 10 years, while Switzerland pledged close to €5 billion in assistance.

Defense industry cooperation was also a central focus of the summit, with discussions on localizing production, creating joint ventures, and sharing technologies.

Among the major industrial initiatives:

• NovaSklo signed an agreement to build a float glass plant
• Bila Tserkva industrial park will launch a new factory in cooperation with the Italian company Gualapack
• The Ukrainian Ministry of Economy signed a €188 million agreement with UNIDO for joint ventures with Japan

Ukraine also focused on new employment programs for women, initiatives to support female entrepreneurship, and commitments to modernize labor legislation.

The conference took place amid an escalation of Russian attacks on Ukraine. Recently, Moscow began launching over 700 drones in a single night, targeting Ukrainian cities. Therefore, the focus of the conference extended beyond reconstruction and included defense. 

Ukraine is working on solutions against Russian missiles that were considered unstoppable. Pavlo Palisa, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, says Kyiv is developing its own surface-to-air missile systems for shooting down any Russian targets, including aeroballistic and hypersonic missiles, Report.az writes. 

Palisa also says that about 50% of the weaponry Ukraine needs for ongoing defense during the full-scale war initiated by Russia is produced domestically, either independently or jointly with partner countries.

“We are ready to continue increasing these volumes. I am confident that Ukraine will surprise the world soon, and not just once,” he explains. 

The Ukrainian official emphasizes that Kyiv continues to work on airspace defense systems with varying ranges. According to him, this would guarantee protection of Ukrainian territory from Russian aerial terror, whether from strike drones, ballistic, or cruise missiles.

“We already have many technological solutions nearing completion, and we will see them in operation soon. Some solutions have already passed successful combat tests and were used to accomplish real missions against the enemy’s cunning tactics,” he concludes.

Recently, Ukraine has begun serial production of its new ballistic missile, Sapsan. It has already proven effective in combat by striking a Russian military target nearly 300 km from launch.

During recent tests, the missile reached a velocity of 5.2 Mach (approx. 6,370 km/h), significantly faster than the American ATACMS (Mach 3) and nearly on par with Russia’s Iskander-M (Mach 6).

Technology is Ukraine’s chance to win the war. This is why we’re launching the David vs. Goliath defense blog to support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support. Together, we can give David the best fighting chance he has.

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Moscow is turning occupied Ukrainian cities into military bases for further aggression. In Mariupol, captured in 2022, Russian forces have established two military bases at the Azovstal steel plant, according to Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation, UNIAN reports. 

According to Andriushchenko, one of the new bases was established in the last two months.

“This shows the level of militarization of Mariupol. Russian forces are relocating military assets mainly from Russia’s Rostov Oblast. Mariupol is no longer just a logistical crossroads. It is becoming a full-scale military logistics base,” he reveals. 

Andriushchenko says that each base at Azovstal originated from simple military checkpoints set up on the site.

He explains the location was chosen because it is hidden from outside surveillance, with no nearby residential buildings and difficult access due to fencing, making it safer for Russian troops.

“Let’s not forget that these bunkers and underground shelters once served to protect civilians and our Mariupol garrison. Now the Russians are repurposing them and succeeding in it,” Andriushchenko adds.

The Russian authorities do not care about the fate of the occupied cities or their residents. What matters to them is using these territories as staging grounds for continuing the war against Ukraine.

Nearly all Ukrainian cities under occupation are being turned into military footholds, logistical hubs, and bases for further aggression. At the same time, Russians forcibly conscript Ukrainians, often coercing them into fighting against their own country.

For example, in Crimea, people are leaving due to constant air raid sirens, explosions, and the overwhelming military presence, unable to endure the unrelenting stress and danger.

Russians in Crimea pack up as relentless sound of air alerts and sight of tanks become their new reality

Skyeton, the Ukrainian developer of the well-known long-range Raybird unmanned aerial vehicles, which have logged over 350,000 hours of combat flights, has become a target of technological espionage by unscrupulous European companies, The Telegraph reports. 

