A new Russian drone built to deceive Ukrainian air defenses has been exposed by Ukraine’s intelligence as being made entirely from Chinese components. Militarnyi reports that the aircraft, though intended primarily as a decoy, is capable of carrying a 15-kg warhead.

Drone mimics Shahed shape but is smaller and Chinese-made

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate has published a detailed breakdown of the drone’s construction. Although its main function is to act as a false target alongside long-range drones, it can also carry a warhead weighing up to 15 kg.

The complete list of components has been published on the War&Sanctions portal. The Website identify the drone as TsBST.611000.

All onboard systems and electronic blocks are of Chinese origin. Nearly half of them — including the flight controller with autopilot, navigation modules and antennas, airspeed sensor, and Pitot tube — come from a single Chinese company, CUAV Technology. The company specializes in developing and producing UAV system modules and applications.

Banned CUAV tech still shows up in new Russian UAV

The UAV is also equipped with a Chinese-made copy of the Australian RFD900x data transmission module by RFDesign. Like the original, this device is designed to transmit data over long distances — up to 40 km in line of sight depending on the antenna. It enables data links from the drone to a ground station or from one UAV to another, expanding reconnaissance capabilities.

In October 2022, CUAV Technology announced restrictions on supplying its products to both Ukraine and Russia to prevent their use in military applications. However, in 2023, Russia presented a vertical takeoff drone as an original development, which turned out to be a CUAV product available on Aliexpress.

A suspected Russian spy in Ukraine’s national anti-graft bureau was arrested in Kyiv after security officials accused him of leaking restricted data to Russian intelligence via a traitor tied to fugitive ex-president Viktor Yanukovych. Liga reports that the Shevchenkivskyi District Court in Kyiv ordered the officer’s pretrial detention without bail until 20 September.

Anti-graft bureau officer suspected of spying for Russia

Liga, citing a law enforcement source, reports that the arrested individual is Viktor Husarov, an officer from the D-2 closed unit within the central office of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). He was detained by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on 21 July.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the suspect allegedly carried out espionage on behalf of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Investigators claim he passed information about Ukrainian law enforcement officials and civilians to Russian intelligence through an intermediary. That intermediary, the office said, was Dmytro Ivantsov — a known traitor and former deputy head of personal security for Yanukovych, who assisted the former president’s escape to Russia in February 2014.

The Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed that at least 60 episodes of transmitting restricted information had been documented.

“For each such transmission, the NABU officer received funds to his bank card,” prosecutors added.

The officer has been officially charged with state treason and unauthorized actions involving restricted information committed by a person with authorized access.

SBU operation aimed to neutralize Russian penetration of NABU

On 21 July, the SBU and the Prosecutor General’s Office announced the launch of a special operation to disrupt Russian infiltration within NABU. The agencies stated they had detained a staff member of the central apparatus of NABU suspected of spying for Russia.

NABU said that it had earlier received a warning in August 2023 from SBU leadership about potential risks involving the suspect. The agency said it initiated an internal interview process to evaluate possible disciplinary action or dismissal. However, according to NABU, the SBU advised it not to proceed in order to avoid interfering with an ongoing counterintelligence operation targeting other individuals connected to the traitor.

Ukrainian forces used long-range precision fire to degrade Russia’s ability to monitor and defend Belgorod Oblast’s airspace. The Ukrainian General Staff shared footage of the strike, which reportedly hit three key components of Russia’s air defense grid on 20 July. The targeted equipment included an S-300P surface-to-air missile launcher and two radars.

Ukrainian strike hits missile and radar systems near the border

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says Ukrainians successfully struck a Russian S-300P surface-to-air missile launcher. The report stated that this significantly reduced Russia’s long-range air defense coverage in the region. The General Staff says the attack also hit a Nebo-M radar system. Additionally, the General Staff said that the attack degraded operational capacity of a nearby 5N66M “Big Bird” over-the-horizon radar station.

The General Staff therefore stated that “such coordinated strikes represent a substantial blow to the Russian Federation’s air defense network, diminishing its ability to protect its forces and infrastructure, and enabling continued Ukrainian operations.”

The General Staff did not specify which weapons were used in the attack. A short video clip released with the announcement showed two relatively small explosions, suggesting the use of a GMLRS rockets.

Strike supports Ukrainian military efforts to reduce Russian offensive capability

The General Staff emphasized that weakening these systems directly supports efforts “to reduce Russia’s capacity to wage its war of aggression and its continued targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure inside of Ukraine.”

“The Defense Forces will persist in conducting operations to undermine the critical systems and enablers supporting Russia’s war machine,” the General Staff stated.

The Netherlands has pledged a new round of Patriot air defense for Ukraine amid intensified Russian missile and drone attacks. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans made the announcement on 21 July during a digital meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Meanwhile, Germany has not received confirmation from the US about when it will deliver the Patriot systems Berlin needs to proceed with its own transfer to Ukraine.

Netherlands announces new Patriot air defense support

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans posted on X on 21 July that the Netherlands will “substantially contribute” to the delivery of US Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine. He added that the Netherlands will also send more of its own equipment, including F-16 munitions, counter-drone systems, and radars. The Dutch Defense Ministry confirmed the same day in an official statement that the country aims to support the American initiative to bolster Ukrainian air defense.

“The Russian goal is simple: to bring steadfast Ukrainians to their knees. We must not let this happen,” he said. He stressed that sustained and large-scale support is necessary to pressure Russia toward negotiations, adding, “Only by persistently and massively supporting Ukraine and increasing the pressure on Russia can we push it to the negotiating table.”

The new commitment, being finalized in close coordination with the US, NATO, and other partners, will include additional air defense assets.

US has not confirmed Patriot replacement delivery to Germany

As the Netherlands moves forward, Germany’s planned Patriot transfer to Ukraine remains frozen due to US inaction.

Ukrinform reported on 21 July that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin has yet to receive confirmation from the US on when it will provide replacement Patriot systems. Without that timeline, Germany cannot move ahead with its contribution.

“There is a general promise from the American government to provide us, Germany and the European Union, with Patriots so we can transfer the designated systems to Ukraine. But that replacement has not actually been secured yet,” Merz stated during a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Berlin, according to Ukrinform.

Merz confirmed that negotiations between Berlin and Washington are ongoing.

A fire at a Russian military-linked refinery broke out overnight on 22 July after Ukrainian drones targeted industrial sites in Russia’s Samara Oblast about 1,000 km from Ukraine. The targeted facility was the Novokuybyshevsk Petrochemical Company, one of Russia’s largest producers in the petrochemical and organic synthesis sectors. The facility plays a role in Russia’s weapons production by supplying raw materials used in artillery shells, aviation bombs, and other munitions.

Ukrainian drones hit explosives-linked chemical plant in Samara

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported that the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces’ attack targeted the Novokuybyshevsk Petrochemical Company, which operates facilities producing chemicals such as benzene, acetone, phenol, and olefins. The Russian news Telegram channel Astra confirmed that drones hit the Novokuybyshevsk refinery, a Rosneft-owned site producing over 20 fuel types, including high-grade jet fuel and automotive oils.

Astra said that following the strike, a fire broke out at the facility and was later extinguished. Samara Oblast authorities acknowledged an attempted attack and claimed that several drones were shot down, while also imposing temporary mobile internet restrictions to assist military efforts in countering UAVs.

Drones target Russian airbase used for Shahed launches

Late on 21 July, Astra reported drone strikes on the Millerovo military airfield in Rostov Oblast. The airbase is frequently used to launch Shahed-type drones toward Ukrainian territory. The Iranian-designed Shahed drones can carry up to 90 kg of explosives, and Russia has been widely using them in its daily attacks against Ukrainian civilians.

A major shift in battlefield momentum is the only lever that could move the Kremlin, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assesses. The think tank’s report on 21 July says only severe Russian military setbacks, enabled by Western-supplied weaponry, could push Russian President Vladimir Putin toward serious negotiations.

Putin won’t talk peace without battlefield collapse

British Defense Secretary John Healey, speaking at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on 21 July, announced a “50-day drive” to accelerate arms deliveries to Ukraine. He stressed the urgency of the effort, pointing to US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose “severe” 100% secondary tariffs on Russia’s trade partners if a peace deal isn’t reached within 50 days from 14 July.

ISW reaffirmed that “ISW has consistently assessed that only significant Russian battlefield setbacks, enabled by timely and sufficient Western military assistance to Ukrainian forces, will force Putin to reconsider Russia’s ability to militarily defeat Ukraine and bring him to the negotiating table.”

However, such setbacks “will not happen in a matter of weeks and will likely require several months or campaign seasons” — but only if Western governments provide Ukrainian forces with timely and adequate support for large-scale operations.

Ukraine expands defense production to meet the moment

Ukraine aims to scale up weapons production and can absorb $6 billion in investment, officials said, emphasizing the need to boost output of FPV and interceptor drones.

Procurement chief Zhumadilov said contracts were signed with Ukrainian and US firms to build counter-Shahed drone systems. Ukraine can produce up to 10 million FPV drones annually, though next year’s procurement may not exceed 4.5 million due to funding limits.

New round of negotiations still clouded by Kremlin stalling

Ukraine has proposed a third round of peace talks in Istanbul, with discussions possibly starting as soon as 22 July. Russia confirmed the offer through TASS, suggesting 24 or 25 July as possible dates.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed Moscow was on board but would send the same mid-level delegation as before. ISW said this reflects a lack of seriousness, noting previous talks led only to POW exchange after Russia refused to outline its terms.

According to ISW, Moscow’s intent remains to stall for time, keep fighting, and pressure Ukraine and the West. There’s no indication Putin’s objectives have shifted.

French companies will begin manufacturing drones in Ukraine, marking a deepening of direct defense-industry cooperation between the two nations. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the decision on 21 July during a two-day visit to Kyiv, Euroactiv reports. 

Paris brings military manufacturing into Ukraine

President Zelenskyy confirmed that French companies will begin manufacturing drones inside Ukraine.

“We are ready to expand joint defense production,” he posted on X, adding: “There is a decision by French companies to begin manufacturing drones in Ukraine – and this is highly valuable.”

France’s Foreign Minister Barrot echoed the statement in a separate post:

“French drones will be built on Ukrainian soil.” He described the move as a sign of “sovereignty and strategic trust.”

France and Ukraine expand defense partnership scope

In addition to drone manufacturing, Zelenskyy stated that the meeting covered broader military cooperation. That included improving Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, continued troop training, and recent outcomes from Ramstein-format meetings.

Russia’s drone strike tactics now pierce Ukrainian defenses at triple the previous rate, FT reports. With new swarming methods and high-altitude maneuvers, Russia’s Shahed drones are overwhelming Ukraine’s air defenses across key cities.

Drone swarms adapt to bypass Ukraine’s defenses

According to official Ukrainian air force data cited by FT on 21 July, the proportion of Shahed drones hitting targets rose from 5% to 15% between January–March and April–June. This sharp rise reflects a shift in Russia’s drone strike tactics—not a decline in Ukraine’s capabilities.

Moscow has retooled its drone operations, modifying Iranian-designed Shaheds—now manufactured in Russia under the Geran designation—to fly faster and at higher altitudes. These adaptations make them harder to intercept by truck-mounted machine guns and standard mobile fire units typically used by Ukrainian forces.

Yasir Atalan of the Center for Strategic and International Studies told FT the improvement “is not [because] the Ukraine air defence is getting worse,” but due to Russia’s new swarming methods and drones flying “in higher altitude, [which] makes them more effective.”

Record-breaking drone and missile assaults

Ukraine’s Air Force reported yesterday that Russia launched 426 Shahed-type attack drones in a single wave. On 9 July, Russian forces fired a record 728 units—combining drones, decoys, and cruise and ballistic missiles—in a coordinated saturation strike.

FT notes that by overwhelming the defense layers with sheer volume, Russia raises the strike success rate. According to Atalan, the increased scale of launches “saturates the defense systems which increases the hit rate.”

Domestic production fuels Russia’s drone blitz

Russia’s ability to domestically produce Shaheds in large numbers has given it a logistical edge. The Geran-3 variant—equipped with a turbo engine and capable of diving at speeds up to 800km/h—has reportedly been used against Kyiv in recent weeks, FT reports.

