Ukraine Invasion: Part 61

[MagicFox]

Welcome to thread 61 with many thanks to all So many thanks to all contributors and a special salute to those providing daily updates. For the 61st time, Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

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A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events
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C. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful
D. Please keep on topic

I remember Trump sucking up to Mamdani, November last year.

The only difference is that Trump has substantial leverage over Mamdani. He’s got almost none over Ukraine.

He does have a fair bit - all that information sharing. Not long after gaining office, he flexed it too by shutting down a lot of info sharing. It seems to have quietly been happening again though for quite a lot of months now.

FIFA is set to discuss the possible return of Russian teams to international football, according to Sky News.
The organization will reportedly consider lifting the ban after the International Olympic Committee’s decision to reinstate the Russian Olympic Committee and allow it to participate in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. [well, what else would be expected of organisations so thoroughly corrupt?

I absolutely agree. It would be nice to hear of international sporting associations that aren't corrupt and still have some morals.

There was a partial shutdown of intel sharing on 3 March, 2025, as Trump pressured Zelinsky to agree to a ceasefire with the Russians. It was lifted eight days later, and full sharing has been in effect since.

It's not often appreciated that US/Ukrainian intel sharing is a two-way street. They share a lot of intel about the Russians with us, and a lot of captured sensitive Russian kit (EW systems, for example) gets sent back to the US for analysis and testing. That's why the shutdown only lasted eight days.

Ohhh, that makes a lot of sense, @MissConductUS .

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-8-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. US President Donald Trump stated that the United States will grant Ukraine a license to produce an unspecified type of interceptor missile for Patriot air defense systems, which are critical for Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian ballistic missiles.
2. Ukrainian forces are intensifying strikes against Russian fuel tankers as Russia increasingly relies on seaborne transportation of gasoline to occupied Crimea from Russia.
3. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure and military assets deep into Russia on July 7 and 8.
4. Ukrainian forces conducted a second phase of Operation Auchan in June 2026 aimed at disrupting Russian offensive capabilities, specifically targeting Russian artillery.
5. Ukraine’s Western partners continue to provide military aid to Ukraine, including through the purchase of US-produced weapons and joint drone production.
6. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast, and Russian forces recently advanced north of Kharkiv City.
7. Russian forces launched two Kh-31P anti-radar missiles, five Iskander-M and S-400 ballistic missiles, and 169 drones against Ukraine overnight.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️'Make them yourself': Trump gives Zelensky green light to produce Patriot missiles.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on July 8 that he will grant Ukraine its longstanding request to produce American Patriot missiles, the West's only tool capable of stopping Russian ballistic missile attacks.

⚡️ Trump makes U-turn on Ukraine drone deal.
“We would buy their drones ... And you know, if we made that deal, we’d have great protection. I love the protection,” Trump told reporters at the press conference in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

⚡️ Zelensky has first ‘constructive’ conversations with Polish president after weeks-long history feud.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Polish counterpart, Karol Nawrocki, met twice on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
“We face one common threat – Russia. And it is critical to maintain mutual understanding, support, and unity of action. Our countries need only strong relations. We agreed to continue our dialogue,” Zelensky said.

⚡️US, Iran trade strikes as Trump declares ceasefire 'over.'
The United States renewed its strikes on Iran's military infrastructure, striking approximately 90 targets overnight on July 8-9, as U.S. President Donald Trump announced a fragile ceasefire between the warring parties "over."

⚡️ Dutch PM: Defense minister’s remarks were a call for allies to step up support for Ukraine.
Dutch PM Rob Jetten told the Kyiv Independent his defense minister’s remarks — that the Netherlands had reached its limit on military aid to Ukraine — were a call for other allies to step up support.

⚡️Kazakhstan court throws wrench in Ukraine's plan to collect $1.4 billion from Russia's Gazprom.
A Kazakhstan court has overturned a previous ruling recognizing and enforcing the recovery of approximately $1.4 billion from the Russian gas giant Gazprom in favor of Ukraine's Naftogaz.

