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 🇺🇦

**
Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events
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I am busy on 17th and 18th but I can do the four usual ones on 19th if it helps, and depending on what time I get home on the Saturday I will look at them, although they may be late. If this helps.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Ukrainian industry group challenges Grossi’s assessment of staffing crisis at occupied nuclear plant.
In a letter dated July 10, the organization said it “cannot agree” with Grossi’s comments, arguing that they do not adequately reflect the scale of the risks created by the plant’s personnel shortage.

⚡️Ukraine’s PM to step down amid government reshuffle.
Yulia Svyrydenko, who replaced former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in July 2025, will now take on a new role leading cooperation with Ukraine’s key partners, Zelensky announced on social media.

⚡️'Expressly prohibited' — Ukraine's largest defense firm illegally stored weapons near civilian targets in Vyshneve, Zelensky says.
"There are designated locations in Ukraine for storing weapons and ammunition — all of which are specified to be located away from residential buildings," Zelensky said on July 11.
The storage of ammunitions in the Kyiv suburb of Vyshneve led to disaster on July 6, when the depots were struck by Russian missiles, triggering massive secondary detonations.

⚡️Lindsey Graham dies from illness after returning from Kyiv trip.

⚡️Update: Zelensky announces accelerated exhumations of Volyn massacre victims.
"Exhumation operations will begin in two days in the villages of Ostrivky and Volia Ostrovetska," Zelensky said on July 11, Poland's National Day of Remembrance for victims of the Volyn massacres.

⚡️Ukraine says it eliminated 14 more Russian shadow fleet vessels overnight.
Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces said that his team had destroyed 10 tankers and four ferries, bringing the total number of destroyed Russian shadow fleet vessels to 90 units this week alone.

⚡️Zelensky plans diplomatic changes amid air defense crisis.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 11 that he is preparing changes to Ukraine’s “diplomatic efforts” to accelerate weapons deliveries from allies, as Ukraine's stockpile of Patriot air defense missiles has run dry.

⚡️Commander of Ukraine's scandal-hit 155th brigade wanted for kidnapping, murder.
Stanislav Luchanov, commander of Ukraine's 155th "Anne of Kyiv" brigade, has been charged with the kidnapping and murder of two civilians in Kyiv Oblast. Several other brigade members have been detained in connection with the crime, the military said on July 11.

⚡️Ukraine's ambassador to Poland commemorates Volyn massacres as history unsettles Kyiv-Warsaw relations.
"It is our shared duty to honor the memory of each victim with dignity," the Ukrainian embassy said on July 11, Poland's National Day of Remembrance for victims of the Volyn massacres.

⚡️Key Russian oil refinery struck in Ukrainian attack.
Ukraine's military reportedly struck a major Russian oil refinery in the city of Syzran in Samara Oblast overnight on July 12, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

⚡️Zelensky urges energy sector to speed up winter preparedness.

The Ankara NATO Summit — A reality check on words and deeds
“European funding cannot substitute for U.S. production capacity or override Washington’s divergent priorities,” writes Nadiia Koval, Policy Fellow at the European Policy Institute in Kyiv (EPIK), in this op-ed.

German photo prize shortlists Kremlin media-linked photographer for occupied Mariupol series
A Russian photographer with ties to Kremlin-backed media has been shortlisted for one of Germany’s leading photography awards for his series on occupied Mariupol, raising concerns about how Russian narratives are reaching Western audiences through major cultural institutions.

⚡️Over 230,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation.
Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian service, has confirmed the identities of 230,624 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine.

⚡️Update: Russian attack on Sumy kills 5, injures 32.

⚡️Russia kills at least 5 people and injures 35 others in last 24 hours.
Overnight, Russian forces fired a total of 13 missiles and 115 drones across the country. Ukraine’s air defense downed or suppressed seven missiles and 95 drones, Ukraine's Air Force reported.

‪Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 7h
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — JUL 12, 2026
■ Engagements and casualties slightly below the 7-day average
■ Drone and land-based equipment losses above average
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: 7 of 13 missiles intercepted; 4 more failed; drone interception rate could be better
■ 🇷🇺 shelling slightly above avg; 20 🇺🇦 strikes reported and 300 🇺🇦 strike UAVs launched into 🇷🇺

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

❗️Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine must recognize the occupied territories as part of Russia for the war to end.

❗️Putin has a “window of opportunity” until September, after which he may be forced to significantly raise the stakes, according to The Independent.
Military analyst Robert Fox told the publication that the Kremlin appears to be aiming to achieve a turning point in the war within the next two months and is therefore acting increasingly aggressively, both against Ukraine and elsewhere.
According to the report, this includes increased Russian provocations involving NATO countries, heightened naval and intelligence activity in European waters, and intensified information campaigns targeting the Baltic states.
At the same time, The Independent notes that Russia is facing growing domestic challenges, including fuel shortages, as well as disruptions to communications and internet services.
Fox argues that if Russia fails to achieve its objectives by the autumn, the Kremlin could resort to more drastic measures, such as a new wave of large-scale mobilization, the introduction of full martial law, and an even broader transition to a wartime economy.
⛴️❌Russia has suspended shipping through the Don–Azov Canal, which connects the Don River with the Sea of Azov, following a Ukrainian attack on 13 Russian vessels, Reuters reported, citing three sources in Russia’s grain export industry.

🇪🇪Estonia plans to build a military camp for 200 permanent servicemembers in the border city of Narva, ERR reported.

🇺🇸🇺🇦U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham visited the production facilities of Ukrainian drone manufacturer SkyFall during his trip to Ukraine.
According to the company, Graham was shown the development and production of Vampire bomber drones, Shrike FPV drones, and P1-SUN interceptor drones.
The senator also toured the company’s latest developments and visited the SkyFall Academy, where drone pilots, technicians, and instructors are trained. [His last tour, sigh. RiP, Senator Graham]

Deeply saddened by the news of the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world a safer place, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine’s General Staff says an oil refinery, 10 tankers, four ferries, and other Russian military assets were hit.
▫️ Overnight on July 12, Ukrainian forces struck the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara region. Explosions and a fire were reported at the facility. The extent of the damage is still being assessed.
▫️ Ukrainian forces also struck 10 Russian tankers and four ferries in the Sea of Azov.
According to the General Staff, the tankers were used to transport Russian oil and petroleum products in circumvention of international sanctions, while the ferries supported Russian military logistics and cargo transportation.
▫️ On July 11, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian train carrying fuel and lubricants near Tokmak in the Zaporizhzhia region. A locomotive was damaged.
Updated battle damage assessments:
▫️ July 10, 2026 — Damage to the NOVATEK Ust-Luga oil processing complex in Slobodka, Russia’s Leningrad region, has been confirmed following a post-strike assessment, the General Staff said.

💥Germany will finance the purchase of 50,000 Ukrainian-made Shrike FPV drones, Reuters reported.
According to the agency, citing sources, the contract is worth €90 million, making it one of the largest publicly known drone procurements for Ukraine by a Western ally. Some of the drones have already been delivered, with the remainder expected to arrive by the end of the year.
The Shrike is a Ukrainian-developed FPV drone produced by SkyFall and equipped with the U.S.-made Auterion operating system. Using computer vision and artificial intelligence, the system enables the drone to automatically track and engage a moving target during the final phase of flight, even if communication with the operator is lost or disrupted by Russian electronic warfare.
According to the report, this significantly increases the likelihood of successfully hitting a target compared with conventional FPV drones.