Ukraine’s defenses include jamming drone GPS guidance systems using electronic warfare, as well as employing machine guns and advanced anti-aircraft systems like Germany’s Oerlikon Skynex. Despite this, the average hit rate for drones remains around 15%, FT says.

Ukraine ramps up interceptor drone efforts

In response, Ukraine has increased efforts to counter the Shahed threat with domestically developed interceptor drones. On 10 July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces were already “shooting down dozens of Shaheds” in each wave using these homegrown interceptors.

Earlier this month, Zelenskyy announced a partnership with Eric Schmidt, CEO of the US-based Swift Beat, to co-produce “hundreds of thousands” of drones for Ukraine’s defense, including those designed to intercept enemy drones.

Last week, Zelenskyy emphasized the success of these new systems, noting they “are achieving good results” and that “hundreds of Russian-Iranian Shaheds” had been destroyed in a single week.

Russia’s latest attacks left at least three civilians dead and at least 25 injured across Ukraine, with strikes reported in Donetsk, Kherson, Sumy, Odesa, and Kharkiv oblasts. Russian drones targeted Odesa and Kharkiv, their bombs struck Kramatorsk and Sumy, while artillery shelling targeted Kherson and other cities.

Kramatorsk boy killed as Russian bomb hits residential building

Civilian casualties from Russian attacks mounted overnight on 22 July as a Russian guided bomb struck a residential building in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast. According to the head of the city’s military administration, Oleksandr Honcharenko, the strike killed a 9-year-old boy born in 2015. Five more civilians were injured. The explosion caused a fire in the building, which was extinguished by emergency services.

The killed boy was among three civilians killed in Donetsk Oblast over the previous 24 hours, according to the oblast military administration. Russian forces killed one more person in Kostiantynivka with shelling and another in Zarichne. Meanwhile, they injured five civilians in Sloviansk and two more in Dobropillia. Russian attacks also wounded one person each in Rodynske, Lyman, and Shandryholove.

Multiple wounded in Kherson from early-morning shelling

Kherson city and the village of Inzhenerne came under Russian artillery fire early in the morning on 22 July. The Russian attack injured a 62-year-old man while outside in Inzhenerne. Minutes later, at 08:10, Russian shelling hit Kherson, wounding a 54-year-old man. Another victim, a 55-year-old woman, was later reported injured from the same barrage. All three suffered explosive trauma and shrapnel wounds and were hospitalized, according to the Kherson Oblast Military Administration.

Authorities confirmed that seven people had been wounded across Kherson Oblast in the previous 24 hours due to artillery and drone attacks.

Drone swarm strikes Odesa

Odesa was once again targeted by Russian drones launched from the direction of occupied Crimea and the Black Sea. 

In Odesa, a Russian drone injured one person. Debris from intercepted drones sparked a fire in a parking lot. Multiple vehicles were destroyed. The impact also shattered windows in a multi-story residential building and damaged a shop, local authorities reported. The State Emergency Service of Odesa Oblast reported that 62 rescuers and 17 vehicles were deployed to manage the aftermath. Three separate crash sites were confirmed in the city.

Suspilne reports that air raid sirens were activated at 01:48. Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov issued an early warning to residents of the Arcadia and Fontanka districts. Explosions followed shortly after.

Drone attacks wound civilians in Kharkiv Oblast

Russian forces targeted seven settlements in Kharkiv Oblast over the past 24 hours using a mix of Shahed drones, FPV drones, and another unidentified UAV. The oblast military administration confirmed three civilian injuries.

The Russian strikes injured an 84-year-old woman Kupiansk, a 67-year-old woman in Ivano-Shyichyne, Bohodukhiv community. In the village of Verbivka, Balakliia community, a 29-year-old man was hurt after stepping on an unidentified explosive object.

Guided bombs hit Sumy, injuring civilians including a child

In Sumy, Russia launched a strike on 21 July at approximately 22:30. According to the Sumy City Military Administration, three people were injured, including a child. Acting mayor Artem Kobzar said the Russians used two KAB-type guided bombs. The Sumy Oblast Military Administration added that the attack damaged five apartment buildings, a shopping center, and 18 vehicles. A 60-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man were hospitalized with confirmed injuries.

Serhii Kryvosheienko, head of the Sumy MVA, warned that more casualties were possible and that emergency teams were still working at the scene.

Poland is finalizing a deal on investing in the satellite firm that spotted Russian troops moving toward Ukraine before Moscow’s full-scale invasion, the Financial Times reports. Iceye provided Ukraine with early radar imagery in early 2022 is going to expand production.

Poland takes stake in Iceye, the company that helped Ukraine spot Russian forces

FT says Poland is at the final stages of an agreement to buy equity in Iceye, a Polish-Finnish satellite company whose radar systems helped Ukraine detect Russian troop buildups ahead of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Iceye’s chief executive Rafał Modrzewski confirmed the deal, which will be made through Poland’s national development bank. He did not disclose the size of the investment.

The satellite firm that spotted Russian troops—now valued at well over $1bn—has already raised $550mn from investors. Modrzewski said the new funding would allow Iceye to rapidly expand production to meet soaring demand for real-time defense imagery. The deal follows Poland’s $230mn purchase in May of up to six Iceye satellites.

Founded in 2014 by Modrzewski and Finnish co-founder Pekka Laurila, Iceye began by providing radar data to Arctic shipping routes. That business collapsed after Western sanctions cut off the Russian market, prompting a pivot to military applications. Iceye’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can see through cloud cover and at night—making it indispensable in battlefield conditions where optical satellites fail.

Iceye to ramp up satellite output as demand for defense tech soars

Modrzewski told the Financial Times that Iceye plans to grow its manufacturing capacity from 25 satellites a year to as many as 150. Each satellite costs around $20 million to build.

Iceye has launched 54 so far, with about half operated by national defense forces in countries including the Netherlands, Finland, Brazil, and Portugal. In 2024, Iceye signed a memorandum of cooperation with Ukraine to deepen collaboration. Most launches have taken place from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base or Florida’s Cape Canaveral, though missions have also originated from India and New Zealand.

Strategic partnerships and global reach

Beyond Poland, Iceye is expanding through international partnerships. It recently created a joint venture with Rheinmetall to manufacture satellites in Germany, aiming to tap into the country’s rising defense budget and connect with its weapons systems.

Rosneft-linked oil payment rules changed after EU sanctions, Bloomberg reports. Mumbai-based Nayara Energy, the Indian refinery part-owned by Rosneft, now demands upfront payment or documentary letters of credit from buyers, showing how far-reaching the latest EU sanctions package is.

Nayara tightens oil deal terms after new EU measures

Nayara Energy Ltd., a key Indian refinery partially owned by Russia’s Rosneft, is now requiring advance payments or documentary letters of credit for upcoming oil shipments. According to Bloomberg, the shift was revealed in a revised tender document for a naphtha cargo scheduled for next month. The previous version of the tender included no such financial requirements. Naphtha is a fraction of crude oil, used for further petrochemical production.

Kpler analyst Zameer Yusof told Bloomberg the move “underscores how far-reaching the latest tranche of EU sanctions are.” He said the advance payment condition likely reflects fears that buyers may back out of deals or that banks could refuse to clear transactions involving sanctioned entities. 

In a weekend statement, Rosneft claimed that the EU’s new measures as “unjustified and illegal.” Meanwhile, Nayara insisted that operations remain normal and said it is “exploring all legal and appropriate avenues” to respond to the situation.

India’s role in Russian crude trade under pressure

India has become one of the largest importers of Russian crude since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As Western buyers turned away, Indian refiners stepped in to process Russian oil, including into diesel and other products that were then exported globally. Until now, Nayara had continued those operations without direct interference from sanctions.

Russia demands Ukraine surrender before peace, the Institute for the Study of War reports, warning that the Kremlin’s latest peace rhetoric is merely a rebranded version of its original war goals. On 20 July, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov publicly reiterated that Moscow is prepared for rapid negotiations—but only if all Russian conditions are accepted without compromise.

Russia insists on Ukraine’s full political and military capitulation

According to ISW, Peskov’s statements confirm Russia’s continued refusal to engage in any meaningful diplomatic process. He stated that Russia’s objectives are “obvious” and “do not change”—a phrase that aligns with Moscow’s long-standing calls for Ukraine to disarm, abandon its NATO aspirations, and replace its current leadership.

The think tank notes that these demands fall in line with the Kremlin’s narrative of “denazification” and “demilitarization,” language that has always signaled regime change in Kyiv and the erosion of Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. Peskov’s remarks show that Russia’s position on negotiations remains maximalist and unchanged since the invasion began.

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ISW: Kremlin dismisses US terms, demands Ukraine cede non-occupied territories

ISW: Kremlin’s “peace” offer masks intent to prolong war

ISW says Peskov’s statements “underline the Kremlin’s continued uninterest in good-faith negotiations with Ukraine and efforts rather to prolong the war — as ISW continues to assess.”

Russia demands Ukraine surrender before peace, ISW underlines, and frames its conditions as removing the so-called “root causes” of the war—a euphemism for erasing Ukraine’s sovereignty and reversing NATO’s open-door policy, “and the removal of Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against future Russian aggression.”

The fully funded Czech howitzer campaign will deliver six D-30s to Ukraine’s front line. Though organizers initially announced they were nearing their goal, current donation totals confirm that the €2.4 million target has now been reached.

Donors complete €2.4 million fundraiser for Ukraine-bound howitzers

The Czech volunteer campaign Dárek pro Putina (“A Gift for Putin”) earlier reported it was close to securing funds for six 122 mm D-30 howitzers.

“We have already raised funds for five howitzers! We are missing the last one,” the campaign said during the final stretch of the drive.

Now, according to publicly visible totals on the official donation platform, the group has fully met its €2.4 million objective.

Over 16,000 contributors donated to the effort. The weapons, already secured and available, are expected to be transferred promptly to the Ukrainian military with logistical support from the Embassy of Ukraine in Prague.

“This is almost a miracle given the current situation, as most weapons require months of waiting,” the fundraiser’s page reads.

The Soviet-designed D-30 (2A18) is a reliable platform with a maximum range of 15.4 km—or 21.9 km when using rocket-assisted projectiles. It can fire to 12 rounds per minute.

Not their first delivery

Militarnyi noted the same Czech campaign previously raised funds for a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, and eventually delivered it.

In earlier efforts, Dárek pro Putina also delivered 1,000 RPG-75M anti-tank rocket launchers after raising over €900,000 in under two months. The group has additionally provided 10 tons of explosives for a Ukrainian special police unit and continues to collect funds for FPV drones and gear for female military personnel.

The campaign’s updates and donation records can be tracked via their official website.

Engineers from Ukraine’s Steppe Brigade are fielding modular plastic bridges that deploy in just 15 minutes, giving troops rapid mobility across rivers in active combat zones. This rapid frontline bridge deployment offers a major tactical edge as Ukrainian units face constant maneuver demands on the front.

Plastic cubes reshape how Ukraine crosses rivers under fire

Militarnyi reports that the 61st “Steppe” Mechanized Brigade has begun using a new system of plastic pontoon bridges composed of modular floating cubes. The brigade reported that the system has already shown its effectiveness at multiple positions along the frontline. It was first used during the Kursk operation in Russia, where it allowed fast movement of infantry and light vehicles.

Brigade engineers say the system’s greatest strengths are its speed and adaptability. The plastic pontoon bridge is designed to transport infantry and light equipment.

“Mobility, fast deployment, and structural reliability let our units stay one step ahead of the enemy,” the brigade noted.

Each pontoon crossing is constructed from interlocking plastic modules that float independently and connect through a specialized fastening system. This design makes it easy to change the length or shape of the bridge and replace any damaged cubes after shelling.

Stormproof, fast, and modular — built to survive war zones

The plastic cubes are produced by a Ukrainian manufacturer, which emphasizes the system’s ability to work in any location and under any weather conditions.

“Our floating structures can be used in any region and on any water body. They are easy to assemble, even in adverse weather,” the manufacturer stated.

The construction is resistant to freezing, tidal surges, and storm conditions. It also does not freeze into ice during winter, a key feature for year-round combat use. For vehicle crossings, engineers add wooden decking to support the weight of light military equipment.

A Ukrainian drone strike on Russian air defenses has disabled multiple radar systems and surface-to-air missile launchers in the Donetsk sector, eastern Ukraine, Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) reported. The latest footage released by HUR shows their elite Prymary (“Ghosts”) unit destroying key Russian military hardware during precision drone attacks in the occupied part of the oblast.