⚡️ NATO announces 70 billion-euro Ukraine aid pledge, with much drawn from existing commitments.
An EU and a NATO diplomat told the Kyiv Independent ahead of the summit that allies would consider the 28.3 billion euros ($32.3 billion) scheduled to be given by Brussels to Kyiv for its defense needs this year as part of the NATO pledge, even though it was agreed in April.

⚡️'Another Russian air terrorist eliminated' —Ukraine downs Su-35.
Ukrainian forces downed a Russian Su-35 multi-role fighter jet "in the eastern direction," Ukraine's Air Force said on July 8.

⚡️Ukrainian drones reportedly strike oil depots in multiple Russian regions.
Ukraine's military continued their attacks on Russian oil infrastructure overnight on July 9, targeting oil depots in multiple regions, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

⚡️ European Parliament lambasts Zelensky for ‘unprovoked escalation’ against Poland.
The European Parliament “regrets the recent unnecessary and unprovoked escalation by President Volodymyr Zelensky,” reads an amendment filed by Polish lawmaker Andrzej Halicki, who hails from the same party as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

⚡️ Russia bans diesel exports as Ukraine strikes start to bite.

Ukraine is looking for workers while millions of women remain outside the labor market
“With the collective effort of both potential female employees and employers, and with the support of government institutions, Ukraine can achieve higher economic growth and faster recovery instead of wasting its human capital,” writes Ilona Sologoub, Scientific Editor of Vox Ukraine, in this op-ed.

⚡️'Beat every single Russian' — Ukrainian semifinalist at Wimbledon condemns IOC ruling on Russia.

⚡️After wave of strikes on Kyiv, Russia aims ballistic missiles at Odesa, killing 4.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — JUL 9, 2026
■ Casualties above average, while engagements remain around average; 🇷🇺 gains of 2 km² confirmed
■ Equipment losses include 7 tanks; an Su-35 shot down by a Patriot system
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: drone interception rate could be better; 2 Iskander-M missiles got through
■ 🇷🇺 MLRS strikes above average; 13 🇺🇦 strikes & 270 🇺🇦 drones (including jet-powered ones) launched into 🇷🇺

U.S. President Donald Trump said on July 8 that he will grant Ukraine its longstanding request to produce American Patriot missiles, the West's only tool capable of stopping Russian ballistic missile attacks.

Patriot is probably the only reasonably affordable missile with an anti-ballistic (ABM) capability whose production can be ramped up fairly quickly and can be slotted into the infrastructure currently used by the Uktainian forces.

As a point of order/info there quite a few ABM capable systems out there - for example THAAD, which is, horribly expensive, and some versions of Europe's Aster missile - not sure of availability.

I really don’t understand sporting bodies back tracking on the participation of russian athletes - nothing has changed since February 2022 in russias war of aggression (if anything their targeting of civilians has got worse) so why are sporting bodies suddenly finding it’s okay to accept the aggressor back into competitions?
Oh yes the exchange of russian money or funding of course 😳
I’d like to see all the other countries athletes withdraw from competitions in protest, but I’m not holding my breath on that front.

I agree, but we shouldn't get our hopes up that this is a short-term fix. The supply chain for Patriot components is already strained, and they are very complex weapons to build.

However, if anyone can do it with urgency and innovation, it's the Ukrainians. And by building under license, they'll have the full support of Raytheon's engineering team.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Further Highlights

⚡️'No evidence' of Kyiv's involvement in Nord Stream sabotage, Ukrainian prosecutors say.
Prosecutor General's Office said on July 9 that the investigation and evidence collection are still underway.

⚡️Putin calls for Crimea fuel subsidies as Ukraine once again hammers shadow fleet.
On the same day Putin spoke, the Russian government announced it would ban the export of diesel fuel until at least the end of the month.

Exclusive: US fund to make 'big' investment in Ukraine's critical minerals this fall, economy minister says
A fund set up by Kyiv and Washington will make its second investment in the fall, this time backing a critical minerals project, Ukraine's economy minister said.

⚡️Men charged in killing of Monaco bombing suspect ordered held in custody without bail.
Kyiv's Pechersk District Court on July 9 ordered two men suspected of killing Anastasiia Berezovska, a suspect in the attempted assassination of businessman in Monaco, into pretrial detention for two months without bail.