❗️Temporarily occupied Crimea’s Dzhankoi district has been without electricity for the seventh consecutive day, while access to drinking water has become extremely limited, according to Refat Chubarov, chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.

🕯️Two people have died as a result of the Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia that took place the previous day. Rescuers recovered the body of a man from beneath the rubble. In total, 33 people were injured, according to the State Emergency Service.

❗️Russian forces struck port infrastructure in the Odesa region, killing two truck drivers and injuring two other people.
The attack also damaged a civilian cargo ship flying the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis, causing a fire to break out on board.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has nominated pro-Western businessman Vasile Tofan as the country's new prime minister.
Tofan now has 15 days to present his cabinet and governing program to parliament, focusing on accelerating Moldova’s EU integration.

Italian authorities dismantled a Russian GRU espionage network in Rome that targeted classified data on Western air defense systems provided to Ukraine
Italy has expelled two Russian military attachés following the arrests.

Poland is ready to assist Ukraine in modernizing MiG-29 fighter jets, provided Kyiv or allied nations cover all financial costs.
The offer is part of talks to exchange the jets for access to Ukrainian drone tech.

Authorities in Russia's Krasnodar region have ordered school teachers to monitor gas station queues during their summer break – under threat of dismissal.
Fuel rationing and odd/even day sales systems are rolling out across multiple regions.

Russia launched a coordinated aerial assault across Ukraine overnight, hitting industrial, food, and residential sites.
At least 3 people were killed in Kryvyi Rih factory and in Nikopol. Separate drone strikes in Kharkiv injured three civilians.

Romanian authorities have destroyed five unmanned naval vessels in the Black Sea, some rigged with explosives.
Defense Minister Radu Mîruță confirmed the operations, which occurred amid heightened maritime risks linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Australian Army has tested the German-made Vector AI reconnaissance drone during military exercises.
The platform's advanced AI software and electronic warfare resistance were directly refined through thousands of combat flight hours in Ukraine.

Russian drone strikes targeted emergency workers and transit in Kharkiv & Kherson regions.
A "Molniya" drone hit a fire station in Bohodukhiv, injuring 3 rescuers, while separate strikes in Kherson hit public transportation, wounding 6 civilians.

US Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch ally of Ukraine, passed away on Saturday evening following a brief and sudden illness.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇯🇵Russian spies are smuggling components from Japan for the Russian army, the NYT reports, citing sources.
This is because Japan has weak espionage laws and, at the same time, a strong technology sector. Russian spies, who were expelled from Western countries after the start of the full-scale invasion, are taking advantage of this.
Sources say that a GRU military intelligence unit — the so-called 20th Directorate — operates in Tokyo. Posing as diplomats or businessmen, the spies purchase or steal components, which are then shipped to Russia via third countries.
The GRU operation in Tokyo is run by 49-year-old Maxim Filchenkov, who operates under the cover of an employee of the Russian airline Aeroflot. Among other things, he is involved in sourcing equipment.
▪️According to Ukrainian authorities, approximately 90% of Russian missiles and drones contain Japanese components. Following a Russian strike on a residential building in Kyiv in May, investigators found a Japanese computer module in an Kh-101 missile that was banned for export to Russia.

[10-11 July 2026]
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian military training ground in the Donetsk region and drone control points in the Belgorod and Zaporizhzhia regions. Additionally, the General Staff detailed the results of previous attacks, including:
🔴Titan-Barrikady in Volgograd — the June 27 strike on the facility, which manufactures artillery and missile equipment, caused $105 million in damage.
🔴Oil terminal in St. Petersburg — the July 4 strike damaged eight different tanks, a technological pipeline trestle, and other equipment.
🔴 Slavneft-YANOS refinery in Yaroslavl — during the July 6 attack, Ukrainian forces struck the AVT-6 unit and damaged pipelines of two other units.
🔴Borisoglebsk airfield in Voronezh region — the attack took place on July 8. It caused 28 tanks with aviation kerosene, totaling 1,600 m³, to catch fire.
🔴TAIF-NK refinery in Nizhnekamsk (Tatarstan) — on July 8, Ukrainian forces struck a delayed coking unit, which caught fire. Cable trestles, pipelines, and technical buildings were also damaged.
🔴Ilsky Oil Refinery in Krasnodar Krai — yesterday's attack caused two oil processing units to catch fire. Pipelines were also damaged.

🇵🇱Polish President Karol Nawrocki has called for a legislative ban on the red-and-black UPA flag in Poland, claiming that these colors embody "the entire ideology of the Ukrainian nationalist."
At an event commemorating the victims of the Volhynia tragedy, he stated that he would do everything "to ensure this flag is not present in Poland."

Too much for me to summarise properly, but this article is .

'I'm dying laughing' - what leaked messages tell us about global hacking gang
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9lz8zp04po

Basically a prolific ransomware gang called Conti was behind serious worldwide hacks of large companies and institutions, including local councils and hospitals (they locked Ireland's hospitals and healthcare system out of its computers during Covid).

Conti was mostly composed of Russians and the boss was a Russian named Vitaly Nikolayevich Kovalev aka Stern, but the gang also had members from other countries including Ukraine.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, a message briefly appeared on Conti's dark web site pledging allegiance to Russia, triggering a massive rift: two days later, a member of Conti leaked more than 300,000 of its secret communications .

It was a jaw-dropping day for Joe Wrieden, a cyber threat intelligence leader for UK security firm Cyjax.
[...]
"Finally," Joe says, "we get almost that full understanding of what's been going on for years in one of the most notable groups in the ransomware space."

The trove contains extraordinary stuff.

Like what happened when Conti ransomed the international jeweller Graff and leaked Graff's customers' personal data. They included Beckham, Trump, etc. But stunningly the leaking of Gulf royal families' personal data triggered messages like:

"They'll find you and that's it [...] You're gone."
[...]
"You just have to understand the line," one said, adding: "The ruling families are a friend."
In a highly unusual move, the gang released an apology, saying: "Any information pertaining to members of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar families will be deleted without any exposure and review."

Worth reading the whole article, because I really can't do it justice. It's all .

That Conti article is just bizarre @PerkingFaintly . What a bunch of low lifes.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-12-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukrainian forces have struck 90 Russian oil tankers in the Sea of Azov since July 6 as part of their intensified campaign to isolate occupied Crimea.
2. Ukraine’s successful long- and intermediate-range strike campaigns continue to fuel Russian milblogger concerns about Russia’s inadequate air defense capabilities and the Kremlin’s poor decision-making that have left Russia and occupied Ukraine vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced forthcoming changes to the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, including the reassignment of the current prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko.
4. Russian forces launched nine Kh-59/69 guided cruise missiles, four Kh-31 anti-radar missiles, and 115 drones against Ukraine overnight.
5. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.

Is it true that the "state of the art" Skyfall drone factory which the late Senator Lindsey Graham visited has since been destroyed by Russian Missiles hours after his visit?

Is it true that the "state of the art" Skyfall drone factory which the late Senator Lindsey Graham visited has since been destroyed by Russian Missiles hours after his visit?

Oh christ I hope not ...

Live:Ukraine

⚡️In the Donetsk region, Russia has once again struck the territory of a gas station.

In Sloviansk, an FPV drone hit a fuel truck. A fire broke out and fuel spilled; rescuers extinguished the blaze.

▪️In the Dnipropetrovsk region, five people were injured. The Russians attacked four districts of the region more than 40 times with drones and artillery. Multi-story buildings, private houses, infrastructure, a store, and vehicles were damaged.

