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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Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Ukrainian company Stetman is advancing a $1.1B plan to launch a 360-satellite constellation with Denmark's GomSpace by 2030 (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81054).
The network aims to reduce dependence on foreign providers like Starlink and ensure secure, sovereign defense connectivity.

The Trump administration has warned Ukraine against targeting non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81066) after drone strikes hit tankers near Novorossiysk.
The US highlighted the vital role of the CPC pipeline for Western markets.

US President Trump ordered a pause in strikes on Iran after a 2-week campaign (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81098).
During a WH meeting, VP Vance & Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine expressed reservations, with Caine warning of rapid US munitions depletion & escalation risks.

The US is evaluating contingency plans for a potential ground raid in Iran to seize or destroy enriched uranium (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81082) at sites like Fordow and Isfahan.
Meanwhile, Iran's IRGC claims its retaliatory strikes killed over 200 US personnel.

Global defense contractors have invested a record $4.1B in tech startups (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81091) this year as modern warfare demands fast, cheap innovation like autonomous drones & interceptors.
Total defense deals have topped $40B so far

Ukraine’s SBU detained a Dnipro resident for illegally activating over 1,000 Starlink terminals for Russian forces (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81044).
Recruited via Telegram, the suspect used proxy identities to register devices.

The chief organizer of a defense tech exhibition near Kyiv was detained following a Russian strike that killed 10 and injured 100 (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81058).
Authorities suspect official negligence, citing an unauthorized open-air gathering of people with inadequate shelter.

Russia’s largest Black Sea oil port, Sheskharis, has suspended tanker loadings following increased Ukrainian drone attacks (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81042).
The terminal moves 650,000 bpd. An extended stoppage risks further straining global energy markets already under pressure.

Sopot has become the first Polish city to pass a resolution urging top officials to combat anti-Ukrainian xenophobia, hate speech & disinformation (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81104).
It calls for a nationwide awareness campaign on Ukrainians' economic contributions.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has offered Mykhailo Fedorov a role as an advisor in Rome (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81056).
Crosetto praised Fedorov as a driving force behind military innovations who "completely rewrote the rules of the game on the battlefield."

Ukrainian forces struck key targets in occupied Crimea early July 26 (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81096), hitting a Chornomornaftogaz fuel facility & a relay station for Geran/Gerbera drones.
Additional strikes targeted a military bridge in Donetsk and drone storage in Luhansk.

A Russian strike today completely destroyed Kryvyi Rih’s only Epicentr construction hypermarket, sparking a massive fire.
The hypermarket had been in operation for nearly 19 years since opening in December 2007.

Russian forces hit Zaporizhzhia with three guided aerial bombs (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81062) on July 25, striking an industrial facility that purifies and delivers drinking water.
The attack killed 1 person and injured 11 others, including three children.

All that remains of a house in Kharkiv after a Russian "Banderol" drone-missile strike this morning.
A 40-year-old woman was killed, and 9 others were injured, including a 10-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

The main organizer of the weapons exhibition in the Kyiv region, which was struck by Russian missiles yesterday, has been detained.
[...]
The investigation established that yesterday, one of the arms associations organized a large-scale event without coordinating it with military command, regional, or district military administrations. Over 300 people were invited — military personnel, government officials, international partners, and business representatives. The nearest shelter was 100 meters away, but it could not accommodate everyone.
Invitations were sent out 9 days before the event, with the exact location and time communicated only 24 hours in advance. Investigators are examining whether these actions may have enabled Russia to prepare a targeted strike. The attack killed 10 people and injured about 100. [...]

Overnight, explosions were heard in temporarily occupied Crimea.
Bright flashes were recorded near the Tavrida Thermal Power Plant, after which power outages occurred in Simferopol and surrounding areas.
Monitoring channels also report that around 4:00 AM, a Russian Pantsir-S1 system was heard in Haspra (Southern Coast of Crimea). A drone was shot down there as well.
In the morning, some settlements on the peninsula were left without power due to "external impact on power supply facilities."

⚡️Overnight and in the morning, the Russians launched eight missiles and 136 drones at Ukraine, the Air Force reported.
Air defense neutralized one Kh-59/69 guided aerial missile, five Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, and 104 drones.