⚡️Sham Russian court sentences Ukrainian marine commanders to life imprisonment for Mariupol defense.
Russia regularly uses trumped-up charges to jail captured Ukrainian soldiers, activists, journalists, and regular civilians for lengthy terms.

⚡️Russian attacks kill at least 12, injure 100 across Ukraine as NATO allies pledge new defense aid.
The attacks came as Ukraine left the summit with an allied pledge of $80 billion in defense aid for 2026 and an apparent green light from U.S. President Donald Trump to produce critically needed Patriot missiles.

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

🤬”Rejects peace talks.” Putin plans to escalate the war in the coming months, while Ukraine’s strikes on oil refineries have only strengthened his resolve, Reuters reports.
Citing sources close to the Kremlin, the news agency reports that the Russian dictator aims to seize all of Donbas. He recently rebuked a group of advisers who proposed a compromise based on a ceasefire along the current front line.

✈️NATO allows its fighter jets to shoot down aerial threats over the Baltic states.
NATO has agreed to upgrade the Baltic Air Policing mission into an air defense mission, allowing fighter jets to destroy drones and other aerial threats, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said at the Alliance summit in Ankara.
“The air policing mission is designed for peacetime, when fighter jets respond to incidents by escorting aircraft. In this way, we demonstrate that we are paying attention to such incidents. It is a form of deterrence. But what is happening today is no longer an entirely peacetime situation,” he stressed.
Previously, NATO fighter jets escorted Russian aircraft. This year, they also shot down Ukrainian drones over Estonia and Latvia for the first time, marking the first time they have opened fire to protect the Alliance.
At the same time, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the updated mission will provide “greater flexibility and a faster response to aerial threats.”

❗️35 tankers, cargo ships, and auxiliary vessels in four days: overnight, the Unmanned Systems Forces struck 14 vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet.
“Among the targets in Crimea were the Saky CHP plant, three fuel depots and oil storage facilities, two MTZs, a Zhitel electronic warfare system, communication towers, TPD terminals, Ro-Ro ferries, and 14 vessels of Russia's shadow fleet — 12 tankers, one cargo ship, and one tugboat. All of them were in the Sea of Azov,” reported Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert Brovdi ("Magyar").
He also published a chronology of the strikes on Russia's shadow fleet.
On July 6, the tankers Captain Barmin and Sanar-3 were struck.
On July 7, 10 vessels were struck (8 tankers, 1 cargo ship, and 1 ferry):
• Venera-3
• Sanar-1
• Sanar-17
• Klimena
• Teti
• Alexei Savrasov
• Penelope
• Ivan Cheremisinov
• SKS One ferry in Kerch
• the name of the cargo ship is being clarified

July 8:
• tanker Efrosinya V
• tanker Maria
• tanker Sanar-17 (second strike)
• tanker Sanar-4
• tanker Klimena (second strike)
• cargo ship Donstar
• cargo ship Vladimir Yarygin
• cargo ship Feofan Shokhirev
• cargo ship Evgeniya Z

July 9 — 14 vessels (12 tankers, 1 cargo ship, and 1 tugboat):
• tanker Chelsea-6 (Russian flag)
• tanker Aura (Russian flag)
• tanker Sanar-1 (Russian flag)
• tanker Ilya Repin (Russian flag)
• Mercury (Russian flag, vessel type being clarified)
• tanker Galiascar Kamal (Panamanian flag, under sanctions)
• tugboat Alfeo (Russian flag), towing the barge Aphrodite
• tanker Venera-3 (Russian flag)
• tanker Penelope (Russian flag)
• the identities of five more vessels are being clarified.

Russia is using electronic warfare systems to jam Ukrainian Starlink communications, Reuters reports.
According to the agency, electronic warfare systems block the communication channels used to control drones. They are deployed near populated areas and military facilities. Some of these systems are capable of disrupting the Starlink network, which is used during medium-range drone operations.
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine's defense minister, said Russia is using a jamming system called Wave-Dome-Garant, which emits a signal powerful enough to disrupt Starlink communications over an area of about 20 km². According to him, around 10 such systems have been identified so far, and they have become priority targets.
Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told Reuters that Ukrainian drone strikes have become one of the key factors shaping the battlefield in 2026. However, he said Russia is beginning to make progress in countering them and could strengthen its capabilities by increasing production of electronic warfare systems.