▪️In the Kharkiv region, a drone attacked a fire and rescue unit in Bohodukhiv. Three rescuers were injured, two of whom were hospitalized.

⚡️ Germany will purchase 50,000 Shrike FPV drones for Ukraine, Reuters reports, citing a source.

This is one of the largest known drone purchases for Ukraine by a Western country.

The drones are manufactured by the Ukrainian company SkyFall. They are equipped with software from the American defense-tech company Auterion, which autonomously tracks and attacks moving targets in the final phase of flight.

Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier confirmed the size of the contract. He added that its value is approximately €90 million, and it is financed by a European country. Meier stated that some of the drones have already been delivered to Ukraine, with the remainder expected to be sent this year.

▪️The Shrike has recently gained popularity in the US. In April, the Shrike 10-F version, developed by SkyFall together with British company Skycutter, topped the leaderboard in the first phase of the Pentagon's Gauntlet program. The $1.1 billion initiative aims to test and then purchase hundreds of thousands of drones.

⚡️ This week was eventful. Prime Minister Svyrydenko is resigning, and Trump is likely to soon transfer licenses for Patriot missile production to Ukraine. Live: Ukraine has compiled the main highlights.

about:blank 🔴On Monday night, the Russians struck an Ukroboronprom warehouse in Vyshneve, Kyiv region. Nine people were killed and nearly 30 injured. 280 buildings on 13 hectares were damaged, and secondary detonations occurred throughout the day. Two managers of Ukroboronprom's state enterprises were dismissed — they are considered responsible for violating the law prohibiting weapons depots near residential areas. Criminal cases have been opened.

about:blank 🔴On Wednesday, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, President Zelensky met with Donald Trump. The US president said that Americans would soon give Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles.

about:blank 🔴Zelensky also met with Polish President Karol Nawrocki — their first known communication since Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle. Although the Polish president said the UPA issue "is not a matter for negotiation" for Poles, he acknowledged that Russia remains the main threat to both countries. Zelensky stated that the talks were productive and they agreed to continue the dialogue.

about:blank 🔴On Friday, Zelensky signed decrees establishing a Long-Range Impact Command against Russia and Joint Rapid Response Forces within the Armed Forces. He also announced a transformation of assault troops due to existing problems, including in the treatment of military personnel.

about:blank 🔴The NBU announced that in September, a 2,000-hryvnia banknote would be introduced into circulation, featuring the poet and dissident Vasyl Stus.

about:blank 🔴Today, President Zelensky announced that Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko would step down. The composition of the Cabinet and law enforcement leadership will be renewed. According to Zelensky, Svyrydenko will "head a new direction in relations with a key partner."

about:blank 🔴Ukraine intensified attacks on the Russian fleet. Over the course of the week, the Unmanned Systems Forces struck 90 Russian vessels — a record. Most were tankers in the Sea of Azov, which were delivering gasoline to occupied Crimea, among other things. An energy crisis continues on the peninsula.

⚡️ In Russia's Stavropol Krai, drones attacked an oil depot.

Local authorities report a fire on the territory of an industrial zone near the Vyazniki farmstead. OSINT analysts write that this is the second oil depot in the same area to be attacked within a week. Another depot, struck on July 9, is located 1.2 km away.

Overnight, air defense was also active in Moscow and the Moscow region, while in occupied Shakhtarsk in the Donetsk region, several fires broke out following explosions.

⚡️ Since yesterday evening, the Russians have attacked Ukraine with three Kh-59/69 missiles and 134 drones. Air defense shot down all missiles and 123 UAVs.

However, 6 drones struck 5 locations, with debris falling in 4 places. The main consequences:

about:blank 🔴Late on the evening of July 12, Russian drones attacked apartment buildings in Zaporizhzhia. Six people were injured, including a 15-year-old boy.

about:blank 🔴Overnight, Russian forces attacked four districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region nearly 20 times. In the Nikopol area, a man was injured.

about:blank 🔴In the morning, the Russians struck Odesa region — targeting a vehicle depot and a sanatorium. Four people are reported injured.

about:blank 🔴Also in the morning, the Kherson region came under fire — a woman was killed in Novovorontsovka, and four residents were injured in Kherson.

Photos from Zaporizhzhia, video from Odesa region.

A drone exploded in Moldova.

The UAV fell on the outskirts of the village of Copanca in the Căușeni district, approximately 30 km from the border with Ukraine, and caused a fire, Moldova's police reported.

The country's Ministry of Defense stated that it was preliminarily identified as a Geran-2 (Shahed-136), which entered Moldovan airspace during the Russian attack on the Odesa region overnight.

Relevant services are working at the scene to establish all circumstances of the incident.

Other updates this afternoon

United 24 Media:

🇷🇺Russia lied to get the International Olympic Committee to lift sanctions. The IOC limited itself to a weak response.

On July 7, the IOC Executive Board suspended the disqualification of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and recommended lifting all restrictions on Russian athletes, allowing them to compete in international competitions under national symbols.

The IOC left the final decision on whether to lift the sanctions to the governing bodies of individual sports.

The Committee said it made the decision because Russia claimed it had ceased all activities in the occupied territories of Ukraine and that regional sports organizations there would no longer be part of the ROC.

Following the decision, some international sports federations, including the International Volleyball Federation and the International Modern Pentathlon Union, began lifting restrictions on Russian athletes.

However, Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev made a cynical statement, saying that the Olympic councils in Russia’s regions and the occupied territories of Ukraine had been abolished as part of an administrative reform back in 2024, and that Russia was not giving up the occupied territories.

“Our enemies are now trying to make a big deal out of the fact that the four councils of Novorossiya have also been included among the 89 councils. We have not given up any territories. The Olympic Committee operates throughout the territory of Russia, as enshrined in the Constitution. (…) Crimea is ours, Novorossiya is ours,” the Russian minister said.

Glavkom asked the IOC to comment on Degtyarev’s remarks.

“The IOC will continue to closely monitor the situation regarding any activities of the ROC in these territories and reserves the right to take any further measures if it deems it necessary,” the International Olympic Committee responded.

🔷 The Russian Federation has begun equipping its ships with a new defense system against Ukrainian drones.

The Defense Blog reports that the Russian Navy has begun installing the Peroed-M electronic warfare system on large ships. It combines a drone detection radar with an electronic countermeasure system.

The new system has already been spotted on at least four Russian ships. It is designed to counter FPV drones and reconnaissance quadcopters.

Analysts believe Russia was prompted to deploy the system following successful attacks by Ukrainian naval and aerial drones. However, the effectiveness of the new system remains uncertain.

🔶 The Russian Federation has begun equipping its ships with a new defense system against Ukrainian drones.

The Defense Blog reports that the Russian Navy has begun installing the Peroed-M electronic warfare system on large ships. It combines a drone detection radar with an electronic countermeasure system.

The new system has already been spotted on at least four Russian ships. It is designed to counter FPV drones and reconnaissance quadcopters.

Analysts believe Russia was prompted to deploy the system following successful attacks by Ukrainian naval and aerial drones. However, the effectiveness of the new system remains uncertain.

🔷 Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is set to leave office after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a broad government reshuffle, saying Ukraine needs an updated Cabinet to implement a renewed political strategy. The changes are also expected to include the leadership of several law enforcement agencies.

🔶 In temporarily occupied Crimea, state aid payments have begun to tourism sector workers following the collapse of the summer tourist season, The Moscow Times reported, citing data from the Russian government.