Roman Kniazhenko, the company’s CEO, reveals this. According to him, Western manufacturers visit “as guests” with alleged proposals for cooperation, but instead they are trying to steal production secrets. 

“Then they do beautiful pitch books, beautiful presentations about how they’re operating in Ukraine. But actually they’ve done just a couple of flights in Lviv [the western city more than 1,000km from the front line],” he says. 

Sometimes, Kniazhenko continues, he sees in their presentations, “literally my own words, without any change.”

He also emphasizes that while Ukrainian drones withstand real combat conditions, taking off even from puddles, European governments are spending billions on products that merely simulate combat effectiveness. 

“The big problem, after that, is that billions of dollars go to the companies that still don’t have any idea what they’re doing,” says Kniazhenko. 

Meanwhile, the Skyeton team, currently 500 people strong, works 24/7 developing drones for the toughest frontline conditions.

One example of its effectiveness was an operation in the Black Sea: Ukrainian special forces went missing at night, and a Raybird, with its lights on, was able to locate them in the dark waters.

“From one side, everything looks perfect for us. But it was like hell, a night of hell. When you are destroying something you feel good for a couple seconds. But when you know that you saved someone. Like, it’s a totally different feeling,” explains Kniazhenko. 

He also urges the West to fund the production of Ukrainian drones on its territory instead of starting a startup from scratch. Every country has the technologies it is good at, he stresses, adding that for Ukraine, it is clear that it is drones. 

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While Moscow is busy relentlessly attacking Ukraine, gas pipelines are blowing up inside Russia itself. According to Ukrainian Defense Intelligence sources, a powerful explosion occurred in the city of Langepas, located in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, damaging a major section of a large trunk gas pipeline, UNIAN reports. 

This pipeline supplied gas to Russia’s defense industry facilities in the Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, and Sverdlovsk oblasts. The destroyed section had an annual throughput capacity of 2.6 billion cubic meters.

“With the price of 1,000 cubic meters of gas at around $350, the immediate damage alone amounts to at least $1.3 million,” the source emphasizes.

At the time of the explosion, about 4.1 million cubic meters of gas were flowing through the pipeline. Due to the difficult, swampy terrain, repairs will take at least a month. This will temporarily reduce supply by 25 million cubic meters, potentially leading to indirect losses of up to $76 million.

Local media writes that residents were “deeply concerned” by the “powerful bangs.” Emergency crews and repair teams quickly arrived at the scene.

Ukrainian intelligence reminds that “Western Siberia feeds Moscow,” but Siberians are dying on the front lines for the Kremlin’s interests.

“When locals begin to actively demand their own independence… such ‘mysterious explosions’ will stop,” the source notes.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence identified dozens of Russian companies involved in producing the missile, most of which remain unsanctioned.

Its War & Sanctions platform published a list of over 70 Russian companies manufacturing Kh-101 components. These companies still have access to Western equipment and technology, enabling Russia to replenish its missile stockpiles and continue targeting civilian infrastructure.

As wars around the world have depleted American stockpiles, South Korea has become a key weapons supplier to US allies in Europe, CNN reports. 

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals that South Korea has become the world’s 10th largest arms exporter over the past five years.

The main importer of South Korean weapons is Poland, a country on NATO’s eastern flank that is actively preparing for war with Russia.

Recently, Warsaw finalized a deal to acquire a second batch of 180 South Korean tanks, part of a 2022 agreement that will ultimately allow Poland to expand its arsenal to nearly 1,000 armored vehicles.

The deal is valued at $6.7 billion and includes 80 support vehicles, ammunition, logistics, and training packages for the Polish army.

The agreement covers K2 main battle tanks, considered among the most powerful in the world. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration says it includes the tanks’ production by defense giant Hyundai Rotem and the establishment of a production line in Poland for the Polish variant, K2PL.

The overall framework deal is considered the largest in South Korea’s defense industry history. The new armored vehicles will partially replace Soviet-era tanks that Poland has sent to Ukraine for use in the war against Russia. Poland has transferred over 300 tanks, more than 350 infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.