The Air Force recorded impacts from two ballistic missiles and 27 strike drones at 18 locations. Debris fell in seven places.

Overnight, the Russians attacked Ukraine. The targets included Kyiv, the Kherson, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Here is what is known:
Kyiv. Fires broke out in the Desnianskyi, Solomianskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi districts. A warehouse burned down, along with 10 cars, a truck, and non-residential buildings.
Kharkiv region. A Russian drone struck a vehicle in the Shevchenkivskyi district — a man was injured.
Dnipropetrovsk region. The enemy attacked a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih. In Pavlohrad, a 66-year-old man was injured. In Nikopol, a department store was damaged as a result of Russian attacks, and a fire broke out there.
Kherson region. The Russians struck the Dniprovskyi and Korabelnyi districts of Kherson — three people were injured.
Chernihiv region. A fire broke out on the territory of a private enterprise in the city; no casualties were reported.

I’m still boycotting Unilever. Good to hear they did finally exit russia in late 2024, I didn’t know that. Had no idea Bacardi and Reckitt were still operating there. More products to add to the boycott list!

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-26-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. The Russian Navy is forming unmanned systems regiments, likely in part to protect Russian vessels from intensified Ukrainian strikes against Russian naval assets in the Black and Azov seas.
2. Russian President Vladimir Putin used Russia’s Navy Day to project strength while reinforcing expansive territorial claims beyond Ukraine.
3. A Romanian F-16 fighter jet intercepted an unidentified drone in Romanian airspace on July 26 for the third time in three days.
4. Russia launched one Kh-59/69 cruise missile, seven Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, and 136 drones against Ukraine overnight on July 25 to 26.
5. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces made confirmed advances on July 26.

Kyiv Independent:

These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of July 27, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Kyiv Independent: Cont.

⚡️Wildberries hides military goods in search results after Ukrainian strikes hammer warehouses.

When users enter the search query "everything for the SVO" — the Kremlin's euphemism for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine — the platform now returns the message "No suitable products found."

⚡️Kyiv has developed new list of 'priority targets' for deep strikes in Russia, Zelensky says.

Ukraine is now able to strike targets at a distance of over 3,000 kilometers (approximately 1,864 miles), Zelensky said, and is working to extend operating capabilities even further.

⚡️'No military justification' — Russian daytime drone attack on Chernihiv supermarket kills 2, including child, injures 25.

Russia launched a drone attack at a busy supermarket in Chernihiv on July 26, hitting the store in the middle of the day as families were shopping for groceries. A 9-year-old girl was killed in the attack.

"This is a deliberate act of Russian terror that has no military justification," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️Too soon to comment on new peace initiatives, Kremlin says after reported US-Ukraine ceasefire talks.

"We do not know how credible these reports are or where they come from," Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on July 26.

Peskov's comments come two days after the Kyiv Independent reported that the U.S. and Ukraine are coordinating proposals for a partial aerial ceasefire.

⚡️Russia cancels St. Petersburg Navy Day parade for second straight year amid Ukrainian drone threat.

Russia has canceled its annual Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg for the second year in a row, as Ukraine's increasing deep-strike capabilities put even the country's heavily defended major cities at risk.

⚡️Civilian grain ship sinks in Black Sea following Russian strike.

A civilian cargo ship sank on July 26 in the Black Sea near Odesa after being struck by Russian missiles days earlier on July 19 while it was transporting grain, authorities reported.

⚡️Ukrainian drones reportedly strike Russian cities of Belgorod, Rostov-on-Don.

Ukrainian drones struck the Russian cities of Belgorod and Rostov-on-Don overnight on July 27, monitoring channels and authorities reported.

United 24 Media:

🤦‍♂️ Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia did not start the war and denied that Russia had committed aggression against Ukraine.

“We did not start any war. There is no aggression from Russia. We responded to the actions of Ukraine, which unleashed hostilities with the assistance of the West,” Putin said.

🔹 ”They just hit people”: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the Russian attack on an ATB supermarket in Chernihiv.

“An absolutely cynical drone strike on an ordinary supermarket in Chernihiv. They just hit people without any military purpose,” Zelenskyy wrote.

The president also referred to Russia’s guided bomb strike on Zaporizhzhia.