The Russian government has allocated more than 4.3 billion rubles from its reserve fund to support the tourism sector in occupied Crimea and Sevastopol. According to the Russian Cabinet of Ministers, the payments will go to employees of more than 4,600 tourism-related businesses that found themselves in a “difficult situation” due to Ukrainian attacks. Of the total amount, 3.7 billion rubles will be allocated to Crimea and 584.5 million rubles to Sevastopol.

According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), about 1 million trips to Crimea and Sevastopol had been canceled by the end of July. The organization estimated the value of canceled bookings at 20–25 billion rubles, including 5–7 billion rubles in losses for tour operators. ATOR has asked the Russian government to grant Crimean tour companies and hotels a deferral on their obligations to tourists, as well as relief from taxes and insurance payments.

At the end of May, Crimea experienced a fuel shortage following intensified Ukrainian strikes on supply routes to the peninsula and Russian oil refineries. On June 26, Russian-installed authorities declared a state of emergency. On July 6, Ukrainian strikes on substations reportedly left all of occupied Crimea without electricity, followed by widespread water outages.

💥15 in one night, 105 in eight days: Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces continue striking Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov.

On the night of July 13, the Freedom-Loving Ukrainian Bird unit of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces struck 15 Russian vessels from the so-called shadow fleet: seven tankers, five dry cargo ships, one ferry, and two tugboats, according to Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert Brovdy.

🔷 The International Table Tennis Federation has lifted sanctions on Russian athletes.

They will once again be allowed to compete under the Russian flag and anthem following the IOC’s July 7 decision to temporarily lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee.

FIFA had previously begun discussing the possible return of Russian teams to international football.

❗️Russia attacked a commercial vessel in the Odesa region with a drone, killing five people and injuring 10 others, head of the regional military administration Oleh Kiper reported.

According to Kiper, all those killed and injured were crew members.

The vessel, flying the flag of the Republic of Togo, was moored and transporting mineral fertilizers at the time of the attack.

Kyiv Independent:

⚡️Ukraine's state defense firm dismisses officials after deadly Vyshneve depot explosion.

Ukroboronprom dismissed two officials on July 12 following an investigation into a deadly explosion at one of its ammunition depots during a Russian attack on the Kyiv suburb of Vyshneve.

⚡️Ukraine reportedly strikes Russian oil depot in Stavropol Krai.

Ukraine struck an oil depot in the southern Russian city of Mikhailovsk, Stavropol Krai, overnight on July 13, monitoring channels reported.

⚡️EU ramps up Russia's Yamal LNG purchases as import ban nears.

Between January and June, EU countries paid an estimated 5.96 billion euros ($6.82 billion) for Yamal LNG cargoes, the NGO Urgewald reported.

⚡️EU, UK impose first-ever joint sanctions against Russian cyber-war complex.

The new sanctions are part of the EU's largest-ever package of measures, and the first time Romania has proposed specific restrictions against Russia.

⚡️Russian drone crashes in Moldova, attacks across Ukraine injure at least 57.

The cross-border incident came as Russia launched three Kh-59/69 guided missiles and 134 attack and decoy drones overnight, Ukraine's Air Force said.

⚡️Russian strike on cargo ship in Odesa kills 3 foreign crew members, injures 5.

The Russian strike hit the ship's superstructure, sparking a fire. The wounded sailors were hospitalized and are receiving medical treatment.

⚡️'A new era of war begins' — Ukrainian sea, ground drone team up for combat mission on Kinburn Spit.

In the "first combat mission of this type known," a Ukrainian sea drone delivered a ground drone to Russian-held territory on the Kinburn Spit, Ukraine's 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade said on July 13.

"A ground-based robotic complex was delivered to the enemy shore by an unmanned sea platform, landed on the occupied territory and used to perform a combat mission," the brigade said in a post on social media.

⚡️Latest EU sanctions package hits snag over fish, ships, and oil.

"Every time we make a sanctions pact, it gets a little harder," said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

⚡️Moldova's largest EU air defense support package even larger than expected.

The package of support was agreed hours after a Russian overnight attack in which a Russian drone crashed in Moldova, and is 20 million euros ($23 million) more than officials were expecting Chisinau would receive.

⚡️Zelensky lands in France for a Coalition of the Willing meeting.

At least 25 leaders are expected to attend today's summit, which is set to focus on addressing Ukraine's critical air defense shortages amid escalating Russian ballistic missile attacks.

⚡️Commander of Ukraine's 155th brigade detained in kidnapping, murder case.

Stanislav Luchanov, the former commander of Ukraine's scandal-hit 155th "Anne of Kyiv" Brigade, has been detained in Kyiv in connection with the alleged kidnapping and murder of two civilians in Kyiv Oblast, Ukrainian media reported on July 13, citing the Prosecutor General's Office.

Kyiv Post:

⚡️ Drones struck multiple targets across Russia and occupied Crimea overnight, including the Mikhailovskaya oil depot in Russia’s Stavropol region, which was reportedly hit for the second time in a week.

Air defenses were also activated in the Moscow region.

⚡️ Russia launched overnight drone attacks across Ukraine, hitting Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and the Chernihiv region.

The strikes damaged transport infrastructure, injured civilians and left nearly 69,000 consumers without power.

⚡️ Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot near Stavropol overnight on July 13, sparking a massive fire that reportedly engulfed at least two storage tanks.

Another oil depot just 1.2 kilometers away was hit on July 9.

Drones also reportedly struck an oil transshipment complex and a railway station at Russia’s Port Kavkaz, which connects Russia with occupied Crimea via the Kerch ferry crossing.

⚡️ Zelensky blasted Russia’s leadership as having “gone crazy over war” after another night of attacks on Ukrainian cities.

“The Russians have again ‘defeated’ absolutely civilian objects – ordinary passenger buses in Odesa, ordinary residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, and an ordinary hospital in the Kharkiv region.”

⚡️ Russia may NOT have the military power to attack Poland — but it could still try to test NATO, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski warned.

“We used to think Putin had the second strongest army in the world. Today, he has the second strongest army in Ukraine.”

⚡️ The EU is reportedly preparing to restrict temporary protection for Ukrainians subject to mobilization, according to Rzeczpospolita.

New applicants — both men and women — may be required to prove they are not subject to mobilization. The changes could take effect in March 2027.

⚡️ Ukraine hit 105 vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet in just eight days — including 15 overnight.

Seven tankers, five cargo ships, a ferry and two tugboats were among the latest targets as Kyiv intensifies its campaign against Russia’s oil logistics in occupied Crimea.

⚡️ Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces say they struck 1,725 Russian military targets in just 24 hours, killing or wounding 418 Russian troops.

Since the start of July, drone units have reportedly hit nearly 20,000 targets and inflicted more than 4,100 Russian casualties.

⚡️ Ukrainian defense company Fire Point has unveiled its FREYJA missile defense system and FP-7.x interceptor missiles designed to counter ballistic threats.

The company describes FREYJA as part of a joint European missile defense shield and says it is intended to become a cheaper, mass-produced alternative to the Patriot system.

⚡️ Bulgaria has vetoed EU sanctions on Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, forcing the bloc to drop the pro-war church leader from its upcoming sanctions package.

Sofia also sought the removal of Russian oil billionaire Vagit Alekperov from the sanctions list.

https://bsky.app/profile/vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu/post/3mqk2gso42s2s

🇪🇺 🇬🇧 Signed!

The agreement that paves the way for the UK to join our €90 billion Ukraine Loan.

This will give Ukraine access to a wider range of defence suppliers.

So they can get what they need on the battlefield.