The final declaration of the NATO summit in Ankara commits the Alliance to providing €70 billion in aid to Ukraine this year and maintaining at least the same level of support in 2027.
The declaration was signed by representatives of all NATO member states, including US President Donald Trump.
The main provisions of the document:
▫️Ukraine makes an important contribution to transatlantic security, and the Alliance reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine’s freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity;
▫️Russia remains a long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security and stability. To counter this threat, Allies are implementing the Hague Defense Commitment;
▫️Support for Ukraine will remain unwavering. The majority of security assistance will be provided by European Allies and Canada;
▫️NATO leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the principle of collective defense under Article 5;
▫️The Alliance announced new defense procurement worth more than $50 billion;
▫️European Allies and Canada will assume a greater share of responsibility for NATO’s defense alongside the United States;
▫️NATO plans to establish a shared transatlantic combat cloud infrastructure and expand the use of artificial intelligence technologies;
▫️Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and must guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

❗️Indonesia has imported Russian oil for the first time since signing a deal in April 2026.
On June 29, the tanker Sierra delivered 770,000 barrels of Russian crude worth about $75 million from the port of Kozmino to Balikpapan, Bloomberg reports.
This marks the first shipment under agreements to import up to 150 million barrels following President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Moscow.

⚡️❗️“We are discussing the possibility of allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia so that Russia can see how difficult it is to defend its own airspace,” US Secretary of State Rubio said.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump added: “This is an escalation. But it is an escalation that could lead to the end of the war.”

Meeting with Polish President Nawrocki. We had an important conversation that lasted more than an hour, President Zelenskyy said.

“I think he [President Zelenskyy — ed.] will build a great country,” President Trump said.

President Trump: Would you go to Moscow?
President Zelenskyy: It's difficult. There are a lot of Ukrainian drones there.

Ukraine and Germany have signed an agreement on the production of Bars drones, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced.
“The German side will finance drone production during the first stage of the project, and all manufactured systems will be supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the head of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.

UNITED24 Media
Inside the First Days of Russia’s Siege of Mariupol: A Wartime Diary
The Kateryna Savenko’s Diary, who documented 34 days under the Russian siege of Mariupol before her death, has been published as a book.
Before Russia's full-scale invasion, 42-year-old Kateryna Savenko was a mother, a wife, a steelworker, and a lifelong resident of Mariupol. When the siege began on February 24, 2022, her life became a daily struggle for survival amid relentless Russian shelling.

Read full: https://united24media.com/life-in-ukraine/inside-the-first-days-of-russias-siege-of-mariupol-a-wartime-diary-20580

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has allowed Russian athletes to return to competitions under its auspices.

⚡️Ukraine has developed an unmanned armored vehicle equipped with drone protection.
According to the Military newspaper, a modernized BRDM-2M capable of remote operation has been unveiled. The vehicle can deliver ammunition, water, and other supplies to the front line without putting a crew at risk.
The armored vehicle has also received a new engine, reinforced armor, a remote-controlled combat module armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun, and an active defense system against UAVs, which is currently undergoing testing.
The developers also hope to return hundreds of these vehicles to service by upgrading existing BRDMs.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

North Korea has become a key military supplier for Russia, covering 25% to 40% of Moscow’s artillery ammunition needs, Ukraine's HUR reported.
Since 2023, Pyongyang has delivered over 7 million ammo rounds, 600+ artillery systems, and 100+ ballistic missiles.

More than 550 Chinese soldiers have taken part in internships at Russian military institutions, Ukraine's HUR reported.
Over 180 Russian troops underwent similar training in China, pointing to a "consistent" pattern of bilateral military ties.

Trump did NOT call Putin after meeting Zelensky — despite publicly promising to do so, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Peskov said Trump was apparently “very busy” after the NATO summit, adding that Putin is “always happy to talk.”