“This is deliberate Russian terror that has no military justification. We need stronger sanctions against Russia, more support for Ukraine, more means to protect our skies, and greater capabilities for our soldiers,” Zelenskyy said.

😁 Russia is losing international support: India, Azerbaijan, and Botswana have publicly criticized Moscow over the past 10 days, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

The agency said India lodged a protest after a Russian strike on the MV Golden Leo cargo ship near Odesa killed four Indian citizens. Azerbaijan demanded an investigation following an attack on a SOCAR gas station in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region. Botswana, meanwhile, reported an increase in fraudulent recruitment schemes targeting its citizens to fight on Russia’s side.

According to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, these incidents suggest Russia is gradually losing support even among countries that had previously been regarded as its partners.

🔸 In his interview with The Economist, American political commentator Tucker Carlson mocked Ukraine’s ability to beat Russia. While he laughs, Russian oil refineries, shadow fleet tankers, and major logistics centers are on fire. More to come.

Never underestimate Ukraine.

🛳 The cargo ship Golden Leo, where 10 crew members were killed in a Russian missile strike, has sunk off the coast of Odesa.

According to Ukraine’s Shipping Administration, the vessel sustained severe damage to its hull and superstructure during the attack, causing it to lose seaworthiness before eventually sinking.

The administration added that there were no crew members on board at the time the vessel went down.

🔹 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s conditions for ending the war remain unchanged.

“The main condition for Russia is that we achieve our goals. Everything could stop by the end of the day if Kyiv makes the appropriate decisions.

President Putin has already outlined all of Russia’s proposals regarding Ukraine, and the Kyiv regime knows what needs to be done.

Given Kyiv’s current position, a literal freeze along the front line is impossible,” Peskov said.

He also declined to comment on a Reuters report published on July 24 claiming that the United States and Ukraine had discussed an air ceasefire.

According to Reuters, the finalized proposal is expected to be presented to Russia during a new round of peace talks.

“Comments on reports about alleged U.S.-Ukraine agreements on an air ceasefire are premature,” Peskov said.

🚀 Putin acknowledges accuracy issues with the Zircon missile.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin said the country’s hypersonic Zircon missile still requires further improvement, particularly in terms of targeting accuracy.

At the same time, he described the Russian Navy as a key component of the country’s nuclear triad and said Russia would continue developing modern weapons systems.

🔸 Ukrainian DJ Miss Monique debuted her new collaborative track with British pop icon Robbie Williams during her set on the Tomorrowland Mainstage July 24. Titled “Beauty In Us”, the track features Williams’ vocals and was premiered to thousands of fans at the world’s biggest electronic music festival in Boom, Belgium. The record is expected to be released soon.

❗️Ukraine plans to prepare a prototype of the Freyja air defense system in the first half of 2027, according to Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Serhii Aloyan.

Aloyan said the Freyja system is intended to become a more affordable European alternative to the Patriot system for intercepting ballistic missiles.

He added that Ukraine will develop the launcher and interceptor missiles, while partner countries will provide radars, sensors, and guidance technologies.

Live:Ukraine

⚡️ A foreign commercial vessel, struck by the Russians on July 19, has sunk off the coast of Odesa, the regional military administration reported.

The Russian army hit the vessel with missiles as it was leaving port carrying Ukrainian corn. Nine crew members and a Ukrainian pilot were killed. Another eight crew members were evacuated.

▪️The Russians regularly strike Ukrainian ports. On July 20, they attacked a commercial vessel near Odesa, killing 10 people. In the wake of these attacks, Maersk — one of the world's largest container shipping companies — suspended operations at one Ukrainian port, and some shipowners have reviewed or canceled voyages.

⚡️ Drapatyi became Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the EU adopted the 21st sanctions package against Russia. The week's top stories.

🔴 On Monday, July 20, former acting SBU head Yevhen Khmara was officially appointed Deputy Minister of Defense and tasked with acting ministerial duties.

🔴 The next day, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi resigned — his position was taken by Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi (1). Zelensky and Drapatyi, together with their team, then defined the tasks for the Ministry of Defense.

🔴 On July 22, President Zelensky announced that Major General Ihor Skybiuk would become the new Chief of the General Staff, replacing Andrii Hnatov. Zelensky also stated that decisions had been made on the continued service of Hnatov and Syrskyi following their resignations, though he did not specify their new roles.