As a NATO member bordering Ukraine, Poland is viewed as part of the Alliance’s first line of defense should Russian leader Vladimir Putin choose to expand his aggression beyond Ukraine.

According to a report by the Wilson Center, Poland has arguably become the most capable military power in Europe.

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 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.

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.

Technology is Ukraine’s chance to win the war. This is why we’re launching the David vs. Goliath defense blog to support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support. Together, we can give David the best fighting chance he has.

Join us in building this platform—become a Euromaidan Press Patron. As little as $5 monthly will boost strategic innovations that could succeed where traditional approaches have failed.

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. 

Denmark’s Minister of Economy, Stefanie Lose, announced that aid to Ukraine will continue beyond 2026. The European Union is already discussing financial support for Ukraine beyond that year, as the situation with Russian aggression remains extremely challenging, UkrInform reports. 

Lose says that the funding will be available until 2026, but she understands resources will be needed for the next period.

Commenting on the informal dinner of EU ministers of economy and finance held on Monday ahead of the EU Council meeting, where financial aid for Ukraine beyond 2026 was discussed, the official stated there was a “very good discussion” during which the parties explored “options under which Ukraine can receive everything it needs.”

The official highlights that strong solidarity with Ukraine exists within the European family and that aid will remain “at the very top of the agenda” throughout Denmark’s presidency.

Meanwhile, the European Commission is urgently discussing with the EU and G7 countries how to prevent a major financial shortfall in Ukraine in 2025. The projected gap in external funding could reach $19 billion, amid declining US support and no immediate prospects for a peace deal with Russia.

In 2024, Denmark introduced a unique military support mechanism for Ukraine — the Danish model. It involves direct funding and procurement of weapons from Ukrainian domestic defense enterprises. This approach strengthens Ukraine’s defense industry and provides the Armed Forces with modern NATO-standard equipment.

The Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and the head of Afghanistan’s Supreme Court, Abdul Hakim Haqqani.

The Court found reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals are responsible for crimes against humanity on gender- and politically based grounds, including the persecution of girls, women, and anyone who did not conform to Taliban policies on gender, identity, or expression.

According to the ICC, the Taliban’s crimes have continued from 15 August 2021, when they seized power, through at least January 2025.

The report outlines killings, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and systematic deprivation of women’s rights, including rights to education, freedom of movement, privacy, and freedom of speech.

On 17 March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is suspected of committing a war crime, namely, the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia.

Brazil won’t shield Putin from ICC arrest — so he’ll zoom into the BRICS summit

This international legal document restricts his international travel due to the risk of arrest in countries that recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction.

On 8 July, Russia officially declared Yale University, one of the most renowned universities in the world, an “undesirable organization” on its territory. Its lab tracked more than 30,000 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia and provided the data to Ukrainian and US government authorities, Current Time reports.

Following this designation, any cooperation with Yale University in Russia is prohibited, and individuals face criminal liability for violations.

According to a statement by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, Yale’s activities are allegedly aimed at violating its territorial integrity, contributing to the international blockade of the state, and undermining its economy.

The statement also specifically mentioned Yale’s School of Global Affairs, which, according to Russian authorities, “trains opposition leaders of foreign countries.”

A likely reason for such a move is the investigative work of Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab, which had been gathering evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 

The university’s team provided their findings to Ukrainian authorities through the Bring Kids Back UA campaign, a humanitarian program initiated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The campaign focuses on returning minors to Ukraine, reintegration efforts, and documenting crimes for potential prosecution at the International Criminal Court.

The Yale researchers not only tracked deported children but also documented other alleged Russian crimes, including filtration camps, forced Russian citizenship, re-education camps for minors, and the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russian families.

However, as of 1 July 2025, the lab ceased operations following cuts in federal funding by the administration of US President Donald Trump. 