Prymary strikes radar systems and S-300V launchers near occupied Donetsk

HUR released video footage of the operation on its official YouTube channel, showing accurate drone strikes on two S-300V launchers and five radar systems, supporting these launchers and other Russian air defense assets. The S-300V is primarily designed to intercept operational-tactical missiles and serves as a key element of Russia’s anti-missile defense network. However, Russian forces have been also using such launchers in a secondary role — to fire on ground targets, including residential areas in Ukrainian cities.

According to the description accompanying the HUR video, Prymary fighters continue to “systematically weaken Russian air defense — now in the Donetsk direction.” The agency confirmed the destruction of:

• three 48Ya6-K1 Podlyot radar stations, designed to detect targets at low and extremely low altitudes in complex electronic warfare conditions;
• two Niobiy-SV radar stations, used to track aerial targets at medium and high altitudes at distances of up to 200–300 kilometers;
• two S-300V launchers, part of a surface-to-air missile system primarily used to intercept operational-tactical missiles, and also employed by Russian forces in a secondary ground-strike role;
• and one P-18 radar station, a Soviet-era two-coordinate system capable of determining only azimuth and distance, but not altitude.

Official footage shows direct drone hits on Russian systems

The video published by HUR shows direct drone strikes on the listed radar systems and missile launchers. However, the FPV footage cuts off at the moment of impact, and the aftermath is not shown. Still, the accuracy of the strikes indicates that the targeted Russian air defense assets were at least damaged, if not destroyed. 

A Ukrainian cyberattack on Gazprom systems has reportedly crippled the Russian state gas monopoly’s digital infrastructure, Suspilne reports, citing a source in Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR). The hackers wiped data from physical servers, cloud platforms, and all backups, targeting critical control systems that manage Russia’s gas flows, finances, and internal operations.

Gazprom’s entire infrastructure breached before data wipe

Suspilne reported earlier that the attack took place on 17 July. Now, Suspilne’s HUR source said Ukraine’s intelligence operatives obtained full access to all of Gazprom’s information systems, reaching a depth of penetration that the source described as “unprecedented.” The access reportedly included internal analytics, core servers, digital platforms, and user credentials from across Gazprom’s operational hierarchy.

According to Suspilne’s reporting, the operation began with full infiltration and ended with a coordinated deletion of all available data — including security systems, server control modules, and support networks that kept Gazprom’s infrastructure running.

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390+ Gazprom subsidiaries compromised, SCADA and GIS systems destroyed

Suspilne reports that more than 390 subsidiaries and branches were affected, including Gazprom Teplo Energo, Gazprom Obl Energo, and Gazprom Energosbyt. The breach extended into Gazprom’s SCADA and GIS systems, which control gas and oil pressure, distribution flows, well data, and infrastructure networks.

The HUR source also claimed that Gazprom’s financial records, tax data, contract logs, and legal documents were destroyed. Among the deleted systems were modules managing supply schedules, customer volumes, tariffs, payments, licensing, and regulatory files.

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System collapse may impact gas supply, contracts, and bank stability

The scale of the operation, Suspilne’s source stated, could lead to a partial or total collapse in Gazprom’s ability to function. Without operational systems, the state corporation may be unable to sign new contracts, manage its gas supply network, or maintain stable financial operations.

The source further suggested that the consequences could include regional disruptions to gas transport and delivery, a potential default on corporate obligations, and sharp devaluation of Gazprom’s stock, possibly triggering instability in banks that finance the energy conglomerate.

HUR source says hackers deleted all backup data using custom tools, Suspilne reports

Using custom-developed software, Ukrainian cyber operatives reportedly deleted all data stored on Gazprom’s physical servers and cloud infrastructure, including backup copies.

Explosions erupted across Moscow and Rostov oblasts in the early hours of 19 July. Local reports described drone flyover sounds, fires, damaged infrastructure, and halted train services following a large-scale drone attack. However, no reports confirm any damage to key military or military-industrial infrastructure. 

Drone attack on Moscow

In Moscow Oblast, residents of Dmitrov and Zelenograd heard multiple explosions overnight. Russian news Telegram channel Astra posted footage showing burning debris in a field near Dmitrov. Locals wrote that “something fell in the field and exploded.” Messages in community chats described blasts from several locations within the Dmitrov district.

Astra quoted local officials saying a drone had been shot down, and its wreckage damaged a high-voltage power line in the area. Mikhail Shulavov, acting head of the Dmitrov district, confirmed the fall of debris, noted there were no injuries, and said repair crews were already fixing the line.

Pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Mash also reported explosions in Mozhaisk and Dmitrov. Baza, another Telegram channel, said six explosions occurred in Zelenograd.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobianin claimed Russian air defenses shot down 14 drones targeting the Russian capital. 

Drone attack on Rostov, and railway disruptions

In Rostov Oblast, acting head Yurii Sliusar claimed fires in Kamensk-Shakhtynskyi. Falling drone debris allegedly set multiple detached houses on fire and ostensibly injured one person.

Sliusar added that a transformer caught fire in Kamenskyi Raion, disabling a high-voltage line. As a result, five settlements lost power. According to Sliusar, about 2,000 people live in the blackout zone.

The drone strikes triggered major rail disruptions in Rostov Oblast. Passenger service was halted after the attack disabled power infrastructure on the Lykhaya–Zamchalovo railway segment or the Russian Railway (RZhD).

Astra cited passengers at Rostov station claiming they sat for hours in trains without ventilation or air conditioning. One said that “everything is immobilized” after a strong strike at Lykhaya station.

Russian Railways later confirmed that over 50 long-distance trains were delayed. Several regional electric trains were also canceled. Delays ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 hours. Later reports from RZhD said train service on the damaged line had resumed.

Drone strike reported in occupied Tokmak

Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ posted footage of a fire in Russian-occupied Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The caption reads:

“In Tokmak … after a UAV attack there is a healthy glow.”

Fire at military base in Rostov-on-Don

On the evening of 18 July, a fire broke out at a military facility in central Rostov-on-Don. Astra verified the location as military unit 74330 on Krasnoarmeiska Street, near Sokolova Avenue. 

Local media had earlier reported a fire in the same area.

Last night, Russia resumed full-scale aerial strikes after several quieter days, launching almost 350 drones and 35 missiles in one night. Ukraine intercepted more than 200 Russian drones and missiles overnight, but dozens still broke through, hitting homes, schools, and civilian infrastructure in several regions, according to local authorities. The Russian drone assault killed a woman in Odesa and injured six more civilians, including a child. Meanwhile, Russian forces continued their “human safari” in Kherson, injuring two civilian men with a small drone.

Russia overwhelms air defenses with 379 aerial weapons

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched a total of 379 aerial weapons overnight on 18–19 July. The strike included 344 Shahed-type drones and decoys, 12 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, eight Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 15 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Launches came from multiple directions: Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Shatalovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, occupied Crimea, and from Russian aircraft over Saratov Oblast.

Despite the heavy interception effort, five missiles and 30 drones struck civilian and infrastructure targets in 12 locations, while drone debris fell and caused additional damage in at least seven more, the AF says.

Odesa drone strike kills woman, injures six

In Odesa, over 20 Shahed drones approached from different directions, local authorities reported. One hit a nine-story residential building, sparking a fire that engulfed the upper floors. Emergency services rescued five people from the building. One of the rescued victims, a woman, died from her injuries.

In total, the attack injured six civilians, including a child. Prosecutors opened a war crimes case under Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code. 

Pavlohrad hit by most massive strike since invasion

In Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian forces launched over 100 drones and missiles at the city. Officials described it as the most massive strike on Pavlohrad to date. Explosions damaged a fire station, multiple industrial sites, a school, and a five-story residential building.

Regional head Serhii Lysak later confirmed that nine apartment buildings, a private home, and an educational facility were damaged. No injuries were reported.

Kyiv rooftop struck, but no casualties

In Kyiv, falling debris from an intercepted drone damaged the roof of a residential building in the Darniytskyi district. The Kyiv Military Administration reported no fire or injuries.

In Kyiv Oblast, the air defenders intercepted more than 20 drones. In the Vyshhorod district, a civilian car was damaged. No casualties were reported.

Shostka bombed with drones and guided munitions

In Sumy Oblast, Shostka came under attack for nearly four hours overnight, injuring locals. In the morning, Russian forces added guided air-dropped bombs to the assault. Six bomb strikes were confirmed on the Shostka community.

Mayor Mykola Noha confirmed infrastructure destruction, with damage to two apartment buildings and four private homes. No injuries were reported.

Infrastructure hit in Chernihiv Oblast

In Chernihiv Oblast, Shahed drone strikes damaged infrastructure in Nizhyn and the village of Vypovziv. Local officials confirmed three direct drone hits. No casualties were reported.

Blast shakes Zaporizhzhia

Suspilne reported an explosion, heard in several districts of Zaporizhzhia this morning. 

Russia’s “human safari” targets civilians in Kherson

Separate from the mass long-range drone and missile strike, a Russian drone deliberately attacked a private home in Kherson’s Korabelnyi district around 04:00. Two civilian men, aged 28 and 34, were wounded and hospitalized in moderate condition.

A global law enforcement campaign has dealt a blow to the pro-Russian cyber army known as NoName057(16). Europol confirmed that about 20 countries helped dismantle the network behind thousands of attacks on Ukraine’s supporters.

Europol targets ideological cyber group tied to Russia’s war

Europol reported that between 14 and 17 July, authorities from 12 countries launched Operation Eastwood. Europol and Eurojust coordinated the joint crackdown. The effort reportedly dismantled major parts of the pro-Russian cyber army’s infrastructure, including hundreds of systems.

Germany issued six arrest warrants for suspects based in Russia. Two are accused of leading the group’s activities. Spain issued another arrest warrant. France and Spain also reported one arrest each. All suspects are internationally wanted.

Authorities carried out 24 house searches and questioned 13 individuals across Europe. In Spain alone, 12 searches took place. Investigators also notified over 1,000 individuals believed to support the cyber group. Fifteen of them were administrators.

Attacks tied to political and military events across Europe

Other attacks struck during the European elections. Swedish government and banking websites were affected. In Switzerland, NoName057(16) launched attacks in June 2023, during a speech by Ukraine’s president to the Joint Parliament. Another wave occurred in June 2024 during the Peace Summit for Ukraine at Bürgenstock.

The most recent attack linked to the group targeted the NATO summit held in the Netherlands in June 2025. Europol notes that although the attacks caused disruption attempts, none led to substantial outages.

Recruitment tactics built on crypto rewards and gamified propaganda

Europol identifies NoName057(16) as an ideological cyber network that operated without formal leadership. The group recruited mostly Russian-speaking sympathizers, many with little technical knowledge. Its structure relied heavily on gamified propaganda and incentives.

Volunteers received cryptocurrency payments and recognition through online shout-outs, badges, and leaderboards. Europol notes this method especially appealed to younger users who felt emotionally involved in Russia’s political narratives.

To simplify participation, NoName057(16) distributed guides and tools like DDoSia. Europol also launched a prevention campaign warning suspected supporters of their criminal liability, delivered via the same communication platforms.

As the EU ramps up economic pressure, the Kremlin scrambles to downplay sanctions by pushing claims of immunity and resilience. But behind the bravado, top Russian officials are quietly conceding the growing toll on the country’s economy, according to the think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Russian officials claim immunity while signs of economic damage emerge

ISW reported on 18 July that Russian officials are continuing to falsely claim that the European Union’s newest sanctions have no significant impact on the Russian economy. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov alleged for no reason that the EU’s sanctions are illegal, and insisted Russia had already adapted to life under restrictive measures. He stated that the Kremlin would analyze the effects of the latest sanctions package and minimize their impact. Peskov also stated that the sanctions ostensibly ultimately harm those who imposed them.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev responded to the EU’s newest package by asserting that Russia’s stance remains unchanged and that the country’s economy will endure. He went further, threatening to increase strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities — which has already been happening for years. Medvedev declared that Russia must learn to “hate” the EU and what he described as its “Russophobia” as much as its ancestors did. 

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Putin’s Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, echoed similar showy defiance. He claimed that the sanctions hurt Europe more than Russia by closing Russian markets to European businesses and disrupting the continent’s energy supply. Meanwhile, Head of the Russian State Duma Committee on Financial Markets Anatoly Aksakov dismissed the new financial sanctions as insignificant, calling them “just a fluctuation in the air,” since Russian banks were already operating under EU restrictions.