🔴 Thursday, July 23, was a diplomatic day — Ukraine received the second tranche of aid (approximately $690 million from the IMF) under a new four-year program. The EU also approved the 21st sanctions package against Russia, which includes 218 individuals and companies — the largest sanctions package in four years.

🔴 On July 24, the Russians attacked a weapons exhibition in the Kyiv region where representatives of the Ukrainian defense industry had gathered. The attack killed 10 people and injured nearly 100. That same day, far-right American blogger Laura Loomer, considered close to Trump, recorded an interview with Zelensky

🔴 On Saturday, July 25, law enforcement detained the main organizer of the weapons exhibition in the Kyiv region that was struck by Russian missiles on July 24

🔴 On the afternoon of July 26, the Russian army struck an ATB supermarket in Chernihiv with a drone. Two people were killed, including a 10-year-old child. Twenty-five people were injured

⚡️ Overnight, drones attacked Rostov, Russia — the targets may have included the seaport and railway infrastructure.

Belgorod was also hit. Local authorities report damaged buildings and casualties. Part of the city was left without power.

Explosions were also reported overnight in Taganrog, Yaroslavl, Penza, and in temporarily occupied Mariupol.

⚡️President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the personnel changes in the Cabinet and the Armed Forces were necessary to prepare for a "very difficult winter."

In an interview with Sky News, he said he needed a prime minister deeply focused on energy issues. Additionally, according to the president, there had been a lack of understanding between the army commander and the head of the Ministry of Defense for several months.

"I don't have time for negotiations. No time to listen first to one side, then to the other — because they need to interact not daily, but hourly, until our sky is protected. I should not be the one figuring out who is right and who is wrong," the president said.

When asked whether the president could reappoint Fedorov, Zelensky did not give a direct answer. He noted that he respects the work of the former defense minister but urged not to attribute successful long-range strike operations to a single person.

⚡️ Russia launched 147 strike drones at Ukraine overnight. Air defense shot down 123, but 21 UAVs reached their targets, with debris falling in seven more locations. Here is what is known about the aftermath in the regions:

Kharkiv region. In Izium, guided bombs injured three people and caused two fires. In Kharkiv, a Molniya drone struck the facade of a building; in the Balakliia community, a drone set a civilian enterprise on fire.

Sumy. The Russians dropped seven guided bombs on the city, damaging buildings, infrastructure, and vehicles; there are casualties. Drones also struck an enterprise and a shopping center.

Zaporizhzhia. Russia killed a man; at least two people are injured. Rescuers pulled a 22-year-old man from the rubble. Two houses were destroyed, and several other buildings and vehicles were damaged.

Dnipropetrovsk region. Two people were injured, including a child. The Russians struck the region more than 20 times with drones, artillery, and guided bombs. In Dnipro, an enterprise, apartment buildings, shops, and vehicles were damaged.

Kherson region. A Russian drone struck a vehicle. A man sustained a blast injury and shrapnel wounds.

🇪🇺The EU will resume imports of sable fur from Russia — this proposal was included in the 21st sanctions package approved last week, Euractiv reports, citing sources.

The ban on imports was introduced only in April. The EU explained that Russia dominates the global sable trade, leaving European manufacturers with few alternative suppliers.

However, according to media sources, finding this fur elsewhere proved difficult. Additionally, Italy and Greece — the two main EU buyers of Russian sable pelts — insisted on removing this restriction.

Kyiv Post:

⚡️ Sopot has become the first Polish city to pass a resolution urging top officials to combat anti-Ukrainian xenophobia, hate speech & disinformation.

It calls for a nationwide awareness campaign on Ukrainians' economic contributions.

⚡️ Volodymyr Zelensky said months of poor coordination between Ukraine’s commander-in-chief and the Defense Ministry led to the recent military leadership shake-up, arguing it delayed key decisions, particularly on mobilization, which he described as one of Ukraine’s biggest challenges.

“I don’t have time to listen to one side and then the other. They should be meeting not every day, but every hour until our skies are protected. I shouldn’t have to determine who is right and who is wrong,” Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News.

⚡️ Zelensky will travel to London to meet newly appointed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in his first visit by a foreign leader.

The talks will focus on defense cooperation, drone production and battlefield technology ahead of Zelensky’s trip to Washington.