Together, we are supporting Ukraine's brave resistance.

https://link.europa.eu/hhgpCG

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-13-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukrainian forces continue to intensify and expand their strike campaign aimed at denying Russia’s ability to sustain logistics and transport fuel to occupied Crimea and isolate the peninsula.
2. Ukrainian forces reportedly liberated six settlements and 120 square kilometers in the Oleksandrivka direction over an unspecified time period as part of their ongoing counterattacks in the area supported by intensifying intermediate-range strikes.
3. A Russian Geran-2 drone struck Copanca, Moldova, on the night of July 12 to 13.
4. Russian forces launched three Kh-59/69 cruise missiles and 134 drones against Ukraine overnight.
5. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Oleksandrivka direction.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ EU fails to agree 21st sanctions package, making Russian oil windfall more likely.
“I can’t offer you any guarantees,” the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas told the Kyiv Independent when asked if she can offer any guarantee that the price cap on Russian oil will not lapse on July 15.

⚡️Russian opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin faces charges over Navalny-related 'extremist' post.
Russian opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin was released from police custody after being detained on July 13 over alleged display of "extremist symbols," according to Russian independent media outlet Mediazona.

⚡️Zelensky urges allies to provide 300 Patriot missiles ahead of winter.
"If we have sufficient protection for the winter, Russia will have significantly fewer reasons to drag the war out until winter," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 13.

⚡️Poland to host joint Coalition of the Willing drills this fall.
"These drills will prepare the entire coalition gathered here today in Paris to provide genuine security guarantees for Ukraine, but also for the broader region," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

⚡️ Zelensky eyes replacing Defense Minister Fedorov, source says.
A decision to replace a popular figure widely seen as competent would likely prove controversial with both Ukrainian politicians and wider Ukrainian society.

⚡️France grants Ukraine license to produce missiles, air defense.
French President Emmanuel Macron said July 13 that France would allow Ukraine to produce French-designed missiles and air defense, marking the first time it has licensed weapons production in Ukraine.

Naftogaz CEO Koretskyi set to become Ukraine’s next PM as Svyrydenko heads to US ambassadorship, sources say
Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi is set to become Ukraine’s next prime minister, a senior Ukrainian official and a person familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent.

⚡️ Ukraine, 9 European partners launch anti-ballistic missile coalition to support Freya air defense project.
Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K. are joining Kyiv in an effort to “build a shared anti-ballistic missile capacity for Europe,” the French presidency said.

⚡️Ukraine unlocks foreign policy part of EU membership process.
The EU's enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, told journalists that the newly opened cluster covers external relations, defense, and the tackling of hybrid threats.

⚡️ UK to participate in EU’s 90 billion euro Ukraine loan.

⚡️Drones attack major oil refinery in Russia's Bashkortostan.
Drones reportedly attacked a major oil refinery in Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan on July 14, causing explosions and sending plumes of smoke over the facility.

⚡️Update: Svyrydenko hasn't yet accepted US envoy post, source says.
One person with direct knowledge of the matter told the Kyiv Independent that outgoing Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has not yet agreed to serve as Ukraine's next ambassador to Washington.
The person declined to say whether Svyrydenko has decided to reject the proposal. She is expected to announce her plans after the government's dismissal.

⚡️Ukrainians injured in Iranian strikes on tankers in Strait of Hormuz, UAE says.
Iranian cruise missiles struck two Emirati tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member and injuring eight, including two Ukrainians, the Emirati Defense Ministry reported.

Olena Zelenska on what 5 years of First Ladies and Gentlemen Summit taught us about soft power
“In 2021, when I initiated the First Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, I was thinking more about the fact that we, together with our colleagues, would finally be able to share our experiences,” writes First Lady Olena Zelenska in this op-ed.
“There are no textbooks with instructions for First Ladies and Gentlemen, I should remind you. And there are no instructions anywhere at all for when an attacker starts destroying your world and the worlds of innocent people around you.”
“If something does not exist, we will create it ourselves. I make it sound so simple now, but for my colleagues and me, those first few months of 2022 became a great challenge,” she adds.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬

⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — JUL 14, 2026
■ Engagements and casualties below the 7-day average
■ Equipment losses include 6 tanks (34 in the last 7 days)
■ Overnight attacks: drone interception could be better, but at least 7 of 10 missiles intercepted
■ All 🇷🇺 strike indicators below average; 12 🇺🇦 strikes reported & 410 🇺🇦 strike UAVs launched into 🇷🇺

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

🔥Ukraine will receive 16 French Rafale fighter jets in 2028–2029, President Emmanuel Macron said.
In addition, France will grant Ukraine licenses to produce Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles for the SAMP/T air defense system, AASM Hammer guided bombs, and SCALP cruise missiles.

⚡️President Emmanuel Macron announced the training of multinational forces for a future deployment to Ukraine after the cessation of hostilities.
“The headquarters of this force coordinates the planning and translates it into concrete operational commitments every week. In this context, we have today approved the exercises that will take place in the coming months. They have just been formally presented to us,” the French president said.
He added that the exercises will be held in countries neighboring Ukraine to test deployment plans and demonstrate that “we are ready, determined, and reliable—on land, in the air, and at sea.”

⚡️Twenty-five countries are ready to send troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

⚠️Russia has turned the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) into a military base, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) reported.
According to HUR, Russian forces have stationed military equipment inside the turbine halls of power units 1, 2, 5, and 6. They have also set up weapons depots in the basements and deployed missile systems and machine guns on the roofs of the reactor buildings.
The intelligence agency added that Russian troops are storing military equipment and ammunition beneath overpasses and other covered structures on the plant’s grounds. The shoreline of the former Kakhovka Reservoir has also been mined.

Moldova and North Macedonia have joined the Coalition of the Willing, bringing the number of participating countries to 40, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced.

⚡️The EU has established a new group to help secure the release of Ukrainian civilians illegally detained by Russia.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas noted that thousands of Ukrainians, including residents of temporarily occupied territories, are being held illegally in Russian prisons.
“The testimonies we heard today were a powerful reminder that behind every statistic is a human life,” she said.
According to Kallas, EU foreign ministers adopted sanctions targeting Russia’s prison system and agreed to increase support for non-governmental organizations that assist victims of Russian detention and their families.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' Unmanned Systems Forces struck 11 vessels from Russia's shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov overnight, Commander Robert Brovdi ("Magyar") said.
According to Brovdi, the targets included five tankers, five cargo ships, and one tugboat.
In total, he said, Ukrainian forces have struck 116 Russian vessels over the past nine days.

❗️Russia attacked a commercial vessel in the Odesa region with a drone, killing five people and injuring 10 others, head of the regional military administration Oleh Kiper reported.
According to Kiper, all those killed and injured were crew members.
The vessel, flying the flag of the Republic of Togo, was moored and transporting mineral fertilizers at the time of the attack.