After US President Donald Trump announced new arms shipments to Ukraine, Moscow dismissed his stance on the war as “political swings.” This comment came from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

“The American is once again riding his favorite political swings: ‘I’m satisfied with the conversation with Putin.’ ‘I’m disappointed with the conversation with Putin.’ ‘We’re not supplying new weapons to Ukraine.’ ‘We will supply lots of weapons to Ukraine for defense.’ How should we respond? As always — not at all,” Medvedev wrote on social media.

He added that not only Russian soldiers, but also the “Supreme Commander-in-Chief,” referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, treat Trump’s words the same way — with complete disregard.

At the same time, Medvedev called to “take back our land” and “work for victory,” without clarifying that these Ukrainian territories never belonged to Russia and therefore cannot be “taken back.” Under international law, Russia’s actions are considered armed aggression and occupation.

Earlier, Trump publicly criticized Medvedev over his hints about the possibility of other countries transferring nuclear weapons to Iran, reminding him of the risk of such words.

Later, Medvedev clarified that Russia would not transfer nuclear weapons to Iran, although, in his opinion, other countries might do so. Such statements showed Moscow adopted a cautious stance toward the US to avoid further economic damage and the reinforcement of Western support to Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the future of the EU’s policy toward China will depend on Beijing’s involvement in supporting Russia’s war economy, UkrInform reports.

Von der Leyen has stressed that China’s support for Moscow is contributing to a “high level of instability and danger for Europe,” and that Beijing is de facto enabling the growth of Russia’s military-industrial base, a trend the EU “cannot accept.”

She also called on China to clearly condemn Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and internationally recognized borders, and to act accordingly.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has imposed sanctions on five Chinese companies involved in supplying components used in Russian drone production.

The restrictions have been approved after investigations revealed that Chinese-made parts were found in Shahed drones used in the massive airstrike on Kyiv on 4 July.

Among the sanctioned firms are:

• Ningbo BLIN Machinery Co., Ltd
• Suzhou ECOD Precision Manufacturing

Both reportedly supplied goods to Russian entities under sanctions in 2024 and 2025.

Russia is heavily dependent on supplies of Chinese components for both tactical and long-range drones. This allows Moscow to narrow the technological and production gap with Ukraine in the drone sector.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence had identified dozens of Russian companies involved in producing the missile, most of which remain unsanctioned.

HUR: West still has not sanctioned 70 Russian companies behind production of missiles that struck Kyiv’s largest children’s cancer hospital year ago

Its War & Sanctions platform has published a list of over 70 Russian companies manufacturing Kh-101 components. These companies still have access to Western equipment and technology, enabling Russia to replenish its missile stockpiles and continue targeting civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the international community to hold Russia accountable for its missile strike on the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital. It is the only hospital in Ukraine treating childhood cancer with radiation therapy. 

The ministry has described the assault as one of the Kremlin’s most horrific war crimes since the start of Russia’s all-out war.

“One year has passed. Yet Russia has not been held accountable for this crime against the most vulnerable – children. The world must not look away,” the agency said in a statement.

On the day of the attack, 627 children, including cancer patients undergoing dialysis, were inside the hospital. The missile hit the toxicology building, killing two doctors, injuring at least eight children, and forcing the evacuation of 94 patients to other hospitals. A young boy later died in an intensive care unit during the strike. 

Investigations by Ukraine’s Security Service and international experts, including Bellingcat, confirmed that the hospital was hit by a Russian Kh-101 strategic cruise missile.

Forensic experts identify over 30 parts of Russian Kh-101 missile that hit Okhmatdyt hospital

The agency has identified dozens of Russian companies involved in producing the missile, most of which remain unsanctioned.

Its War & Sanctions platform has published a list of over 70 Russian companies manufacturing Kh-101 components. These companies still have access to Western equipment and technology, enabling Russia to replenish its missile stockpiles and continue targeting civilian infrastructure.

Just last month, a Russian Kh-101 missile destroyed an apartment building in Kyiv, killing and injuring civilians.