Top Russian ministers admit critical sanctions impact

Despite these bold public statements, ISW highlighted that some senior Russian officials are now quietly admitting that sanctions are taking a toll on the economy. The Moscow Times reported on 17 July that Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev recently told the Russian Federation Council that Western sanctions are making it difficult for Russian oil companies to obtain parts needed to repair refineries.

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

Russian Central Bank Chairperson Elvira Nabiullina openly stated on 19 June that Russia has “exhausted many of its free resources” since the start of the full-scale invasion and must now search for a new growth model. Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov also acknowledged during SPIEF that the Russian economy stands “on the brink of recession.”

Kremlin relies on evasive schemes to soften sanctions blow

ISW underscored that sanctions evasion through the People’s Republic of China and other third-party networks is now a key pillar of Moscow’s strategy. The Kremlin has built a network of actors designed to bypass Western restrictions, and has started reconfiguring its economic policies and business models to survive sanctions in the long run. However, ISW wrote, hinting on Washington’s hesitation to adopt news sanctions against Russia:

“The EU’s newest sanctions are a positive step, but wider Western compliance and enforcement are necessary to inflict maximum economic pressure on Russia.“

EU’s latest sanctions package delivers economic strike

The EU’s 18th sanctions package, approved on 18 July by the European Council, sharply undercuts Russian oil revenues. It slashes the oil price cap to $47.60 per barrel, bans Nord Stream pipeline transactions, and blacklists 105 more shadow fleet tankers—bringing the total to 444. It also targets entities tied to Rosneft and ends Czechia’s exemption for Russian oil.

Refined products from Russian crude are banned unless processed in select Western countries. Though the Kremlin budgeted for losses, these sanctions are expected to cut far deeper—threatening the third of federal revenue tied to oil.

Ukrainian factories building drones to down Russian aircraft are changing the face of modern air defense — one low-cost interceptor at a time. On 18 July, the New York Post published a reportage about its journalists visiting two drone production facilities in Kyiv. The publication got an inside look at how Ukraine is confronting drone warfare with ingenuity and affordability.

Kyiv engineers race to scale drone interceptors

The New York Post says Nomad Drones and a second, anonymous company are leading a new surge in Ukrainian factories building drones. These interceptors are crafted specifically to neutralize Russian-launched Shaheds, which cost around $50,000 apiece. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s new models are dramatically cheaper — priced between $3,000 and $7,000, depending on type and size.

Nomad Drones co-founder and CEO Andrii Fedorov explained the concept to the NYP.

“In Ukraine, there is a phrase people have been using — that ‘quantity’ becomes ‘quality,’” he said.

According to Fedorov, deploying a $1 million missile to destroy a $50,000 drone makes no economic sense.

“If you have 20 drones, then the capacity costs you, say, $40,000 to shoot it down.”

Cost-effective jamming-proof drones

Nomad’s aircraft are designed for cost-effective lethality. Equipped with fiber-optic cables, they avoid jamming and reach enemy drones undetected by radars. Each unit carries explosives and can be detonated remotely on approach. That ability is critical against fast-moving targets like Shaheds, often launched in swarms across Ukrainian airspace.

A second firm — unnamed in the report due to repeated Russian strikes on its facility — builds a meter-long missile-style interceptors. That company continues operating despite multiple attacks.

“It’s all about cost-effectiveness,” an employee said. “Western technologies are so cool and modern — they are expensive at the same time.”

Built for war, priced for survival

The strategy centers on affordability, speed, and scalable output. Nomad Drones and others now produce tens of thousands of interceptors monthly. These low-cost systems are not meant to endure — they’re made to fly once, explode midair, and protect civilian lives.

Tis model contrasts sharply with existing Western air defense systems, which rely heavily on expensive precision strikes. With Russia launching over 700 drones in a single night last week, Ukrainian engineers have prioritized high-volume production as the only viable path forward.

Russian saboteurs tried to infiltrate Ukrainian lines in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian troops intercepted and eliminated them, Ukraine’s top general Syrskyi confirmed. The attack came amid intensifying fighting across Donetsk, Sumy, and Kharkiv oblasts, as Russian forces press multiple axes of advance.

Russian saboteurs in Pokrovsk eliminated during failed incursion

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Russian saboteurs in Pokrovsk attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses on 18 July. The group, described as a DRG — diversionary and reconnaissance group, failed to reach the city. Ukrainian defenders spotted them in time and destroyed the entire group.

Syrskyi posted the update at 22:07 on 18 July via Telegram. He said Ukrainian troops “courageously repel intensified pressure and destroy the Russian aggressor” along the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka axes. These fronts in Donetsk Oblast were the main focus of his report to President Zelenskyy, who also serves as Ukraine’s supreme commander.

Ukrainian units credited with stopping Russian sabotage team

Syrskyi named several units that contributed to Ukraine’s recent defensive success. He highlighted the 59th Assault Brigade and Special Operations Forces operating on the Pokrovsk axis.

He also praised units on other fronts. These include the 225th Separate Assault Regiment and 95th Air Assault Brigade in the Siversk direction (northeastern Ukraine), the 3rd Assault Brigade near Kupiansk (Kharkiv Oblast), and the 82nd Air Assault Brigade and 14th National Guard Brigade near Dobropillia (Donetsk Oblast).

Additionally, the 5th Assault Brigade and elements of the 225th Regiment fought in the Novopavlivka direction, which Syrskyi also called a high-pressure area.

Ukrainian forces counter Russian gains across several fronts

According to an 18 July report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces “recently advanced near Pokrovsk” and in northern Sumy Oblast. ISW classifies Pokrovsk as part of Russia’s Subordinate Main Effort—aiming to capture all of Donetsk Oblast and potentially push into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState reported similar activity. On 18 July, it noted Russian advances near Voskresenka, Zelenyi Hai, and Yablunivka—all in Donetsk Oblast.

On 19 July, DeepState added that Russian troops had occupied a different Yablunivka in Sumy Oblast. They also advanced near Yunakivka (Sumy Oblast), Khatnie (northeastern Kharkiv Oblast), as well as Romanivka and Toretsk (Donetsk Oblast).

Russia moves to erase Ukrainian language from schools in occupied Ukrainian territories, the UK Ministry of Defense reported in its 18 July 2025 intelligence update. A draft order from Russia’s Education Ministry outlines plans to eliminate Ukrainian from school curricula starting September 2025. The Ministry justifies the move by citing an allegedly “changed geopolitical situation.”

Kremlin prepares to ban Ukrainian in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson schools

The draft order will primarily affect children in Russian-occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, where Ukrainian has remained a mandatory subject despite the occupation. Under the new plan, schools will no longer be allowed to teach Ukrainian as part of the core curriculum. The order also reportedly reduces the study of Ukrainian literature to a minimal level, further cutting off cultural education.

Long-term effort to eliminate Ukrainian identity

The UK Ministry of Defense reported:

“This follows reported long-term Russian efforts to reduce and eliminate the Ukrainian language in schools in other illegally occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea, whilst Russia’s President Putin has simultaneously repeatedly demanded protections for the Russian language within unoccupied territories of Ukraine.”

Cultural cleansing through education policy

The UK Ministry of Defense reports that the Russian Education Ministry’s plans mark “a further addition” to the Kremlin’s “long-standing Russification policy” in occupied Ukrainian territory — a campaign that seeks to “extirpate Ukrainian culture, identity, and statehood.”

Australia’s Abrams tanks have arrived in Ukraine, but reports differ on whether this is the first batch or the majority of the 49 pledged. Sky News and The Guardian describe the shipment as the first tranche, but then noted that “the majority” has been delivered. In contrast, Reuters reports that Ukraine has received most of the pledged Australian tanks, with the rest to follow.

Media differ over scale of Australian tank delivery to Ukraine

Australia’s retired Abrams tanks arrive in Ukraine as part of a 245 million AUD (about $160 million) military aid package promised last October. Reuters reports that Canberra has already handed over most of the previously pledged 49 M1A1 Abrams, with the rest due in the coming months. Sky News Australia, however, states this is the first arrival, noting a nine-month delay since the tanks were pledged. The Guardian, citing the Australian Associated Press, also calls it the “first tranche,” but then adds:

“A majority of the tanks have been delivered and a final tranche will arrive in the coming months, but actual numbers have not been released.“

Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles said the Abrams tanks “will make a significant contribution” to Ukraine’s effort to repel Russia’s invasion. He emphasized their role in boosting Ukrainian firepower alongside other Western-supplied equipment. The country’s Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy added, “Australia stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine.”

Tank support part of larger Australian aid commitment

Australia’s Abrams tanks arrive in Ukraine alongside broader support totaling more than 1.5 billion AUD or $980 million since February 2022.

Canberra also plans to send a Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to Europe in August. The aircraft will help safeguard aid corridors delivering supplies into Ukraine. At the same time, Australia maintains export bans on alumina and aluminum ores to Russia. About 1,000 Russian individuals and entities remain under Australian sanctions.

Alongside military support, Australia is negotiating a non-binding security pact with Ukraine. More than two dozen nations have signed similar agreements with Kyiv. These arrangements focus on political and military cooperation but do not include formal defense guarantees.

A second bilateral deal aims to eliminate double taxation between the two countries. Officials expect it to encourage foreign investment in Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.

Romania wants to build drones with Ukraine, but production is delayed until 2026 due to lack of military funding. Digi24 reports that Romania’s Defense Ministry wants to launch a joint drone-manufacturing project, but no funds are available this year to begin construction or procurement.

Romania wants to build drones with Ukraine, but budget delay blocks start

Romania wants to build drones with Ukraine, aiming to manufacture UAVs inside Romania and eventually export them to other European countries. Digi24 reports that the Romanian Ministry of Defense has confirmed it is set to negotiate with officials from Kyiv. The two sides aim to establish a co-production plan for drones, following models already used by Ukraine in partnerships with Denmark and Norway.

According to Digi24, the business plan is not complex: Romania would purchase the technical specifications of drones that Ukraine has developed during its war experience. Those designs, proven in combat, would serve as the base for production inside Romania.

The proposed facility would likely be located in Brașov, Transylvania. Romanian and Ukrainian engineers would cooperate on-site to assemble the UAVs. Most of the drones would enter service with the Romanian army, but many would also be intended for sale across Europe, per the reported plan.

Factory plan awaits funding, likely in 2026

Despite alignment on the concept, the project faces a major obstacle: Romania currently lacks the funding to implement it. Digi24 notes that while Ukraine is willing to move forward and eager to secure income from such cooperation, Romania cannot commit to payments this year.

The next opportunity to fund the drone partnership would come with Romania’s 2026 defense budget. Until then, the joint production initiative remains in the planning phase.

Zelenskyy installs ex-defense minister Umierov to run Security Council
The man once in charge of defense now oversees war tech, arms deals, and talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Rustem Umierov to lead the country’s National Security and Defense Council. He takes over the Security Council after stepping down as defense minister in a wartime Cabinet reshuffle, and will now oversee arms deals, tech coordination, and peace negotiations.

Umierov replaces Lytvynenko in key wartime reshuffle

Zelenskyy signed the decree appointing Umierov secretary of the Security Council on 18 July, according to the presidential website. He replaces Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who had held the position since 26 March and is now reportedly being considered for an ambassadorial role in Serbia, Forbes reports, citing a government source speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Yuliia Svyrydenko was appointed Prime Minister, with new ministers named across the government. Zelenskyy emphasized that the new cabinet must ensure Ukraine’s defenders have confidence in reliable supply, and that boosting internal economic potential would support that goal.

Weapons, tech, and coordination now fall under Umierov

In a post on X, Umierov confirmed his appointment and outlined his top priorities in his new role.

“Coordination and control of the security and defense sector,” he wrote, adding that an audit will be conducted on the implementation of decisions made by the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

He pledged to coordinate all arms deliveries, joint production, and sensitive international defense partnerships.

“I remain in constant dialogue with our international partners,” he said, referring to critical yet discreet defense agreements.

Umierov also stated he would fully restore the operation of the Technological Command Post to accelerate front-line modernization and battlefield tech innovation. One of the primary missions now under his oversight is the synchronized execution of orders across all components of Ukraine’s defense system.