🔥A wave of Ukrainian strikes has pushed Russian oil refining to its lowest level in more than 21 years, deepening domestic fuel shortages and adding pressure to global energy markets, Bloomberg reports.
According to data compiled by EA Analytics, Russia’s crude oil refining has averaged 3.91 million barrels per day since the beginning of the month — the lowest level since March 2005. That is more than 1.4 million barrels per day below the average recorded a year earlier. [...]
Russia no longer publishes official refinery operating data, making it difficult to independently assess the extent of the damage. The Russian Energy Ministry did not respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment.
EA Analytics, a division of Energy Aspects Ltd., estimates refining volumes by tracking the entire crude oil supply chain, including satellite monitoring of oil fields and storage facilities, as well as real-time cargo tracking.
According to Bloomberg, Ukrainian forces have carried out about 50 strikes on Russian oil facilities over the past 100 days, hitting at least 24 of the country’s 34 major refineries, most of them owned by Russia’s largest oil companies.
“The devastating wave of Ukrainian attacks” since early May has affected more than half of Russia’s refining capacity, the International Energy Agency said in a report released Friday.
The IEA estimates that Russian refineries processed 3.8 million barrels of crude per day in June, down 1.6 million barrels from the same period last year. [..]
The strike on the Omsk refinery, which primarily supplies Russia’s domestic market, has further strained fuel supplies across the country. [...]
“There are problems and shortages, which is why we see lines, and sometimes gas stations are operating erratically,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told local media last week.
Novak, who oversees Russia’s energy sector, reportedly holds almost daily meetings on the domestic fuel situation.
To curb panic buying, some regions have introduced temporary fuel rationing based on vehicle license plate numbers.
Authorities in the Novosibirsk region have also recommended that companies switch employees back to remote work to reduce fuel consumption.
Some Russians have taken matters into their own hands. Last month, the Russian search engine Yandex recorded more than 17,000 searches for “how to make gasoline,” The Bell reported, citing Yandex Wordstat data — the highest figure since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

🇺🇦🤸‍♀️Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Taisiia Onofriichuk has won the 2026 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup title in the hoop event.

😡Russian forces attacked a freight train locomotive in the Dnipropetrovsk region with a drone.
The train had been stopped in advance, and the locomotive crew was evacuated before the strike. Thanks to these measures, no one was injured, the Ministry for Development reported.
The attack also damaged the railway’s overhead power lines, leaving the section without electricity.

❗️Kyiv was again targeted in an overnight Russian ballistic missile attack, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The consequences of the strike were recorded in two districts of the city. No injuries were reported.

Kyiv Post: Telegram Highlights

US President Donald Trump will support the Russia sanctions bill championed by late Senator Lindsey Graham, CNN reported, citing a White House official.

Ukraine is expected to sign a sweeping defense partnership with the European Commission that would provide up to €2 billion for joint drone and missile production and deepen Kyiv’s integration into the EU defense industry.

The EU is preparing its biggest overhaul of temporary protection rules for Ukrainians since 2022.
Future applicants — both men and women — may be required to prove they are not subject to mobilization. The changes would not affect the 4.3 million Ukrainians already under temporary protection.

Ukraine and nine European partners launched the FREYJA program in Paris to develop a new anti-ballistic shield.
The initiative seeks to address interceptor shortages by combining Ukraine’s combat experience and emerging missile technology with European radars, financing and manufacturing capacity.

Bulgaria has vetoed EU sanctions on Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, forcing the bloc to drop the pro-war church leader from its upcoming sanctions package.
Sofia also sought the removal of Russian oil billionaire Vagit Alekperov from the sanctions list.

US Senator Chuck Grassley called for Congress to advance the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill Lindsey Graham championed during his final visit to Kyiv.
Graham had worked to impose tougher penalties on countries helping finance Moscow’s war through purchases of Russian energy.

Ukraine hit two major Russian oil facilities overnight — including a petrochemical giant around 1,500 km from Ukraine.
Fires erupted at the Afipsky Oil Refinery and Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat complex as Kyiv’s campaign against Russia’s war-funding energy sector reaches ever deeper.

Ukraine intercepted five ballistic missiles after Russia launched 145 aerial weapons overnight, including 135 drones.
The attacks damaged homes and critical infrastructure, while Zelensky urged the EU to quickly adopt its next sanctions package and strengthen anti-ballistic defenses.

For the first time in history, Ukrainian troops marched in Paris as part of France’s Bastille Day celebrations.
Ukrainian soldiers marched from the Arc de Triomphe, while two Ukrainian pilots took to the skies over Paris in French Mirage fighter jets. https://telegram.me/Kyivpost_official/37859

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇺🇦🇪🇺The European Commission wants to change the rules for temporary protection for Ukrainians — it will only be granted to those not subject to mobilization, Rzeczpospolita reports, citing Polish Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Duszczyk.
According to the publication, Ukraine itself approached the EU with this proposal in early June. Poland has already supported the changes. The requirement will also apply to women.
At the same time, Ukrainians who have already received temporary protection in EU countries will not be affected by the new rules. If the changes are adopted in July, they will take effect in March 2027.
According to Rzeczpospolita, in the three months after Ukraine allowed men aged 18–22 to leave the country, over 121,000 Ukrainians of that age entered Poland. Nearly 50,000 of them applied for temporary protection.

🇺🇸🇺🇦US President Donald Trump is ready to support the sanctions package against Russia that the late Senator Lindsey Graham had been working on, a White House official told CNN.
▪️The document would allow for the imposition of high tariffs on countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas, and uranium. The first version of the bill even mentioned secondary tariffs of up to 500%. The goal is to reduce Kremlin revenues from energy resources.
▪️A day before his death, Lindsey Graham, while in Kyiv, announced that he had managed to finalize the bill with the Trump administration. The following evening, July 11, the senator suddenly died. Graham's seat in the Senate will temporarily be filled by his sister, Darlene Graham Nordon

Overnight, the Russians launched 135 drones and 10 missiles at Ukraine — 8 Iskanders and two Kh-59/69 missiles.
Air defense neutralized 7 missiles, including 5 ballistic, and 108 UAVs. One missile and 25 drones struck 17 locations. The targets included:
🔴Kyiv. Overnight, a warehouse caught fire in the Holosiivskyi district as a result of a Russian attack, while vehicles caught fire in the Darnytskyi district. Debris also fell on a private house. No casualties were reported.
🔴Chernihiv region. In the early morning, a Russian drone struck a residential building in the Nizhyn district — two women were injured.
🔴Dnipropetrovsk region. A locomotive of a freight train was hit. The overhead contact network was also de-energized.
🔴Odesa region. In the morning, the Russians struck civilian and industrial infrastructure — vehicles, a fuel tanker, and an outbuilding were damaged. No casualties were reported.

US President Donald Trump will support the Russia sanctions bill championed by late Senator Lindsey Graham, CNN reported, citing a White House official.

Excellent. I was half afraid it would fall by the wayside without a strong advocate. Glad to read that Senator Chuck Grassley took the bill forward with Congress. A fitting legacy.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️EU's von der Leyen to visit Kyiv on July 15, reportedly with defense agenda.
The European Commission is preparing a combined support package for Ukraine worth up to 18 billion euros ($21 billion), with announcements on this expected during von der Leyen's visit, TVP World reported.

⚡️ Von der Leyen, other European leaders arrive in Kyiv for Ukraine Statehood Day.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she would announce new initiatives to integrate the Ukrainian and European defense industries.

⚡️ Ukraine, EU sign Drone Deal during von der Leyen’s visit to Kyiv.

⚡️US lawmakers unveil updated Russia sanctions bill spearheaded by late Senator Graham.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on July 14 unveiled the latest version of a sanctions bill targeting countries that buy Russian oil and gas, aiming to choke off Moscow's revenues amid its war against Ukraine.

⚡️ Exclusive: Lockheed Martin supports granting Ukraine Patriot missile licenses, official says.
The U.S. has begun the process of granting Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles, moving the matter beyond political statements, a Ukrainian official familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent.

⚡️US to 'hold Iran accountable' for strikes on vessels in Strait of Hormuz as blockade resumes.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz comes as the price cap on Russian oil is set to expire on July 15, paving the way for Moscow to fill its war chest with windfall profits from the disruption in global energy markets.