The Ukrainian Military Intelligence has identified Russian Major Denis Sheynov as responsible for the 8 July 2024 missile strike on Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, where more than 600 children, including cancer patients, were present at the time of the attack.

This is not the first time Russia has launched strikes immediately following peace talks with international leaders — a pattern of demonstrative terror.

“Major Sheynov was responsible for the technical preparation of Kh-101 cruise missiles for combat use by strategic aviation,” Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) states.

The missile hit the toxicology building, completely destroying the oncology, surgical, and intensive care units, and leaving Ukraine’s only pediatric radiotherapy department without electricity, water, or oxygen. Two adults, including a doctor, were killed. Over 50 people, including children, were injured.

Sheynov, born on 30 January 1978, in Saratov, is a graduate of the Saratov Military School, served in Syria, and was decorated for “special operations.” According to HUR, he performed special missions in Syria in 2018.

Russia, as a terrorist state, systematically uses violence against civilians as part of its military strategy, both in Ukraine and earlier in Syria, where Russian airstrikes devastated cities like Aleppo, Homs, and Ariha.

These bombings targeted residential areas, hospitals, markets, and infrastructure, killing thousands and causing a humanitarian catastrophe. Russia also used internationally banned weapons, including cluster bombs and chemical agents, reinforcing its willingness to destroy civilian life to achieve military goals.

Okhmatdyt was Ukraine’s only hospital treating childhood cancer with radiation therapy. Its destruction is a devastating blow to pediatric oncology during wartime.

Ukraine responds to Russia’s escalation with deep-strike counterattacks. As Russia tries to stretch the front and break Ukrainian defenses, Ukrainian forces are hitting back hard: in June alone, Ukrainian artillery completed 115 fire missions, striking 2,864 targets, says Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The priority for June was stabilizing the frontline and holding off Russian offensives in Donetsk and Sumy oblasts, where Moscow has concentrated its main strike forces.

“Unfortunately, the enemy holds a significant advantage in manpower and equipment,” Syrskyi admits.

He notes that Russia has increased its use of drones and missiles by 1.6 times. In response, Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck around 4,000 targets, including inside Russian territory.

“We are forced to seek new tactical and technological solutions,” the general emphasizes.

Key Ukrainian priorities now include developing air defense, expanding drone strike capabilities, modernizing equipment, and reforming mobilization and recruitment.

Amid unstable international support, Ukraine is pursuing alternative arms supply routes, expanding repair capacities, and embracing asymmetric tactics to disrupt Russia’s summer offensive.

Earlier, Euromaidan Press reported that Kyiv started producing 200,000 drones per month, a tenfold increase compared to 2024. 

The European Commission is urgently discussing with EU and G7 countries how to prevent a major financial shortfall in Ukraine in 2025, the Financial Times reports. The projected gap in external funding could reach $19 billion, amid declining US support and no immediate prospects for a peace deal with Russia.

Among the solutions under consideration:

• allocating off-budget defense grants to Ukraine,
• providing loans under the G7’s $50 billion scheme,
• continued use of profits from frozen Russian assets,
• reinvesting those assets into higher-risk instruments with shared responsibility.

The European Commission admits that some Ukrainian support spending has already been adjusted, given the prolonged nature of the war. Diplomats emphasize that funding Ukraine’s defense should be seen as part of the EU’s own security investment.

“Clearly the military support for Ukraine that member states are giving are not only funds for the defense of Ukraine but for the defense of Europe, and some of that of course will count as defense spending,” says one senior EU diplomat.

One proposal submitted by Ukraine to the G7 suggests that bilateral defense grants could count toward NATO defense spending commitments. This would allow allies to simultaneously support Ukraine and move closer to meeting the 2% or even 5% GDP targets.

Despite more optimistic assessments from the IMF, the fund acknowledges that the deficit could grow if the war continues beyond 2025. In 2026 alone, Ukraine may require at least another $8 billion, even considering deferred tranches from the EU, US, and Japan.