Umierov to run Security Council and peace track

Umierov’s responsibilities also include overseeing the negotiation track.

“Ukraine consistently advocates for a just peace — and we are working to achieve it in close coordination with our allies,” he wrote.

RFE/RL reports that Zelenskyy met with Umierov on 18 July to discuss the new leadership tasks. Among the key priorities mentioned by the president was “more dynamics” in implementing the agreements with Russia reached during the second summit in Istanbul.

Zelenskyy also tasked Umierov with continuing weapons coordination with Ukraine’s partners, fully implementing all supply agreements, and advancing new projects for joint arms production and defense manufacturing facilities on partner territory.

According to the president’s office, Umierov is expected to strengthen the format of the technological headquarters, enforce decisions delayed in execution, and ensure full compliance across the defense and security sectors.

Russia is “burning the candle at both ends” economically as top bankers quietly brace for bailouts amid a growing Russian debt crisis, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on 17 July. While the Kremlin pretends its economy is stable amid the ongoing protracted invasion of Ukraine, structural fractures continue to widen beneath that illusion.

Russian bankers brace for fallout as loans go unpaid

Bloomberg reported on 17 July that senior executives at several of Russia’s largest banks have quietly discussed the possibility of requesting government bailouts. This comes as non-performing loans — debts that are late or unpaid — continue to rise in 2025. Documents reviewed by Bloomberg show that three systemically important Russian banks may need to recover funds lost to bad credit.

Russian banks have already seen non-performing loans grow by 1.2% this year. Forecasts suggest the rate could increase from the current 4% to as high as 6–7% by 2026. While ISW cannot independently verify these figures, it notes mounting signs of concern within the financial sector. 

Central Bank Chairperson Elvira Nabiullina has dismissed fears of a banking crisis, claiming that reserves totaling eight trillion rubles (around $102.5 billion) are sufficient to cushion any shocks. However, ISW assesses that the Central Bank is likely unwilling to bail out major banks outright — a decision that could spark liquidity problems or even bank failures, directly undermining Russian President Vladimir Putin’s narrative of economic resilience.

War-driven spending pressures the economy

ISW argues that the Kremlin is worsening the growing Russian debt crisis by expanding military spending while relaxing monetary policy to support short-term growth. Since 2022, the government has boosted one-time payments and salaries to attract military recruits and reinforce its defense industrial base. These high payments are necessary due to sustained battlefield losses and the challenge of attracting volunteers.

As defense wages rise, civilian industries struggle to retain workers, pushing up prices across service sectors. Labor shortages now impact both economic growth and war production. ISW maintains that Russia cannot indefinitely sustain these payouts or replace troops lost at current rates without a general mobilization — a step Putin has avoided.

Inflation appears tamed — but only on paper

On the surface, the Russian Central Bank reports success in reducing inflation. Bloomberg noted that in June 2025, the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of inflation fell to 4%, matching the Bank’s target. The drop is attributed in part to a temporarily strong ruble, which lowered the cost of imported goods and helped suppress input costs and inflationary pressures for companies.

However, the Central Bank acknowledged that official annual inflation still stands at 9%. The SAAR is a short-term measure and does not reflect deeper economic trends. ISW argues that this data masks the real problems. Two complicating factors — the fading effect of ruble strength and rising service costs — are expected to slow progress in bringing inflation under control.

Contradictions threaten long-term stability

The think tank concludes wrote:

“Russia is effectively burning the candle at both ends by simultaneously loosening monetary policy to stimulate short-term growth, while expanding fiscal expenditure to feed the military effort.”

This path is likely to deepen the country’s macroeconomic instability, erode the value of the ruble, and diminish consumers’ ability to cope with rising costs. Behind the Central Bank’s controlled narrative, ISW sees rising stress in Russia’s economic foundation — a crisis building quietly but steadily.

Germany will deliver Patriot missiles to Ukraine “very shortly,” following US President Donald Trump’s NATO agreement to increase weapons aid. The delivery, part of a Europe-funded supply plan, could make the system operational in Ukraine within weeks, according to Germany’s leader.

Germany finalizing Patriot missile transfer with NATO

According to Politico, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed during a 17 July press conference in the UK that Ukraine will receive Patriot air-defense systems “very shortly, very soon.” He stressed that Kyiv urgently needs deep strike capability and that additional support is on the way. According to Merz, defense ministers are now finalizing logistics to fulfill the delivery.

Politico reports that the announcement followed Trump’s new NATO deal earlier this week. The plan allows European countries to send weapons to Ukraine now and buy replacements from the US.

NATO and Germany already preparing transfer

Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Allied Air Command leader, said on 17 July that preparations for the Patriot transfer were already under way.

Trump stated on 14 July that part of the Patriot system would arrive “within days,” though others have raised questions about the exact timeline. Merz later clarified that the capability could be active in Ukraine within weeks.

Amid the Russian “human safari,” a drone attack on Kherson’s rabbi Yossef Itzhak Wolff left his family unharmed after a Russian FPV drone slammed into their vehicle near the regional capital. The strike occurred while the rabbi, his wife, and their young daughter were inside the car. Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Azman reported the incident on 17 July.

Drone strike targeted rabbi’s family in moving vehicle

On 17 July, Moshe Azman wrote on X that “two hours ago” a Russian FPV drone attacked the car of the Chief Rabbi of Kherson, Yossef Wolff. He stated that the drone hit the car at the entrance to Kherson, with the rabbi, his wife, and their daughter inside at the moment of impact.

Azman said he had just spoken with Rabbi Wolff, and emphasized the survival as a “very great miracle.” According to the post, the drone entered the car “at a very high speed.” No one was injured in the explosion.

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The UN confirmed what I saw in Kherson: Russia is hunting civilians for sport

Video shows damage to SUV after direct strike

Azman shared a video recorded by Rabbi Wolff showing his Toyota Land Cruiser, which sustained significant damage. In the video, Rabbi Wolff says:

“A drone got into our car and exploded, but incredibly we are alive.”

Yossef Itzhak Wolff has served as Chief Rabbi of Kherson and the oblast since 1998 and is also chairman of the Board of the Kherson Jewish community.

Moscow’s “human safari” continues

Also on 17 July, Russian forces struck an ambulance in Kherson Oblast. The strike hit a medical team en route to a call in Zymivnyk. The vehicle was damaged, and two medics — a 49-year-old medical assistant and a 65-year-old paramedic — were injured.

And this morning, 18 July, Russian forces killed a man in the village of Veletenske in Kherson Oblast’s Bilozerka community. According to oblast head Oleksandr Prokudin, around 09:00, a Russian drone struck a local resident born in 1990 as he rode his bicycle. He sustained fatal injuries.

The EU has agreed on a new Russia sanctions package, with ambassadors reaching consensus on the bloc’s 18th sanctions round targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, Suspilne reports. Malta and Slovakia reportedly lifted their vetoes after receiving critical assurances, clearing the way for formal adoption at the EU Council’s meeting later today, 18 July.

Malta and Slovakia lift vetoes, clearing way for approval

According to Suspilne, Malta withdrew its objection after receiving written guarantees from the European Commission. The country wanted confirmation that the proposed oil price cap would not strengthen Russia’s shadow fleet, a concern tied to Malta’s large shipping sector.

Pro-Russian Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced earlier on Facebook that Slovakia had also dropped its veto. His government received EU guarantees related to gas prices and supply stability. Fico, however, underlined that Slovakia would never support ending Russian gas imports after 1 January 2028.

Both countries had previously blocked consensus on the package, which was introduced by the European Commission in June. 

Package includes pipeline bans and price cap changes

The new Russia sanctions package will include a formal ban on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said the bloc will also reduce the oil price cap as part of efforts to cut the Kremlin’s war revenues.

Kallas called the deal “one of the strongest” sanctions packages yet, noting it is designed to shrink Russia’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine. She also confirmed that the EU will continue to increase the costs of aggression for Moscow.

Germany and Sweden requested that the package be placed on the Council’s agenda under “Other business.” Once the General Affairs Council formally approves it, the sanctions will become legally binding.

Shadow fleet, banks, and drone tech also targeted

The package includes sanctions on 105 ships from Russia’s shadow fleet and on the entities enabling their operations. A registry of ship flags will be introduced to identify and track these vessels, which are used to obscure the origin of Russian oil.

In addition, 22 Russian banks will face new financial restrictions aimed at cutting their access to international funding. Brussels will also ban the export of European technologies used in Russian drone production.

Kallas confirmed that Chinese banks helping Russia evade restrictions are among the foreign entities targeted. The EU plans to limit their ability to support Russian financial transactions that bypass sanctions.

Rosneft refinery in India and indoctrination networks included

For the first time, the EU will sanction a foreign-based refinery—India’s largest Rosneft facility—due to its role in processing and moving Russian oil. The package also targets individuals and organizations involved in indoctrinating Ukrainian children in Russian-occupied territories.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys welcomed the agreement, stating that the combination of shipping, energy, and financial measures would ensure Russia remains on track to lose access to “blood money.” He also urged the US Senate to pass its own Russia sanctions legislation to align with EU efforts.

Last night’s Russian drone strike, including 35 one-way attack and decoy drones, killed a railway worker and injured several more civilians in three Ukrainian regions as the Shahed drones hit homes and infrastructure across three oblasts. 

Ukrainian air defenses intercept 11 drones, but 18 strike targets

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Moscow’s forces launched 35 unmanned aerial vehicles, including 29 Shaheds and multiple decoy drones, from the directions of Russia’s Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. The attack began around 21:30 on 17 July and continued into the early hours of 18 July.

Air defense units reportedly destroyed 11 drones over Ukraine’s northern and eastern regions. Six decoy drones disappeared from radars or were suppressed by electronic warfare.

Railway worker killed in Dnipropetrovsk oblast

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a Russian drone strike kills a railway worker and injures two others. The head of the oblast administration, Serhii Lysak, confirmed that drones hit communities in Pavlohrad and Synelnykove districts. A 52-year-old man was killed in the Verbkivska and Bohdanivska areas, and two men aged 38 and 40 were wounded. A fire broke out at a local transport facility, which was later extinguished.

Ukrzaliznytsia added that a drone also struck an electric locomotive. The train operator was killed, and his assistant was wounded but remains in stable condition.

Three Shahed drones were downed over the oblast by Ukrainian air defenses.

According to Lysak, a small FPV kamikaze drone also targeted Nikopol. The aftermath is still under investigation.

Elderly man injured in Zaporizhzhia oblast

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian drones struck Andriivka village in the Zaporizhzhia district. According to oblast head Ivan Fedorov, nine Shahed drones hit the area, injuring a 79-year-old man. Fires erupted at non-residential buildings and several structures were destroyed.

Four civilians wounded in Kharkiv oblast

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian drones targeted the city of Chuhuiv. Mayor Halyna Minaieva reported that four civilians were wounded. The strike damaged residential buildings, a family doctor’s office, and an educational institution.

A drone deal between Trump and Ukraine could bring Kyiv’s battlefield-proven UAVs into American hands, and more US-made weapons to Ukraine. The New York Post reports that President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are considering what’s being called a “mega deal.” 

Kyiv offers frontline drone experience for US weapons

In an exclusive interview with the New York Post, Zelenskyy revealed that his latest discussions with Trump centered around an exchange of drone technology and weaponry. Under the proposed agreement, Ukraine would sell its combat-hardened drone systems to the United States. In return, Washington would sell Ukraine a significant array of American weapons.

“This is really a mega deal, a win-win, as they say,” Zelenskyy told the NYP. “The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal.”

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is ready to share its knowledge gained from over three years of fighting against Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to him, this experience could help both the US and European partners adapt to modern warfare. Zelenskyy said that parallel talks were also ongoing with Denmark, Norway, and Germany.

Ukraine’s drones reshape modern warfare

The possible drone deal between Trump and Ukraine builds on Ukraine’s rapid evolution into a drone warfare powerhouse. Ukraine was the first to start using FPV drones as precision weapons against Russian equipment and personnel. Additionally, Ukraine also developed the long-range naval kamikaze drones, which sank multiple Russian navy’s ships. Kyiv’s long-range aerial drones reach as far as 1,300 km into Russia. In May, a Ukrainian marine drone destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet over the Black Sea, using onboard air-to-air missiles.

One of the most dramatic operations, dubbed “Operation Spider Web,” saw 117 Ukrainian drones launched simultaneously deep inside Russia. They took out dozens of Russian irreplaceable strategic bombers at four separate bases.