⚡️ Head of Ukraine’s state-run defense giant steps down.
The news follows a major controversy at Ukroboronprom, centered around a deadly explosion at one of its ammunition depots during a Russian attack on the Kyiv suburb of Vyshneve on July 6.

⚡️ ‘Bulgaria doesn’t belong there’ — Ukraine-skeptic PM Radev quits the Coalition of the Willing.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said his country does not provide defense assistance to Ukraine because such support only “prolongs the conflict” and urged a diplomatic solution instead

⚡️Budapest 'closing the door' on Russia, Hungary's defense minister says.
Budapest is "closing the door" on Russia and more closely aligning with its allies, Hungarian Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said July 14, according to Telex.

⚡️'A missile reaches Kyiv in 2-4 minutes' — official explains air alarm lag during Russian ballistic strikes.
"All information about launches or launch preparations comes to us from our partners. ... No system can be perfect, so failures do occur, and the alert may be delayed," Defense Ministry Advisor Serhii Beskrestnov said.

⚡️ ‘Revenge is inevitable’ — Ukraine sinks Russian border guard ship involved in 2018 Kerch Strait attack.
The strike killed and wounded members of the vessel’s crew, the military said, without disclosing further details.

⚡️ EU agrees to extend protection for Ukrainians but won’t grant it to potential conscripts.
They also agreed that temporary protection would not be granted to new applicants who are not complying with their military obligations in Ukraine.

⚡️ Russian Mi-28 helicopter downed by Ukrainian drone, Madyar claims.
The aircraft was hit in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast by soldiers from Ukraine’s 427th separate unmanned systems regiment, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, added in a post on social media.

⚡️ Total blackout in Kerch, Crimea after Ukrainian drone attack.
The city of Kerch in occupied Crimea was plunged into darkness overnight after Ukrainian drone strikes caused a total blackout, Russian authorities have said.

What’s behind Zelensky’s surprise government reshuffle?
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision on July 12 to reshuffle the government came as a surprise to many — both on the streets and in the halls of parliament.

⚡️ Prime minister candidate Koretskyi meets Zelensky’s faction, outlines his priorities.
“Koretskyi said the government’s top priorities would be (social) support for the public, preparing for the upcoming heating season, strengthening the Defense Forces, and protecting critical infrastructure,” David Arakhamia, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s faction, said.

⚡️Zelensky to meet with Fedorov as speculation over defense minister's exit grows

‘Is it really necessary?’ — Ukrainians react with dismay at defense minister Fedorov’s possible exit
The prospect of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov being replaced after just six months in office has prompted a largely critical reaction from lawmakers, public figures, and Kyiv residents, while opposition lawmakers and political analysts have suggested that tensions with parliament and President Volodymyr Zelensky may be driving his possible removal.

Ukraine’s potential Justice Minister Maslov defends judicial reform amid criticism
There are three things to know about lawmaker Denys Maslov. He chairs parliament’s legal policy committee, responsible for overhauling Ukraine’s courts.
He is widely expected to become the country’s next justice minister.
And he insists Ukraine’s judicial reform is on track.

David Arakhamia's long game for power
As the Ukrainian government was engulfed in a major corruption scandal last November, the biggest one in years, a number of lawmakers from President Volodymyr Zelensky's party saw it as a do-or-die moment.
[...] The ability to maintain contacts across competing centers of power has served Arakhamia throughout his career. Those who spoke with the Kyiv Independent said it remains his greatest political asset.

⚡️9 countries want to cut EU funding for IOC, other sports bodies readmitting Russia.
The call was backed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Sweden.

⚡️Moldova 'best performer' in neck-and-neck race with Ukraine for EU membership.

⚡️ Ukraine expands drone campaign to Black Sea, hits 20 Russian vessels, including oil tankers, Madyar says.

⚡️Second Russian strike on foreign vessel within days kills 2 in Odesa Oblast.
Russia struck a foreign ship in Odesa Oblast for the second time within days on July 14, killing two people, Governor Oleh Kiper said.

Ukraine’s pornography ban fuels corruption. Legalization could boost war funding
Whenever there’s a knock at Velma’s door, she immediately fears it’s the police. The young Ukrainian woman isn’t a drug dealer or Russian spy, but instead a former adult OnlyFans model — a profession that is illegal in Ukraine under its strict anti-pornography laws.

[13-14 July 20]
⚡️Russian attacks kill 7, injure 78 across Ukraine over past day as Kyiv comes under another ballistic missile strike.

⚡️ Russian attacks kill 12, injure 90 across Ukraine as Odesa Oblast hit with missiles for fifth straight day.
A missile strike on Odesa overnight on July 15 hit a multi-story apartment building, killing three residents and injuring at least six others, regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

The “hell sanctions” bill, championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, would target China and India as the largest buyers of Russian oil, The Wall Street Journal reports.
According to the newspaper's sources, the bill, which is expected to be introduced in Congress this week, targets the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, with China and India at the top of the list.
The legislation would give U.S. President Donald Trump the authority to impose 100% tariffs on countries and individuals that facilitate the sale of Russian energy resources.
Analysts note that, if passed, it would mark the first time Congress has authorized the use of tariffs as a geopolitical weapon. Historically, tariffs have been used to address unfair trade practices.
The bill also includes provisions for sanctions targeting Russia's defense industry, energy and financial sectors, and the shadow fleet. [...]
However, some analysts fear the U.S. president may not use the broad new powers as intended.
“These powers could be used not to pressure Russia, but as a tool for Trump to wage trade wars against both allies and adversaries.
Secondary sanctions targeting the actual buyers of Russian oil and those facilitating these transactions — refineries, banks, and oil traders — would be far more effective than secondary tariffs.
“I suspect the White House ultimately supported this bill because it realized it would give Trump much greater flexibility on tariffs,” said Edward Fishman, a former senior U.S. sanctions official.

The Verkhovna Rada has ratified the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Türkiye.
“Currently, 77% of our exports to Türkiye consist of grain and sunflower oil. These are mainly raw materials that Türkiye processes domestically. The agreement removes trade barriers specifically for processed products, including food products, feed concentrates, and higher-value oil products. Goods produced in Ukraine will enter the Turkish market duty-free. This creates a strong incentive to invest in processing industries in Ukraine,” Taras Kachka said.

🤦‍♂️The International Olympic Committee has restored the Russian Olympic Committee’s page on its official website.
The ROC profile is publicly accessible again for the first time since 2023, when the committee’s membership was suspended.

💥The Ukrainian Navy has released a satellite image showing the destroyed Russian FSB border patrol ship Izumrud alongside a pier.

Ukrainian soldiers are once again rewriting the history of warfare.
Ground robotic systems equipped with Browning M2 machine guns, operating in coordination with strike drones, destroyed a Russian assault group in one of the settlements in the Donetsk region.
Brilliant work by the operators of the 33rd Separate Assault Regiment. https://t.me/United24media/44217

The first exercises of the Coalition of the Willing will be held in Poland this fall. Troops from the United Kingdom and France will take part in the maneuvers, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
It is not yet known whether other Coalition members will participate, including Moldova and North Macedonia, which joined the group during yesterday's meeting in Paris.
At the same time, Bulgaria said it would not take part in the exercises and plans to withdraw from the Coalition of the Willing altogether.
“We are not participating in the Coalition, which insists on continuing financial and military assistance to Ukraine.