The urgency is intensifying ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Summit in Rome this week, where Ursula von der Leyen will participate. Meanwhile, the European Commission is preparing to unveil new financial initiatives to support Kyiv before winter sets in.

After several days of talks with advisors and European leaders, US President Donald Trump has agreed to resume arms deliveries to Ukraine, but at a significantly reduced scale. According to two sources, Trump pledged to send just ten Patriot interceptor missiles immediately, instead of the full shipment that had previously been suspended, Axios reports.

The decision represents a compromise between internal skepticism within the administration and international pressure. Trump has also initiated talks with Germany, proposing that Berlin sell one of its own Patriot batteries to Ukraine, with costs shared between the US and European allies.

However, Germany has so far declined, insisting it has already delivered more Patriots to Ukraine proportionally than even the US.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump’s advisors are also exploring Patriot purchases from Greece. 

“Getting a Patriot missile isn’t like going to Walmart and picking 10 off the shelf and going home,” says one of Trump’s advisers.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, in Rome this week. Kyiv hopes to gain clarity on the volume and timing of future US military aid.

Earlier, Trump reportedly told Zelenskyy in a phone call on 4 July that he wasn’t responsible for the pause in US weapons deliveries to Ukraine. The American president blamed the Pentagon and said he never gave an order to freeze military aid.

The pause in weapon deliveries amid the escalated Russian air and ground attacks in Ukraine surprised Kyiv, the State Department, and members of Congress. Patriot interceptors, AIM-120 and Hellfire missiles, GMLRS munitions, howitzer rounds, Stingers, and grenade launchers are among halted weapons, approved during former Joe Biden’s administration. 

Ukraine is now producing 200,000 drones per month — the new reality of its war effort. Drone manufacturing in Ukraine has surged by 900% over the past year, reports Defense Express.

Analytical centers, such as the Atlantic Council and Georgetown Security Studies Review, say that this rapid growth is only the first stage.

The drone sector has become a key response to Russian aggression, with monthly output rising from 20,000 to over 200,000 units in just one year.

To bolster its defense potential, Ukraine must establish long‑term investment mechanisms and more actively protect its technologies with patents.

Experts note that Ukraine currently files fewer patents for drone technologies than Russia or other countries, limiting its innovative defense industry prospects. Intellectual property protection, they say, is “an integral part of national security.”

Although the study covers primarily 2022–2023 data, Defense Express confirms that the lack of long‑term contracts and support mechanisms remains a pressing issue for many Ukrainian defense firms.

After a Ukrainian drone strike, Russia plunges into aviation chaos and loses a minister. The country is still grappling with widespread flight delays and cancellations following a massive attack on the night of 5 July, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. 

By 7 June, nearly 2,000 flights have been delayed, over 500 have been canceled, and at least 88 aircraft have been diverted to alternate airports.

Major hubs were hardest hit, including Moscow’s Sheremetyevo, St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo, and Chkalov Airport in Nizhny Novgorod.

While Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency claimed “normalization” by the morning of 7 July, dozens of flights remained disrupted.

Sheremetyevo saw over 40 delayed flights, while Pulkovo faced delays on more than 100 routes and at least eight cancellations. Similar disruptions occurred in Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg. Russian media estimate financial damages from the air traffic meltdown to exceed 20 billion rubles.

Amid the chaos came a bombshell: Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead just hours after being fired by Russian President Vladimir Putin. His sacking was linked to the air transport collapse following the drone strikes, according to UNIAN. 

According to early reports from Russian Telegram channels, Starovoit died as a result of suicide, allegedly shooting himself in his car with an award pistol received in 2023.

While aviation failures were cited as the reason for his dismissal, other reports suggest he faced imminent criminal charges related to the alleged embezzlement of funds intended for building fortifications in Kursk Oblast, which he previously governed.

One of his former deputies is already implicated and is believed to have testified against him.

Moscow and Budapest may be preparing for the “protection of citizens” in Ukraine. Russia is seeking to join efforts with Hungary to “save” national minorities in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Magyar Nemzet in an interview.