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First battlefield capitulation to robots: Ukrainian drones force Russian surrender and seize fortified position (video)

US drone tech lags behind, experts warn

While Ukraine surges ahead, US defense officials and military experts have warned that the US is falling behind in drone warfare. The New York Post notes that American troops lack the experience to effectively operate UAVs or defend against them. Trent Emeneker, a project manager at the Defense Innovation Unit, told the New York Times, 

“We all know the same thing. We aren’t giving the American war fighter what they need to survive warfare today.”

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has recently issued a new order to “cut red tape” on domestic drone production.

Ukraine’s new Magura W6P naval drone patrols 1000 km, offering longer range and smarter sea reconnaissance, Militarnyi reports. This latest model shifts from strike operations to focus on maritime patrol and intelligence gathering. Militarnyi’s correspondent visited a closed presentation of the new maritime robotic system, recently organized by Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence agency.

Magura W6P naval drone patrols 1000 km with enhanced stability and sensors

Magura W6P replaces kamikaze capabilities with advanced reconnaissance systems and an extended operational radius from 800 km to 1000 km. Unlike its predecessor Magura v5, which reached speeds up to 50 knots, the W6P has a top speed of 36 knots and cruises at 21 knots powered by a 200-horsepower Suzuki DF200 gasoline engine. This change favors endurance over speed for longer patrols.

The drone features a unique trimaran hull with two outriggers, increasing stability at sea and reducing side rolling during waves or movement. This design also expands the deck width to 2 meters, providing space for mounting equipment such as launch containers for strike FPV drones, although the W6P itself no longer performs kamikaze attacks. The full loaded weight is 1,900 kg, including a 400 kg payload capacity.

Advanced radar, optical systems, and satellite communications enhance reconnaissance

Magura W6P is equipped with a gyro-stabilized optical station featuring day and thermal imaging channels. The drone’s onboard Furuno radar detects ships up to 30 kilometers away and large tankers up to 60 kilometers, though the low antenna height may reduce this range. Smaller boats can be detected within 7 kilometers.

Additionally, the drone uses a multichannel satellite communication system to maintain control despite enemy electronic warfare attempts.

Magura W6P part of Ukraine’s growing naval drone defense system

Ukraine’s naval forces and developers are working to integrate unmanned systems like Magura W6P into a comprehensive maritime defense network. These drones will patrol, locate, and help neutralize threats in Ukraine’s waters.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told ministers to boost local arms from 40% to 50% within six months as part of a wartime strategy to strengthen Ukraine’s military self-reliance. He outlined the directive during a major speech before parliament, following the formal approval of a reshuffled Cabinet of Ministers on 17 July.

Zelenskyy tasks new cabinet with weapons overhaul

Addressing lawmakers and the new Cabinet, Zelenskyy noted:

“We are transforming the management of the defense sector and weapons production in such a way that, in six months, the share of specifically Ukrainian-made weapons available to our soldiers will significantly increase. Currently, about 40% of all weapons in the hands of our soldiers are made in Ukraine. In six months, it must be no less than 50%,” Zelenskyy said. 

He emphasized that boosting domestic arms production was essential in a global environment where attention to Russia-Ukraine’s war is being diluted by other crises.

Ministers told to audit defense deals

Zelenskyy also instructed the reshuffled cabinet to carry out a full audit of all existing defense-related agreements and commitments. These include international partnerships, production deals, memorandums, and resilience programs.

The president stressed that these agreements must be implemented “100% in the interests of Ukraine.” 

New prime minister confirmed

During the 17 July parliamentary session, lawmakers approved Zelenskyy’s nominee for prime minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko. Before the reshuffle, she served as Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

Most ministers either retained their roles or were reassigned to new posts. The president called for immediate implementation of the new government program and said results must be delivered “daily.”

Moscow’s recycled lies and nuclear bluster aim to fracture NATO and halt US aid for Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 16 July. The Kremlin is reviving old narratives, including nuclear threats and faux diplomacy, in a coordinated information campaign targeting the United States’ renewed commitment to Ukraine and NATO.

Kremlin revives nuclear threats to pressure NATO

ISW says that the Kremlin is “recycling several longstanding informational narratives, including nuclear threats, in a renewed effort to break the United States away from Ukraine and the NATO alliance.” 

On 16 July, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that all provisions of Russia’s nuclear doctrine remain active. He emphasized that nuclear powers must not “incite” non-nuclear states and warned that nuclear countries must “answer” for such incitement.

Russia had updated its nuclear doctrine in fall 2024, introducing a clause suggesting that aggression by a non-nuclear country backed by a nuclear power may be treated as a joint attack on Russia.

Blaming the West for Moscow’s war

Responding to a question about Trump’s push for increased NATO military aid to Ukraine, Peskov claimed that “Europeans maintain a rabid militaristic attitude towards Moscow.“

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov echoed this approach, stating on 15 July that Moscow’s illegal invasion of Ukraine aims to eliminate “the threats that NATO has created” on Russia’s borders.

ISW highlights that these narratives have remained constant throughout the war and are being revived to undermine unity between the United States and Europe.

Russia casts itself as the peacemaker

Amid the Western calls to force Moscow into meaningful negotiations to end the war, Peskov  urged the international community to pressure Ukraine—not Russia, the aggressor country—into bilateral negotiations. ISW assesses this move as an effort to “falsely portray Russia as willing to negotiate while undermining Ukraine’s credibility.”

Strategy targets transatlantic unity

ISW notes that Russia is using the same “rhetorical line” that it has used throughout the war “to deter Western support for Ukraine, but has shifted its objective from preventing new support for Ukraine to reversing recent support” and to break the US from its NATO allies.

“The Kremlin is prioritizing informational campaigns aimed at undermining NATO unity and stoking discontent between the United States and its European allies in order to degrade Ukraine’s defense capabilities and achieve its longstanding war aims that amount to Ukraine’s capitulation,” ISW wrote.

Lithuania protests to Belarus over a Russian drone that entered from its territory and crashed just inside NATO airspace. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry called the incursion a serious violation in an official statement on Facebook and demanded urgent explanations from Minsk.

Lithuania cites airspace violation in formal protest to Belarus

On 16 July, Lithuania summoned the acting chargé d’affaires of Belarus and handed over a diplomatic note of protest. The protest came after a Russian-made Gerbera drone illegally entered Lithuania and crashed roughly one kilometer from the border.

In a post published on its official Facebook page, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry wrote that the drone had crossed from Belarusian territory into Lithuanian airspace on 10 July and demanded a prompt explanation from Minsk. It described the incident as an illegal intrusion by a Russian-made, multifunctional unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The Ministry called on Belarus to take “all necessary measures” to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again.

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Lithuania tracks fake Russian Shahed from Belarus—NATO jets scrambled

Belarus held responsible for Russian drone’s NATO incursion

Lithuania’s Secretary of National Security Kęstutis Budrys, quoted by Delfi, said Belarus is fully responsible for allowing the drone to cross into Lithuania. “This is a serious violation,” Budrys stated. He noted that the object could have been part of a UAV group used in Ukraine.

“It’s likely this drone was used in the war,” he said, suggesting the Gerbera UAV might have been part of Russia’s combat operation before it reached NATO airspace.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry emphasized that Belarus must explain the incident immediately and prevent any future drone violations from its territory.

Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė told LRT that authorities are still investigating the intent behind the drone’s entry.

“We can confirm it was a Gerbera,” she said. “Its use could vary — we are trying to establish why it was flown here.”

Russia’s chemical attacks in Ukraine have exceeded 10,000 incidents since February 2023, according to Anton Honchar, chief specialist of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Directorate of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Support Command. Honchar told Ukrainska Pravda that Russian forces began using chemical weapons against Ukrainians as early as 2014–2015.

Ukrainian mobile teams specializing in chemical detection are now deployed across the front, collecting samples of grenades, contaminated gear, and aerosols. These groups work in close coordination with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Special Operations Forces. Honchar noted that over the past month alone, Ukrainian teams recorded about 760 instances of chemical weapons use by Russian troops.

Banned toxic grenades lead Russia’s battlefield arsenal

According to Honchar, 88% of Russia’s chemical attacks involve hand grenades such as the RG-Vo and K-51, both of which are banned for combat use under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). These grenades are intended for riot control, not military operations, yet Russia reportedly uses them to flush Ukrainian troops out of trenches and bunkers. Kyiv accuses Moscow of violating Article 1, Clause 5 of the CWC, which prohibits the use of toxic chemicals as weapons against enemy forces.

Another widely documented agent is chloropicrin, once used to test gas masks. Now, it’s being weaponized in improvised explosive devices or loaded into containers and dropped from drones.

Evidence collected for international prosecution

Honchar stressed that Ukraine now has the technical ability to gather battlefield samples according to international forensic standards. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) requires strict procedures to validate evidence in court. Ukraine’s field units adhere to these rules, enabling the country to pursue accountability at both the national and international level.

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Russian forces drop banned chemical irritants from drones on Ukraine

Moscow’s chemical warfare infrastructure exposed

Ukraine accuses Russia of continuing to research, produce, and distribute chemical weapons despite claiming to have destroyed its stockpiles in 2018. The OPCW had been told by Moscow that its inventory was eliminated, yet Ukraine says banned agents are being actively used. One case cited by Honchar involved Russian General Kirillov, head of the Russian Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops. According to the SBU, he was responsible for supplying banned grenades to frontline units before being eliminated in December 2024.

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Russia’s chemical weapons use in Ukraine now “large-scale,” intelligence shows

Russian units repeatedly implicated in toxic attacks

Russia’s 155th Naval Infantry Brigade has been identified as one of the units most often using chemical weapons. Kyiv says these attacks are concentrated in combat-heavy directions such as Pokrovsk, Kupiansk, and Lyman, where Russian forces attempt to force Ukrainian troops out of fortified positions.

Honchar said Russian forces prefer to use chemical weapons during spring, summer, and autumn due to better evaporation conditions, and mainly during daylight assaults when their ground offensives are most active.

Germany’s Defense Ministry has denied knowledge of any Patriot systems for Ukraine currently leaving German territory, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s public claim. SRF reports that German officials say no such delivery is underway.

Germany contradicts Trump on Patriot system shipments

A spokesperson for Germany’s Defense Ministry said they could not confirm that any Patriot systems were presently on the way to Ukraine.

“That is not known to me,” the spokesperson stated, as cited by SRF.

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Reuters: Trump promised Patriots for Ukraine—Europe got the invoice

Trump, speaking to journalists in Washington on 15 July, claimed that the first Patriot systems were already being delivered,

“They are coming from Germany,” he added without providing any further details.

Berlin’s response directly contradicts this assertion.

NATO confirms plans for rapid Patriot delivery

Meanwhile, NATO is preparing to speed up deployment of additional Patriot systems to Ukraine, SRF says. The announcement comes as the country faces some of the heaviest Russian air attacks of the war.

NATO Air Commander Alexus Grynkewich said preparations were ongoing and involved close cooperation with Germany. Speaking at a conference in Wiesbaden, he stated,

“Preparations are underway, we are working very closely with the Germans on the Patriot relocation.” He added, “The instruction I received is to withdraw them as quickly as possible.”

Allies to discuss unresolved issues in upcoming meeting

The German Defense Ministry also noted that a virtual meeting of Ukraine’s supporting nations — the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) — would be held on 21 July. The goal of the meeting is to resolve remaining questions and implement the delivery of Patriot systems to Ukraine as swiftly as possible.

US President Donald Trump promised Patriot missile systems for Ukraine—but it is Europe that must now provide them, Reuters reports. NATO allies are scrambling to decide who will donate the weapons and how soon they can be delivered.

Allies caught off guard by Trump’s Patriot deal

Trump announced on 14 July that some Patriot missile systems for Ukraine should arrive “within days.” But while Kyiv prepares to receive them, European governments are facing unexpected pressure to give up their own systems, Reuters says. Meanwhile, Trump claimed that the first Patriots allegedly already were “on the way” to Ukraine.

During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump claimed that Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Canada had agreed to participate. However, high-ranking officials in at least two of those countries told Reuters they only learned of the plan when Trump made it public.

“It is my clear sense that nobody has been briefed about the exact details in advance,” one European ambassador said.