I thought this was interesting. The Russians can't recruit specialists or tech-savvy students to study to be drone operators because, despite all of the promises of a safe, rear-echelon billet, they keep getting reassigned to assault brigades and sent to their deaths in meat assaults.

young Russians refuse to join Putin’s drone units Tech-savvy students are spurning opportunities to enlist in ‘absurdly hopeless’ forces Why young Russians refuse to join Putin’s drone units - Tech-savvy students are spurning opportunities to enlist in ‘absurdly hopeless’ forces

This was due to widespread suspicion inside Russia that even those who are contracted as dedicated drone pilots could be reassigned to frontline units, said Samuel Bendett, an expert on Russian drones and adviser at the Centre for Naval Analyses in Washington DC.

“This has a lot to do with the Russian military’s bad practices of taking dedicated drone pilots and putting them into assault detachments, essentially sending these pilots to their deaths,” he said.

So while Russia may be able to mass-produce drones, without sufficient numbers of operators and support personnel, it won't be able to fully utilize them in combat. Silly sausages.

And there's been a mad rush to get money of the banks and send it abroad or convert it to cryptocurrency to avoid the Russian government from simply confiscating it.

Russia proposes forcibly seizing citizens’ bank savings to fund war

All of this, plus petrol queues, Wildberries warehouses going up in flames, and a mass mobilization looming this fall, makes it look like the wheels are about to fall off the bus.

All of this, plus petrol queues, Wildberries warehouses going up in flames, and a mass mobilization looming this fall, makes it look like the wheels are about to fall off the bus.

From your keyboard to god's ear.🙏

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-27-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to militarize Russian society and to shift the responsibility for the war in Ukraine onto the Russian State Duma deputies and the Russian population.
2. Putin continues efforts to persuade personnel mobilized in 2022 to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and continue fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
3. Putin continues to marginally increase the authorized end strength of the Russian Armed Forces as part of ongoing Russian military reforms.
4. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian export and oil infrastructure from July 26 to 27.
5. Russia launched 147 drones against Ukraine overnight on July 26 to 27.
6. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces made confirmed advances on July 27.

It's always revealing to look in on the propaganda Russia is feeding its people about the war. Without admitting that it's all gone to shit, they are looking for some external actor to blame for it all going to shit. The current conclusion seems to be that it's all Trump's fault.

This despite the fact that it was Trump who cut off the donation of American weapons to Ukraine (while allowing them to buy them) and who at one point urged the Ukrainians to settle on Russia's terms.

I think that there's a lot to be said for the insight that it was the low numbers of American weapons and the tight restrictions on their use against targets in Russia that motivated Ukraine to ramp up efforts to produce those long-range fires indigenously, allowing them to be used without restrictions.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Zelensky arrives in US, expects to meet Trump.
"I'm already in the United States," he wrote on Telegram. "My schedule includes meetings with President (Donald) Trump, his team, and those who can support our defense."

⚡️Trump says he'll 'ask Putin' about Russia helping Iran target US bases in Middle East.
Trump was questioned about the reports shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 25 that Moscow has been providing Tehran satellite imagery of U.S. and Gulf military installations throughout the U.S. war against Iran.

⚡️Ukraine strikes major Russian fuel storage facility of 'national importance' in Udmurt Republic, General Staff says.
The General Staff said the strike hit the target, triggering a fire at the site. It added that the facility lies more than 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from Ukraine's border.

⚡️Last gas station between Kharkiv and Poltava destroyed as Russian attacks kill 9, injure 76 over past day.
The stretch of road, part of the pan-European E40 highway, is also one of the two main logistics routes from Kyiv to front-line areas in eastern Ukraine.

⚡️ Kyiv denies top official's claim that Ukrainian cells bombed Iraqi facilities.
The claim by Iraq, where Iran wields significant political and military influence, comes amid heightened tensions between Kyiv and Tehran.

⚡️Ukraine reports hitting 14 energy facilities in occupied Crimea over 3 days amid widespread power outages.
The report comes as the Russian-installed energy operator Krymenergo said on July 27 that power restrictions are in effect across Crimea, citing a
"difficult" situation in the northwest, east, and south of the peninsula, following Ukrainian strikes.