Russia is finding it increasingly difficult to sell the growing volumes of oil it is forced to export as Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries intensify, Bloomberg reports.
In the four weeks through July 12, Russia’s average seaborne crude exports remained largely unchanged at 4.21 million barrels per day, according to tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.
That is just 10,000 barrels per day below the highest level recorded since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Before the invasion, about 600,000 barrels per day were delivered to European refineries via pipelines.
However, the increase in exports has not been matched by a similar rise in deliveries to buyers.
As a result, the volume of Russian crude stored at sea has climbed back near the peak levels seen at the beginning of the year.
Tanker-tracking data shows Russian oil cargoes accumulating near the Egyptian port of Mersa El Hamra and in the Riau Islands east of Singapore.
An increasing share of these cargoes is being held on vessels that appear to be idle rather than sailing to their final destinations.
Meanwhile, cargoes of Sokol and Sakhalin Blend crude from Russia’s Far East are waiting for weeks to be transferred from shuttle tankers to ocean-going vessels. [...]
The [Ukrainian] strikes are also forcing Russia to export crude that it can no longer process domestically. [...]
Even so, Russia’s total export revenue remains higher than at any point over the past year.

❗️Amid the fuel crisis, Russians have become increasingly pessimistic about their financial situation and the country's economy, The Moscow Times reports, citing a Levada Center survey.
The Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) has been declining for a year and fell below 100 points in the last week of June — the threshold separating optimism from pessimism.
According to the survey, this is the first time the index has fallen below 100 since October 2022, when public sentiment was shaken by the mobilization.
“Over the past year, the index has lost 23 points, including nine in the last two months, when the country was hit by the fuel crisis. Now, not only assessments of the current situation are in negative territory, but expectations as well.
Expectations fell to 97 points, while assessments of the current economic situation dropped to 89 points.
Similar CSI levels were last recorded in 2021,” the Levada Center said.
The survey also found a significant deterioration in Russians' perceptions of their personal financial situation.
A year ago, the shares of respondents who said their financial situation had improved or worsened over the previous 12 months were nearly identical — 24% and 23%, respectively. Now, 35% say they have become poorer, while only 13% say they have become better off.
The share of respondents expecting their financial situation to worsen now exceeds those expecting improvement — 24% versus 21%.
A year earlier, the situation was reversed, with 31% expecting improvement and 13% expecting deterioration.
The Levada Center also noted a shift in attitudes toward the country's economic outlook.
In recent years, respondents had generally viewed Russia's short-term economic prospects more positively than their own personal financial outlook. In June, however, that trend reversed.
The share of respondents who believe the next 12 months will be a bad period for the Russian economy more than doubled, rising from 16% a year ago to 35%, while the share of optimists fell from 49% to 29%.

France's highest award: Macron presents Starmer with the Legion of Honor for supporting Ukraine. @notimagain
According to Reuters, Starmer received the award for his contribution to strengthening European security following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and for his role in establishing the Coalition of the Willing.

“This is a colonial war.” Actor Richard Gere spoke out about Russian aggression and his support for Ukraine.
“To have any legitimacy, you have to rewrite history. Putin is clearly doing this, saying: ‘There has never been a Ukraine, there has never been a Ukrainian language, there has never been a Ukrainian culture. All this is completely invented.’ This is not true,” he said in an interview with the Latvian television channel LTV.

❗️Russia attacked a residential area in Sumy, injuring seven people, including an 11-year-old boy, the City Military Administration reported.
The child suffered an acute stress reaction and received medical assistance at the scene. A 30-year-old man and a 59-year-old woman are in serious condition.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

France has unveiled one of its biggest military support packages for Ukraine yet.
The July 13–14 package includes Rafale fighter jets, SAMP/T air defenses, SCALP cruise missiles and AASM Hammer bombs, while also launching licensed production of key weapons in Ukraine—funded by France, EU mechanisms and proceeds from frozen Russian assets.

Ukraine has opened Cluster 6 in its EU accession talks, covering external relations, security and defense policy.
Ukraine has already achieved 99% alignment with EU foreign policy, FM Andrii Sybiha said, as Kyiv moves another step closer to membership.

Ukraine is already producing 10 million drones annually and aims to double that figure to 20 million — Zelensky

Russia is falling behind on its plan to recruit 409,000 troops in 2026, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service says.
Only 195,000 contracts have been signed by July, while battlefield losses continue to outpace recruitment and Moscow increasingly targets poorer regions, migrants and students to replenish its ranks.

Ukraine has agreed to purchase 16 French Rafale fighter jets and their armaments, with deliveries expected after Ukrainian pilots complete training, set to begin as early as 2026.
The 4.5-generation Rafales are expected to become a core part of Ukraine’s future air force alongside Sweden’s Gripen E fighters.

Polish fighter jets intercepted and forced away a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea, Poland's defense minister said.
He called it Russia's latest attempt to probe NATO air defenses and reaffirmed continued backing of Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s goal is not merely to leave Russia without gasoline, but to free Ukraine from Russia.

European leaders are arriving in Kyiv to mark Ukraine’s Statehood Day, including Romanian President Nicușor Dan, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Russian forces dropped six guided bombs on the Sumy community, killing three civilians and injuring 17, including a teenager. One strike hit near medical facilities in a busy area, while authorities warned of the risk of further Russian attacks.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇱🇹Lithuanian intelligence has received signals about possible Russian preparations for attacks on critical infrastructure in NATO countries, President Gitanas Nausėda stated, LRT reports.
According to him, these could be targeted strikes, though specific locations or timing have not yet been disclosed by intelligence services. However, Lithuania has already stepped up security at key transport and energy facilities.
Nausėda also stated that Russia may be preparing provocations in Poland or the Baltic states to test NATO's unity.

🇺🇸The US Senate has unveiled an updated version of the sanctions bill against Russia. The document has been significantly softened after lengthy negotiations with Trump, Reuters reports.
The new version proposes a 100% tariff on the five largest importers of Russian oil, whereas the previous version had called for a 500% tariff on all. The new document also proposes an exemption for countries that import 15% of Russian oil and are planning to reduce imports — including Japan, Hungary, France, and Belgium.
The bill also includes sanctions against Russian shadow fleet tankers that do not use Western services; against Russian financial institutions; and against Russia's largest state energy projects.
The new version contains a provision allowing Trump to lift the sanctions if he deems they would conflict with US national interests. One source told Reuters that this compromise document is "the only viable option."

On the night of July 15, Ukrainian forces attacked 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea.
Among the targets were 17 oil tankers, two LNG tankers, and one tugboat.
In total, since July 6, Ukrainian forces have struck 136 Russian vessels.

🇩🇪Germans are massively refusing military service, and young people are protesting because they do not want to be "cannon fodder," The Guardian writes.
This is severely undermining Berlin's plans to build Europe's most powerful army to deter Russia.
In the first half of 2026, the government received a record 5,862 applications for conscientious objection on moral or religious grounds. This is already significantly more than in all of 2025 (3,879) and nearly three times the 2024 figure (2,249).
There is no compulsory conscription in the country since 2011, but from January 1 this year, the government introduced a "light conscription" system. Every 18-year-old German is now required to fill out a questionnaire on their willingness to serve and undergo a medical examination.
Analysts believe many young men have perceived this as covert preparation for the return of conscription and are acting preemptively. Young people are frightened by the prospect of being deployed, for example, in a peacekeeping mission in post-war Ukraine or in the Strait of Hormuz.
As a result, "school strikes" and protests have taken place across the country, with people taking to the streets saying they do not want to be "cannon fodder."
Berlin is trying to increase the Bundeswehr's numbers from 186,000 to 260,000 soldiers by 2035. If this plan fails, conservatives are proposing to reintroduce compulsory conscription.