Lavrov reiterated Kremlin narratives about the alleged persecution of the Russians in Ukraine. According to him, they were “banned from using the Russian language in education, science, culture, media, advertising, public services, and even in daily life.”

There are no laws in Ukraine that explicitly ban the Russian language, Russian culture, or the very existence of Russia as a country.

At the same time, 82% of Russian-speaking Ukrainians hold a negative view of Russia. Among them, 81.5% trust the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 

Meanwhile, Lavrov claimed that members of other national minorities have been forcibly Ukrainianized.

“Other ethnic groups, Hungarians, Romanians, Poles, Bulgarians, Armenians, Belarusians, Greeks, also faced forced Ukrainianization. Today, Russia and Hungary are openly standing up to defend their compatriots. We can combine our efforts in this regard,” said Lavrov.

It’s worth noting that Hungary frequently blocks or slows down European initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine or tightening sanctions against Russia.

Budapest sharply criticizes Ukrainian language and education laws, citing alleged violations of the rights of the Hungarian minority in neighboring Zakarpattia Oblast of Ukraine. 

Moreover, Hungary’s government is obstructing the start of Ukraine’s EU accession talks. In June 2025, the Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, held a so-called “national referendum” on Ukraine’s accession to the bloc. According to official government data, more than 2.2 million people (around 29% of voters) participated, with 95% voting against Ukraine joining the EU.

Although the referendum has no legal force, Orbán used its results as a political tool to block Ukraine’s further progress toward EU membership, HVG reports. 

During the referendum, Hungarian citizens received anti-Ukrainian leaflets alongside their ballots, claiming that Ukraine’s EU membership would threaten pensions, cause epidemics, flood Hungary’s market with cheap and low-quality Ukrainian agricultural products, bring Ukrainian organized crime, and allow mass Ukrainian migration that would take jobs from Hungarians.

Russian occupiers have appropriated 110 cultural artifacts discovered during illegal archaeological excavations in occupied Crimea between 2014 and 2025, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence reports.

Details about the stolen items have been published in the Stolen Heritage section of the War&Sanctions portal. The website was launched to expose and document individuals, companies, and entities that support or facilitate Russian aggression against Ukraine. 

“The artifacts were uncovered by the occupiers during unauthorized digs at archaeological sites such as the Artezian Settlement, Genoese Fortress of Chembalo, and the Southern Suburb of Chersonesus Taurica,” the report states.

Among the stolen findings are cultural items from the Kadykivske settlement, the site of a Roman military camp where the occupation authorities in Sevastopol are planning to build a shopping mall. Additionally, some of the stolen artifacts were removed from the National Preserve of Chersonesus Taurica.

“The portal section has been updated with details on the locations of illegal digs, theft of cultural heritage, and other unlawful actions by the Russian occupation regime in Crimea,” Ukraine’s military intelligence adds.

The agency emphasizes that each war crime committed against the Ukrainian people will be justly punished.

A Canadian-made armored vehicle from the Roshel company withstood a direct hit from a Russian FPV drone, saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. 

The National Guard’s Special Purpose Center OMEGA has released video footage from a soldier’s body camera capturing the aftermath of the strike. According to the report, the drone attacked the soldiers as they were heading to carry out a combat mission.

“The entire team was at the epicenter of the explosion. Fortunately, all of the special forces soldiers survived. After a successful evacuation, fighters from the 5th Special Purpose Detachment ‘OMEGA’ completed their mission,” the National Guard states.

The unit added that these images should serve as a reminder of the extreme conditions Ukrainian special forces face daily on the frontline.

Earlier, Ukrainian forces launched a successful maritime drone strike, destroying a high-value Russian Nebo-M radar complex near the village of Mayak on northwestern Crimea’s Tarkhankut Cape. 

This marked the first known instance of Ukrainian naval drones deploying munition-carrying quadcopters mid-mission, expanding the offensive utility of these platforms beyond carrying FPV kamikaze drones.

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