Ukraine will soon receive a new package of Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles, Zelensky said, but warned it is still not enough to counter Russia’s attacks.
Kyiv is pushing allies for more interceptors while pursuing licensed Patriot production and developing its own Freya air defense system.

Zelensky held his first meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
The talks included the fate of two North Korean prisoners of war held by Ukraine, with Seoul saying it is ready to accept them if they choose to go to South Korea.

Russia scrambled its prized Su-57 stealth fighters to stop Ukrainian drones attacking the country’s largest oil refinery in Omsk — more than 3,000 km from Ukraine.
The jets reportedly downed just ONE drone. Others reached their targets and forced the refinery to halt crude processing.

Kazakhstan is tightening border rules as growing numbers of Russians cross into the country in search of cheaper gasoline amid a deepening fuel crisis at home.
Ukrainian strikes have pushed Russian refinery output to multi-year lows, forcing Moscow to ban diesel exports and impose fuel rationing or restrictions across more than 90% of Russian regions.

Putin rejected his own advisers’ proposal to freeze the war along the current front line — and reprimanded them for suggesting it.
He remains determined to seize the rest of Donbas by force, while Ukrainian deep strikes and Russia’s growing fuel crisis appear to have hardened his resolve to continue the war.

Zelensky and Nawrocki met on the sidelines of the NATO summit but failed to resolve tensions over the UPA’s historical legacy.

Drone attacks struck oil storage facilities in Russia’s Tver Oblast and Stavropol Krai overnight, triggering fires at both sites.
Stavropol’s governor confirmed a fire at an “industrial facility,” while monitoring channels identified the target as a Lukoil-linked oil depot.

Russian-occupied Crimea’s fuel crisis is deepening, with Moscow-installed governor Aksyonov warning shortages will persist and fuel may be unavailable for public sale on some days.

A violent confrontation erupted in Lviv between local residents and military recruitment officers over a mobilization detention.
Senior Ukrainian officials and the MoD condemned the clashes, warning that attacks on servicemen under martial law are unacceptable.

Four people were killed and seven injured after a Russian ballistic missile smashed into civilian infrastructure and a gas station in the Odesa region.
Six victims were rushed to hospital, with two fighting for their lives, as rescuers battled fires and searched through the wreckage.

Putin’s forces have just struck a crowded gas station in Kharkiv.
The Russian drone operator could see civilians at the site and deliberately targeted the gas station.
Emergency and rescue operations are ongoing at the scene.

10 Poles brutally beat a 19-year-old Ukrainian in Wrocław after hearing him speaking Ukrainian to his mother on the phone, according to Radio Wrocław.
The teenager suffered a broken nose, a spinal injury and multiple bruises. His attackers allegedly laughed afterward and boasted that they had “beaten a Ukrainian.”

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk has advanced to the Wimbledon 2026 semifinals, continuing the most successful season of her career.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇪🇺The European Union is considering a narrower version of its proposal to ban visas for Russians who fought against Ukraine, Euronews reports.
The proposal is to be presented as part of the 21st sanctions package against Russia. EU ambassadors are expected to discuss it on July 15 and adopt it around that time.
Ireland, which currently holds the EU Council presidency, has proposed limiting the measure to short-term visas. The scope of the ban has also been narrowed: it now applies to Russians who directly fought against Ukraine since 2022 — "with weapons in hand."
▪️Earlier, Bloomberg, citing sources, wrote that Italy and France were unsure about the EU proposal to ban entry for former Russian military personnel. The countries are concerned that this could open the door to a full ban on entry for Russians.

🇭🇺Hungarian state television channel M1, whose editorial policy was controlled by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has apologized for "years of lies."
Instead of live news broadcasts, a text of apology was aired to viewers. It stated that "public media cannot lie, so they apologize for doing so for so many years." Journalists noted that the news service would cease operations for a period of time. News programs will be gradually relaunched once a new news division is established.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar called the cessation of media propaganda an "historic day" on his social media. During his election campaign, he had promised to reform state media and end state-funded party propaganda.