NATO to coordinate shipments under US-led framework

A NATO official said the alliance will oversee deliveries through its Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine mission in Germany. The official listed Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Finland as committed to the effort. But the exact numbers and timeline remain under discussion.

Europe pays for Trump’s pledge

While Trump takes credit for the deal, European leaders are voicing frustration.

“If we pay for these weapons, it’s our support,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. “If you promise to give the weapons, but say somebody else is going to pay for it, it’s not really given by you, is it?”

Germany’s defense minister said no Patriot system would arrive in Kyiv before the summer ends. Other countries—including Greece and Spain—have previously refused to part with their Patriots, calling them essential for national defense.

Logistics unclear

A US official said the Trump administration is now reviewing NATO inventories to identify potential trades. In some cases, allies might give up Patriots in exchange for earlier deliveries of other weapons or cancel pending orders under the Foreign Military Sales program.

Drone strikes hit Tula and Voronezh overnight, and reached Moscow Oblast, piercing Russian air defenses in an alleged Ukrainian UAV raids. Russia claimed to intercept 122 drones. The extent of the damage from the attack remains unclear.

Ukraine targets military infrastructure in Tula

Russian news Telegram channel Astra reports that in the early hours of 17 July, drones targeted Russian facilities in Tula Oblast. Explosions thundered in Novomoskovsk, where key military-industrial sites are located, Liga reported. In Shchyokino, Tula Oblast, local residents reported a fire breaking out after a drone attack.

According to Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+, the Azot chemical plant in Shchyokino was hit directly during the attack. The M-500 methanol production unit was reportedly damaged. The plant carried out emergency technical procedures in response. Azot is one of Tula Oblast’s key chemical industry sites, producing ammonia, methanol, and other nitrogen-based compounds used in explosives and defense-related manufacturing.

Tula Oblast head Dmitri Milyaev said that as of 06:00, the threat of more drone attacks remained active in the oblast. Later, he claimed that drone “debris” fell on the premises of an unnamed enterprise.

Ukraine pierces Russian air defenses: drone strikes hit Tula, Voronezh

Russia claims it downed 122 Ukrainian drones last night.https://t.co/LHXY6IM02z
#1-3 Tula, #4 Roslavl, by TG/Supernova+ pic.twitter.com/VBE27i8sPd

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 17, 2025

Drone strikes hit Voronezh

Drone strikes hit Tula and Voronezh nearly simultaneously. In Voronezh, drones reached deep into the city, with one, possible shot down by Russia’s air defenses, reportedly striking two floors of a high-rise residential building in the city’s left-bank area.

Governor Aleksandr Gusev claimed that air defenses had destroyed at least five UAVs over Voronezh Oblast, yet later acknowledged that fragments had struck a residential tower. The authorities claim four civilians were injured.

Moscow also under threat amid massive drone wave

Mayor Sergei Sobianin claimed that three drones were allegedly intercepted while attempting to enter Moscow’s airspace. Loud blasts were reported in Zelenograd. Residents described multiple explosion-like sounds during the night. The drone assault affected aviation. Departures and arrivals at Vnukovo Airport were delayed as a precaution during the strikes.

In Smolensk Oblast, local residents reported a strike on the town of Roslavl, home to a key aviation support plant under the Rostec conglomerate, according to Astra.

Russia claims 122 drones downed across 13 oblasts

Russia’s Ministry of Defense alleged that Ukrainian drones targeted at least 13 oblasts overnight, claiming 122 UAVs were shot down. According to the ministry, most drones were intercepted over Bryansk, Kursk, and Oryol oblasts. Additional UAVs were allegedly downed over Voronezh, Tula, Moscow Oblast, occupied Crimea, and several others.

Russia’s manpower crisis is forcing the Kremlin to rely on covert recruiting networks, where volunteer fighters in mercenary structures are seen as “expendable manpower,” according to leaked recordings cited by RFE/RL.

“Second-rate infantry” in Russia’s strategy

In a conversation leaked late last year, Russian lawmaker Aleksandr Borodai described non-army recruits as “second-rate infantry.” He said their task is to exhaust Ukrainian troops before regular Russian forces attack. In the same recording, he referred to them as “expendable manpower.”

The statement highlights how Russia increasingly treats irregular fighters — often recruited through unregulated or covert systems — as disposable assets in a war now approaching 1 million Russian casualties, according to estimates.

With the memory of the September 2022 “partial mobilization” still fresh, and public opposition strong, the Kremlin is avoiding new mandatory call-ups. Instead, it relies on shadow recruitment structures to sustain frontline numbers without triggering mass unrest.

GRU-controlled Redut and Dobrokor feed the front with mercenaries

Systema, RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit, reveals that both the Redut and Dobrokor networks are controlled by the GRU, Russia’s main military intelligence agency. The structures are designed to enlist men and women under the guise of “volunteer formations” — but operate effectively as mercenary pipelines.

Unlike Russia’s Defense Ministry contracts, which extend until Russia ends its war in Ukraine, mercenary contracts through Redut or Dobrokor have fixed terms — usually six to twelve months — and do not renew automatically.

Recruits through Dobrokor sign formal contracts and receive legal military status. Monthly pay starts at $2,600. In exchange, they cannot leave before their contract ends without risking prosecution for desertion. Mediazona reported that over 20,000 desertion cases had already reached Russian courts as of May.

Redut: cash, secrecy, and no legal existence

Redut, by contrast, operates in a legal gray zone. It does not require fitness screening, accepts people with criminal records, and allows early departure. It attracts recruits by offering cash payments, which can be hidden from creditors, courts, or ex-spouses.

However, Redut mercenaries are not legally considered military personnel. They are ineligible for state compensation, hospital treatment, or veteran status.

“From a legal point of view, you don’t exist,” a recruiter for the Nevsky unit told Systema, adding: “There’s no service, nothing: No hospitals, no rehabilitation, nothing.”

Redut also provides no gear or uniforms up front. One recruiter told RFE/RL that new fighters are given 50,000 rubles ($640) only with their third paycheck — assuming they survive that long.

Small bonuses, big risks

The Russian Defense Ministry offers up to $46,000 in signing bonuses for official contracts. Dobrokor pays far less — often $640–$1,280. Redut mercenaries get no regional bonus at all.

Despite these risks and limitations, thousands continue to join. Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev claimed over 210,000 people signed military contracts in the first half of 2025. Another 18,000 joined so-called “volunteer” formations — a term now widely used to mask informal, often unregulated mercenary service.

Janis Kluge of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs estimates the actual number of contract soldiers may be closer to 190,000.

Last night, Russia’s drones killed a civilian in Dnipro, and injured five others in another round of daily long-range drone attacks against Ukrainian residential areas, local authorities reported.

Civilian killed and five injured as Dnipro hit by Shahed drones

Russia’s Iranian-designed Shahed long-range explosive drones conducted a massive attack on Dnipro city in the middle of Ukraine after midnight on 17 July. According to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast head Serhii Lysak, the attack triggered multiple fires and caused damage to both industrial and residential infrastructure.

Public broadcaster Suspilne reported several explosions in the city throughout the night. The first were heard in Dnipro and its suburb, Samar, around 00:10, followed by repeated blasts at 00:12 and a further series at 00:23. Lysak confirmed the situation in Dnipro was “loud.” Ukrainian air defense shot down 22 drones, but some reached their targets, according to the region’s chief.

Explosions and fires were reported not only in Dnipro itself but also in the surrounding Solone and Slobozhanske communities. A private residence, greenhouse, and utility structure were damaged. Industrial enterprises also caught fire.

Nikopol and Marhanets attacked with drones and rocket artillery

Lysak says the Russian military also struck the Nikopol and Marhanets in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast communities using FPV drones, Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, and air-dropped explosives. The attacks destroyed a civilian vehicle and damaged a single-family home and a farm structure. 

Zaporizhzhia hit with bombs, drones, artillery across nine settlements

While the Dnipro strike caused civilian casualties, Zaporizhzhia Oblast endured extensive bombardment throughout the past 24 hours. According to oblast head Ivan Fedorov, Russian forces carried out six bomb attacks on Plavni, Huliaypole, Uspenivka, Novoandriivka, and Bilohiria.

In total, Russian forces launched 420 drones—mostly small FPVs—targeting nine settlements across the oblast. Five Grad rocket attacks struck Huliaypole and Novodanylivka. Russian artillery shelled seven frontline settlements 171 times. Fedorov noted that no civilians were injured in these strikes.

Ukraine is now using German-supplied Oerlikon Skynex short-range air defense (SHORAD) system against Russia’s Shahed drones, deploying the advanced cannon system to defend critical infrastructure from Russia’s escalating drone attacks. Ukraine’s Air Force released footage showing the system intercepting Russian drones with short, deadly bursts.

Ukrainian Air Force confirms Skynex performance in drone interceptions

The Ukrainian Air Force showed Rheinmetall’s Skynex air defense system is in action, sharing a video of the system engaging Russian one-way attack drones. 

“The Rheinmetall Skynex air defense gun system, now in service with the Ukrainian Air Force, is delivering flawless results in destroying enemy strike UAVs,” according to the Air Force.

The Air Force added:

“We’ll keep the time and location classified, but as you can see in the footage, the effective performance of the 35-mm automated air defense gun is clearly inspiring our defenders of the sky!”

In the shared video, Ukrainian forces used Skynex specifically to intercept Russian Shahed drones. The video shows short bursts from 35-mm cannons downing each incoming UAV with precision, Militarnyi noted.

How German-supplied Skynex works against Shaheds 

The footage shows the use of advanced hit efficiency and destruction (AHEAD) type 35-mm airburst round ammunition. These rounds are triggered in-flight after leaving the barrel, detonating near the drone and creating a cloud of preformed fragments. This burst effect is designed to maximize kill probability against fast-moving, low-flying UAVs.

Militarnyi notes that each Shahed drone shown in the video was destroyed with a single short burst.

Skynex protects strategic targets, not front lines

The cannon systems are not self-propelled, which limits their role to static object defense. As Militarnyi explains,

“Since the gun mounts are not self-propelled, their main task is site-based air defense: protecting airfields, critical infrastructure, and so on.”

Each Skynex battery includes four 35-mm cannons, a control post, and a radar station responsible for target detection and gun direction. The system is fully automated and capable of autonomous operation once targets are confirmed.

Ukraine received the first two Skynex systems in early 2024.

Ukraine is now fielding anti-drone bullets for NATO rifles, offering front-line troops a rapid-response tool against Russia’s increasing use of small UAVs, such as FPV and munition-dropping drones.

Ukraine introduces new bullets to fight drones with existing rifles

Brave1, Ukraine’s government-backed defense innovation grant program, published a video on 30 June showing the bullets at live-fire tests.

According to Forbes, the new rounds, fired from standard 5.56 mm NATO rifles such as the M4 and CZ Bren, fragment midair after discharge, scattering into five high-speed pellets. This shotgun-like spread enables troops to hit small drones at distances of up to 50-60 meters.

Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military outlet, reported that the bullets are already in limited operational use.

“Horoshok (an informal name for the new bullet meaning ‘pea’, – Ed.) is now in production and has been officially codified by the Ministry of Defense. With any luck, it will soon be standard issue for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, available alongside conventional ammunition,” Militarnyi wrote last week. 

The Defense Ministry has approved the design, and Brave1’s post suggests that large-scale production may follow.

“The manufacturer has already codified this development (i.e., it has been codified by the Defense Ministry, – Ed.). Our shared goal is for every infantryman to have a magazine of these rounds and be able to load them into their rifle in the event of an aerial threat,” Brave1 reported.

When a drone is detected, the soldier can swap magazines without switching weapons, saving critical seconds and avoiding the burden of carrying a separate anti-drone system, Forbes notes.

A kinetic solution to counter evolving drone threats

Ukrainian electronic warfare and air-defense systems remain active but cannot fully cover the extended front. Russia is also using UAVs designed to evade Ukrainian jamming capabilities, including short-lived but highly effective drones.

By using kinetic means instead of relying solely on jamming, these bullets may disrupt the ongoing arms race between drones and electronic warfare. Forbes highlights that Russian adaptations — like fiber-optic tethered drones immune to jamming — are pushing Ukraine to adopt direct-fire solutions.

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Amid the ongoing Russian invasion, the new Ursula sabotage-ready river drone can either strike with explosives or deploy an FPV drone mid-mission, giving Ukrainian forces new options for river-based operations.