The Russians attacked Ukraine with two missiles and 94 drones; air defense neutralized 72 UAVs.
Two ballistic missiles and 19 strike drones could not be shot down — they struck 13 locations, with debris falling in four more places.
In Kherson's Korabelnyi district, a Russian drone attacked civilians overnight: a 53-year-old and a 46-year-old man were wounded; the latter is in serious condition.

12 tankers, a tugboat, a cargo ship, two oil depots, a terminal, and an ammunition depot — the Defense Forces carried out a series of strikes on Russian naval, fuel, and military infrastructure overnight.
The General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces struck 12 tankers, a tugboat, and a cargo ship in the Sea of Azov. These vessels were used by Russia to supply fuel to its troops and to transport oil and petroleum products in circumvention of international sanctions.
The Defense Forces also struck the "Yug Rusi" oil terminal in the Rostov region, which supplies fuel to Russian troops on the southern front and helps export petroleum products. In addition, Ukrainian forces hit an ammunition depot near Sorokyne in temporarily occupied Luhansk region.
The SBU reported that its drones attacked the "Krasnaya Zvezda" oil depot in the Tver region and the "Stavropolskaya" depot in Stavropol Krai. Both receive, store, and ship gasoline and diesel fuel. Fires broke out following the strikes.

Russia is using a jamming system called Wave-Dome-Garant, which emits a signal powerful enough to disrupt Starlink communications over an area of about 20 km². According to him, around 10 such systems have been identified so far, and they have become priority targets.

Yep, goes right back to WW2, jammers have to be smart/careful, because for many years many missile systems have the capability to do what is known as "Home on Jam" (HOJ).

If the jammer is just shoving out what's known noise jamming - trying to swamp a useful signal by broadcasting lot of electronic noise on the same frequency, it should be fairly easy to give the jammer an unpleasant surprise.

The U.S. has reportedly supplied Ukraine with the venerable AGM-88 HARM

https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104574/agm-88-harm/

to arm its F-16s. They are more commonly used to suppress enemy air defenses by homing on radar emitters, but have home on jam mode as well. They will also record the position of the emitter so they can't be defeated by simply turning off the radar or jamming device.

Correction to prior post - Both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin make the Patriot missile, so either or both could supply engineering support to Ukraine as part of a licensing arrangement.

Yes, Trump hates to be thought of as a "loser", or to be on the side of "losers". Some say that it goes back to when he was seven, and Fred Jr. dumped a bowl of mashed potato on his head. He never got over the humiliation. It's probably why he cheats at golf.

He will turn on those who don't do his bidding though. VZ wouldn't cook up dirt on the Bidens for Trump back in 2019. Thomas Massie went rogue on him over Epstein etc.

Wow that's good news!

I wonder if Ukraine has quietly been assembling the components for the Patriots as far as possible for the last period.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-9-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. The Kremlin appears to be struggling to adjust its narrative line in response to the Trump administration’s recent denial of Russian negotiating tactics and acknowledgement of Ukrainian battlefield successes.
2. An anonymous Russian general reportedly acknowledged that the Kremlin is inflating Russian battlefield successes to generate a false perception of Russian sweeping advances while maintaining its commitment to a war of attrition that Russia cannot win in a continued attempt to convince Ukraine and the West to capitulate to Russia’s demands.
3. Ukrainian forces appear to have initiated a new phase in their campaign to isolate occupied Crimea by targeting Russian seaborne gasoline tankers.
4. Ukrainian forces conducted long-range strikes against Russian energy infrastructure in Russia on the night of July 8 to 9. Russian forces launched 2 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 94 drones against Ukraine overnight.
5. Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces made confirmed advances on July 9.

Unlikely. Most of the components are bespoke and made in the U.S. They would also need the exact engineering specifications to ensure that what they were buying would work with everything else in the missile.

Maybe, I know the Ukrainians are great engineers but for all sorts of reasons a lot of advanced ordnance is not designed to be user serviceable/serviceable in the field.

I'm not sure there will be that many genuine legit spare parts to be had.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Zelensky reveals details about massive explosions in Kyiv suburb, promises dismissals at Ukraine's largest defense company.
The ammunition warehouse that detonated in Vyshneve during Russia's mass attack on Kyiv July 6 belonged to state-owned weapons giant Ukroboronprom, Zelensky said.

⚡️ Russia restates its maximalist war goals, despite Trump’s renewed peace push.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would pursue the goals laid out in June 2024, which included Ukraine’s full withdrawal from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

⚡️Ukraine to receive Patriot missiles from allies — but unclear when, Zelensky says amid air defense crisis.
"There are no dates set yet, but there will be additional PAC-3s," President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters a day after the conclusion of the NATO summit in Turkey.

⚡️Anti-ballistic coalition to meet in France to support Ukraine's homegrown 'Freya' air defense project.
Ukrainian officials and a coalition of eight European partners will soon hold their first meeting dedicated to the joint development of Kyiv's "Freya" anti-ballistic missile systems, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 9.
"Our first meeting on this matter will take place in France. It will happen in the near future," he said.

⚡️Major Russian oil refinery reportedly struck by Ukraine's military.
Ukraine reportedly struck the Ilsky Oil Refinery in southern Russia overnight on July 10, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

⚡️Ukraine reportedly strikes oil terminal in Russia's Rostov Oblast.
Black smoke was purportedly seen billowing over the Russian city of Taganrog overnight on July 10 amid reports of a Ukrainian strike on the city port's oil terminal.

‘We’ve been naive and lazy for way too long’ — Dutch PM calls out Europe in exclusive interview
Now, the new Dutch government led by Rob Jetten signals that its military stocks have reached their limits.
The Kyiv Independent spoke with the prime minister on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8 — the first one he attended in his new role — about Ukraine’s future in the alliance, Europe’s changing relationship with Washington, and a path toward ending the war.

⚡️How a street check in Lviv became a warning sign for Ukraine's mobilization system.
About 200 people clashed with military recruitment personnel and police in Lviv on July 8 after a document check related to Ukraine's mobilization campaign escalated into a public confrontation.
The incident, one of the most visible eruptions yet in Ukraine's long-simmering mobilization crisis, has raised alarm that those tensions could escalate into a security threat if left unaddressed.

⚡️ Syrskyi gives mid-year review of Ukraine’s military performance.
The enemy attempted to launch a large-scale offensive but, in fact, failed to achieve any of its objectives despite having an almost twofold advantage in personnel and equipment,” Syrskyi said following a meeting reviewing the military’s performance during the first half of the year.”

How Ukraine lets citizens marry and divorce online
“We are building GovTech as an ecosystem in which the government remains virtually invisible yet instantly available whenever people need it: no lines, no paperwork, and no bureaucracy,” writes Valeriia Koval, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, in this op-ed.

⚡️ Russian attacks across Ukraine kill at least 9, injure at least 77 amid deadly Donetsk Oblast strike.
Russia launched 137 attack drones overnight, Ukraine’s Air Force said.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬

⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — JUL 10, 2026
■ Engagements above average and the highest casualties in over a month; 🇺🇦 reclaims 2 km²
■ Equipment losses below the 7-day average
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: all drones; interception rate could be better
■ All 🇷🇺 strike indicators above average; 13 🇺🇦 strikes and 330 🇺🇦 drones (including jet-powered ones) launched into 🇷🇺

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

🪖🇺🇦Russia attempted to launch a large-scale offensive but failed to achieve any of its objectives, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said, summarizing the results of the first half of 2026.
According to Syrskyi, Russian forces held nearly a twofold advantage in personnel and equipment, but it did not help them achieve their goals.
“Whereas the Russian army previously conducted active offensive operations in 13 operational directions, it is now active in no more than six or seven,” Syrskyi said.
He added that the current ratio of assault operations carried out by Ukrainian forces and Russian troops is approximately 40 to 60.
According to Syrskyi, the active operations of Ukraine’s Defense Forces during the first half of 2026 have slowed the pace of Russia’s advance by more than half. At the same time, Russian forces are sustaining average monthly losses of around 32,000 personnel killed or wounded.
“We are consistently implementing a strategy of attrition against the Russian aggressor,” Syrskyi said.
He also noted that the two sides have effectively reached parity in the pace of territorial advances. At the same time, the trend continues toward an increasing ratio of territory liberated by Ukraine’s Defense Forces compared with the areas where Russian forces are able to make gains.