Ursula sabotage-ready river drone expands battlefield versatility

According to Militarnyi, the Association of Ukrainian Engineers reports that Ukrainian firm NoviTechNet has developed a new compact unmanned surface vessel named Ursula. Measuring about one meter in length, the vessel can support different mission profiles depending on its configuration.

According to the Association, the Ursula sabotage-ready river drone can perform reconnaissance along rivers, canals, and coastal areas. It can also operate in kamikaze mode as, in the developers’ words, a “floating mine,” carrying an explosive payload to strike enemy targets. Alternatively, it can transport and launch a small FPV drone — either for surveillance or attack — directly from the water. 

Ukraine’s growing use of unmanned river vessels

This is not the first Ukrainian-made unmanned boat built for river operations. Earlier this year, Ukraine’s Defense Forces began testing the Black Widow 2 drone boat. Like Ursula, it measures one meter long. It weighs 8 kg, reaches speeds up to 40 km/h, and has an operational range of 10 km.

Black Widow 2 can remain in standby mode for several days while awaiting a target. However, unlike Ursula, it does not carry or launch FPV drones.

“Controlling a one-meter electric boat may seem like child’s play, but the vessel is more dangerous than it looks. Besides spying and recon missions, the river drone can be loaded with several kilograms of explosives. The 3 kg payload, according to the developer, is enough to destroy small boats and vessels,” Militarnyi noted.

Russia used Belarus airspace during a deadly drone assault that contributed to over 3,000 aerial weapons fired on Ukraine in the past week. The strikes killed at least seven civilians and injured 20 more over the past 24 hours. Russia targeted rear areas during the day and frontline cities overnight, Ukrainian official sources reported.

Russian bombs kill civilians in Sumy city and oblast

On 12 July around 13:00, Russian guided bombs hit the Sumy community, local authorities reported. A married couple, both 65 years old, died. The strike destroyed two homes and damaged at least 14 others.

That evening around 22:00, nine Russian Shahed drones and two guided bombs struck Shostka. The attack injured three civilians. A 53-year-old and a 57-year-old man are in serious condition. A 37-year-old woman received outpatient care.

The Sumy Oblast Military Administration confirmed damage to 12 homes and a school. A local business also sustained hits. Operational Command North reported nine Shahed drone strikes and two guided bomb impacts.

Air Force confirms 60 drones launched, 40 neutralized

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that from 14:00 on 12 July through the morning of 13 July, Russia launched 60 drones. These included Shahed explosive drones and decoy UAVs.

More than 40 Shaheds were reportedly part of the attack. Over 20 of them targeted rear oblasts during daylight hours. Overnight, Russia struck frontline cities in Donetsk, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted 20 drones. Another 20 were either suppressed or lost radar contact due to electronic warfare.

Zelenskyy: Russia launches 3,000+ aerial weapons in a week, escalating air war to prolong conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 1,800 drones, 1,200 guided bombs, and 83 missiles in the past seven days. He warned that Moscow seeks to terrorize cities and delay peace.

Ukraine intercepted hundreds of Shaheds this week. Zelenskyy called for more support to expand air defense technology.

“We must neutralize this threat,” he said. “Then diplomacy can begin to work.”

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ISW: Russia’s true drone target is Ukrainian and Western morale—Ukraine needs more Patriots

Russian strikes kill and injure Kherson civilians

After midnight on 13 July, Russian forces shelled Kherson’s Korabelnyi district. A 75-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man suffered brain and blast injuries. Medics hospitalized both.

Earlier, a 72-year-old man sustained shrapnel wounds in another drone strike. In Bilozerka, Russian artillery fire injured a 40-year-old man at home. He received outpatient treatment.

On 12 July, Russia killed one woman and injured four more locals in Kherson Oblast, local authorities reported.

More civilians killed and wounded across Ukraine, local authorities say

In Donetsk oblast, Russian attacks killed three people on 12 July. The dead were from Sloviansk, Myrnohrad, and Bilozerske. Seven more civilians suffered injuries across the oblast.

In Novodanylivka, Zaporizhzhia oblast, rescuers found a 77-year-old woman’s body in a destroyed home. Shelling likely trapped one more local resident under the rubble. A 66-year-old man also suffered injuries in Polohy district.

In Synelnykove, Dnipropetrovsk oblast, a Russian guided bomb killed an 88-year-old woman. The Russian attacks also injured a 37-year-old man on the previous day. Fires damaged five houses. Emergency crews contained the blaze.

Kharkiv oblast reported new injuries over the past 24 hours. Russian strikes hit Kupiansk and Slobozhanske. The attacks injured three men, aged 72, 69, and 67.

Belarus again enables Russian air operations

Russia routed some Shahed drones through Belarusian airspace during the 12 July drone strike on Ukraine, Militarnyi reported. The outlet cited the Nikolaevsky Vanyok Telegram channel, linked to the Ukrainian air defenses, which reported that three Shaheds were approaching Ukraine’s Zhytomyr Oblast from Belarus.

Moscow has used this tactic before. In 2024, similar drone overflights were recorded, and Belarusian jets reportedly shot some down. 

SBU Colonel Ivan Voronych’s killers — a foreign man and woman working for Russia’s FSB security service — resisted arrest and died in a firefight with law enforcers during a special operation led by the Security Service of Ukraine.

Foreign assassins tracked after bold murder of SBU officer

On 13 July, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and National Police reported the elimination of a foreign hit squad in Kyiv Oblast. This occured days after they murdered SBU Colonel Ivan Voronych in the capital on 10 July. The SBU reports that the man and woman — both foreign nationals — had been sent to Ukraine by Russia’s FSB with clear instructions to assassinate the SBU officer.

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According to the investigation, the FSB handler instructed the duo to surveil Voronych, identify his daily routine and routes, and later provided them with coordinates of a stash containing a pistol with a suppressor. In Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi District, one of the assailants approached Voronych on the morning of 10 July near his residence and fired several point-blank shots. The officer died on the spot. The foreign hit squad in Kyiv had tried to go into hiding following the assassination.

The case was registered under Article 348 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, military serviceman, or public order official.

Special operation ends with foreign suspects killed

The head of the SBU, Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk, personally oversaw the special operation to identify and locate the foreign hit squad in Kyiv, the agency said. The operation involved covert investigative and counterintelligence measures. Ukrainian forces discovered the suspects’ hideout and moved in early morning on 13 July.

“When they were being detained, they resisted. There was an exchange of fire, and the scum were eliminated,” said Maliuk. He added, “Let me remind you: the only future for the enemy on Ukrainian territory is death.”

Maliuk thanked National Police officers for their professional cooperation and emphasized that countering Russian intelligence operations remains a core priority for the SBU. He stated that the service successfully prevents 85% of crimes the enemy attempts to commit in Ukraine.

SBU colonel targeted for role in cross-border operations

The New York Times has previously reported that Colonel Ivan Voronych played a role in Ukrainian military operations in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. He served in the SBU since 1997 and was part of the elite Alpha Special Operations Center.

Ukrainian intelligence officer and former SBU operative Roman Chervinskyi described Voronych as one of the initiators of the SBU’s field of activity that has “caused many problems for the Russians.”

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Russia’s domestic Iskander-M and Pyongyang-supplied KN-23 ballistic missile stockpile has dropped from 580 to 300 since May, Ukrainian intelligence told Liga. The report does not include other widely used types of Russian ballistic missiles, such as the S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air systems repurposed for ground attacks, or the Kinzhal, which is essentially an air-launched variant of the Iskander-M.

Ukrainian intel: Russia loses nearly half its advanced ballistic arsenal

As of early July 2025, Russia possesses around 300 ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M type and their North Korean equivalents, the KN-23, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) told Liga in response to a request. The stockpile currently includes over 250 Russian-made Iskander-M missiles and about 50 KN-23s supplied by North Korea.

Ukrainian intelligence previously stated that in mid-May, Russia had approximately 580 ballistic missiles of this class. The current total confirms a nearly twofold drop in supply over the course of just six weeks.

Dozens of launchers remain deployed near Ukrainian border

According to HUR, over 60 tactical missile system launchers capable of firing these ballistic missiles are presently deployed close to Ukraine’s borders, indicating the continued threat of Iskander-M strikes.

In May, HUR had reported that Russia had stepped up its missile production. Compared to 2024, production volumes had increased from 40 to 60 missiles per month. 

Almost 90 ballistic missiles launched on Ukraine in two months

According to the Air Force of Ukraine data, during May and June, Russia used 88 ballistic missiles — a combination of Iskander-M and KN-23 — in attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted and destroyed 23 of them.

In early June, Ukrainian forces eliminated three launchers in Bryansk oblast, from which Russian troops had been firing missiles at Ukraine. 

Commenting on Russia’s 12 July drone attack, ISW said it continues to assess that Russia’s ongoing large-scale air assaults are intended to degrade Ukrainian and Western morale and highlight Ukraine’s need for continued Western support for its interceptor drone program and for Western-supplied air defense systems, especially US Patriots.

ISW: Russia targets morale in Ukraine and the West

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Kremlin is using mass air attacks not solely to cause damage, but to psychologically exhaust Ukraine and its allies. ISW emphasized that this psychological dimension is now central to Russia’s strategy, and Ukraine’s continued ability to protect its skies depends heavily on consistent Western aid.

“ISW continues to assess that Russia’s ongoing large-scale strikes are intended to degrade Ukrainian and Western morale and underscore Ukraine’s need for continued Western support for Ukraine’s interceptor drone program and for the continued supply of Western air defense systems, especially US-provided Patriot systems,” ISW wrote.

ISW has already noted previously that “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.”

Russia launched third massive drone-missile strike this month

As Euromaidan Press reported yesterday, Russia launched a major combined drone and missile strike overnight on 11–12 July — its third large-scale air attack this month. The Ukrainian Air Force stated that Russia launched 339 Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones and 258 decoy UAVs, totaling 597 drones, from several locations within Russia. Russia also fired 26 Kh-101 cruise missiles from airspace over Saratov Oblast.

Ukraine’s air defenders downed 319 Shaheds and 25 missiles, while another 258 drones were either suppressed or lost via electronic warfare. Despite successful interception, critical infrastructure and civilian facilities were damaged in Chernivtsi, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Lviv, Sumy, and Volyn oblasts.

Mykola Kalashnyk, head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, said Ukraine’s Clean Sky interceptor drone program downed over 50 drones during the overnight strike.

US President Donald Trump may arm Ukraine in response to Russia’s largest drone and missile assault since the start of the full-scale invasion, CBS reports, citing multiple diplomatic sources. According to the sources, the potential funding is aimed at sending a message to Russia following recent aerial attacks. This week saw Russia’s largest drone assaults since February 2022. Kyiv and several other cities suffered repeated strikes.

A White House official told CBS the administration had recently paused some weapons deliveries as part of a global review of arms transfers. Still, earlier this week, Trump hinted he intended to send more defensive weapons to Ukraine.

$3.85 billion in military aid could be reactivated

US officials told CBS News that $3.85 billion in unused presidential drawdown authority from the Biden era remains available. Trump may now use that fund to deliver American military equipment to Ukraine.

Former officials also noted that Trump has the power to seize around $5 billion in frozen Russian assets and redirect those funds to Ukraine. So far, neither Trump nor former President Joe Biden has exercised that authority.

From arms freeze to new shipments: policy shift follows Russian escalation

Earlier this year, Trump expressed skepticism about aid to Ukraine and urged both Ukraine and Russia to pursue a peace agreement. He has often criticized the scale of American military spending on the war.

But his tone changed sharply in recent days. Last week, Trump told reporters he was “very disappointed” after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During a Cabinet meeting on 8 July, he confirmed a shift in stance.

“Putin is not treating human beings right. He’s killing too many people,” Trump said. “So we’re sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I’ve approved that.”

Trump says NATO will buy US weapons for Ukraine

As Euromaidan Press reported earlier, Trump is also pushing for NATO allies to take on more responsibility, and purchase weapons for Ukraine from the US.

“We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,” Trump told NBC.

Diplomatic sources told CBS News that Trump spoke with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte about European countries purchasing US-made equipment for Ukraine. 

When asked about the NATO initiative on 11 July in Malaysia, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the logic behind the idea:

“At the end of the day, some of the systems that Ukraine requires are systems that Europe doesn’t make. They would have to purchase them from the United States,” Rubio said.