🇪🇺⚽️EU calls for the IOC to lose funding after its decision to reinstate the Russian Olympic Committee.
The move clears the way for Russian athletes to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, while keeping the ban on the Russian flag and anthem in place.
Estonia has announced that it will propose the European Commission suspend funding for the IOC by excluding it from EU programs. Culture Minister Heidi Purga called the decision “incomprehensible.”

“We have reliable information that the Russians are up to something again. The purpose of these warnings is to deter them from carrying out these provocations. God forbid it happens,” Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said.

⛽️The fuel crisis in Russia has already affected an estimated 50 million people, according to the Financial Times.
The publication reports that Ukrainian drone strikes have disabled between 20% and 40% of Russia’s oil refining capacity. Several key refineries have been hit, including the country’s largest refinery in Omsk.
By June 25, nearly 50 Russian regions had imposed fuel sales restrictions. Long lines at gas stations, fuel rationing, and shortages have directly affected about 35% of the country’s population.
A senior Russian energy executive told the Financial Times that Ukrainian attacks have become more intense, with significantly more drones targeting a single facility at once, overwhelming existing air defenses.

⛴💪Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck more than 27% of Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov over four days, according to Defense Express.
There are about 120 Russian vessels operating in the Sea of Azov, and Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces reportedly struck 35 of them over four days—more than a quarter of the fleet. During the night of July 9 alone, another 14 vessels were reportedly hit, marking the highest daily total since the operation began on July 6.
According to Defense Express, satellite imagery indicates that most of the targeted vessels are dry cargo ships and tankers.
Analysts said the key development is the expansion of Ukraine’s Middle Strike campaign into the Sea of Azov, which serves as a major logistical route to occupied Crimea.
Following the attacks, Russian authorities reportedly accelerated inspections of ships transiting the Kerch Strait or canceled them altogether, altering maritime traffic patterns in the region, the publication said.

Sweden has contributed an additional €124.1 million to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy announced.

❗️Saratov Oil Refinery completely halts operations following Ukrainian drone strike, Reuters reports.
According to the agency, Rosneft's Saratov Oil Refinery suspended oil refining after a Ukrainian drone attack on July 8. The refinery's only primary distillation unit was damaged and caught fire, and repairs could take up to two weeks.

Ukrainian air defense shot down 89% of air targets during Russia's massive attacks in June, the Defense Ministry reported.
During the month, Russia launched nearly 6,000 drones and missiles, of which the Defense Forces intercepted almost 5,300.
▪️90% of Shahed, Gerber, and Italmas drones;
▪️90% of Kalibr, Iskander-K, Kh-101, and other cruise missiles;
▪️40% of Iskander, Kinzhal, 48N6DM ballistic missiles, and other targets.
“The biggest challenge remains ballistic missiles,” the ministry said.

❗️The Freya anti-ballistic system is intended to become an analogue of the Patriot, but more affordable and easier to mass-produce, President Zelenskyy said.
The president explained that Ukraine is leading the project because the missile is Ukrainian. However, to rapidly scale up production of the system, Ukraine needs the support of other European countries.

❗️Italy is expelling two military attachés from the Russian Embassy over espionage allegations, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
The two Russian military attachés, Ivan Gorbachev and Mikhail Astakhov, have been ordered to leave Rome within three days.
Tajani said Moscow continues to use hybrid methods to target the West and Italy, calling it “a serious and unacceptable interference in the affairs of Italian institutions and national security.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry has already said it will “give an appropriate response” to Italy’s decision.

“I confirm Slovenia’s continued support for Ukraine. Slovenia will allocate an additional $50 million to the PURL initiative and will also help finance the construction of three civil protection shelters in Ukraine,” Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said after the Ukraine-NATO Council meeting.

The International Union of Modern Pentathlon has lifted all sanctions against Russian athletes, Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev claimed.