⚡️Ukraine's military intelligence names Russian unit behind deadly jet-powered drone strike on Chernihiv supermarket.
HUR called the attack a "war crime" in their report, which identifies the Russian unit who launched the video-equipped, rocket-powered drone at a busy civilian target in broad daylight.

⚡️Moscow Oblast industrial plant reportedly struck by Ukrainian drones, blackout in occupied Crimea.
Ukrainian drones targeted a Moscow Oblast steel fabrication plant, and a blackout was reported in occupied Crimea amid overnight strikes on July 28, according to monitoring channels.

⚡️Former Ukrainian top diplomat charged with stealing foreign donations.
Specifically, the NABU charged Oleksandr Bankov, who served as the ministry’s state secretary from 2020 to 2024, and a former head of Bankov’s office who currently serves as a diplomat.

⚡️Polish police detain suspects after brutal attack on Ukrainian couple.
The Wroclaw attack comes amid a surge in violence against Ukrainians in Poland in recent months, fueled by a crisis in diplomatic relations between the neighboring countries.

The international community should provide more support for Ukraine's cultural sector
“As a rule, Ukraine's cultural sector makes the headlines only when sites of exceptional significance are damaged or destroyed. This was the case not so long ago, when a Russian drone hit the cathedral of Kyiv's Pechersk Lavra,” writes Johannes Nathan, Co-Founder and President of the Ukraine Art Aid Center, in his op-ed.

⚡️Laura Loomer says she called Trump from Ukraine, plans to brief president on visit.
"I spoke to the president (Trump) two days ago after I interviewed President Zelensky," Loomer said.

⚡️Organizer of exhibition struck in deadly Russian ballistic missile attack remanded in custody.

Four years ago, an explosion ripped through the Olenivka prison camp in Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast, killing 57 Ukrainian POWs — many of them Mariupol defenders held there after the siege.
Olenivka was already notorious for the torture and abuse inflicted on Ukrainian prisoners. That night made it infamous worldwide.
The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigations Unit spent months piecing together how Olenivka actually functioned — tracing its guards, managers, and supervisors from Russia, and identifying the people behind the systematic abuse of Ukrainian POWs.
Watch the investigation here.

How Zelensky made a rival
President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have miscalculated.
By dismissing the widely popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, he created two problems at once: he triggered a political crisis that continues to spill onto the streets, and transformed a loyal ally into a political opponent whose popularity now rivals his own.

⚡️ Russian billboards in occupied Crimea urge support for Wildberries sellers after Ukrainian strikes.
"Support the entrepreneurs with an order," the billboard read, according to footage published by Crimean Wind Telegram channel.

Attacks on Ukrainians in Poland are rising. Disinformation fuels the flames
As Ukrainian-Polish relations took a nose-dive, war refugees and other Ukrainian migrants in Poland are feeling the impact. Nationality-based attacks against Ukrainians, ranging from verbal abuse to physical assault, have been on the rise.
Experts say that disinformation certainly plays a role. But that is only part of the story. Ukrainian refugees have become caught in the crossfire of diplomatic disputes between Kyiv and Warsaw, historical grievances, and domestic Polish politics.

⚡️Russian attacks kill 9, injure almost 70 across Ukraine as strikes on gas stations continue.
In an overnight assault, Russian forces launched 131 drones across Ukraine, the Air Force said. It added that Ukrainian air defenses downed 107 drones over the north, south, center, and east of the country.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social
· 2h
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — JUL 28, 2026
■ Fewer engagements, but casualties remain well above average; highest 7-day casualty total of 2026
■ Equipment losses above average; highest 7-day APV losses of 2026
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: drones only, but interception rate could be better
■ 3rd highest 🇷🇺 drone launches since the start of the war; 17 🇺🇦 strikes reported, and 340 strike drones were launched into 🇷🇺 and occupied 🇺🇦

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

❗️Vladimir Putin has increased the authorized strength of Russia’s armed forces for the third time this year, with the changes taking effect on August 1.
Under the signed decree, the total authorized strength of Russia’s military and related security formations—including the Armed Forces, National Guard, FSB Border Service, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations’ rescue units—has increased by 27,000 personnel to 2,426,130. Of those, 1,535,000 are military personnel.
The decree states that the increase is linked to the creation of military construction units.
Russian officials continue to deny reports that a new wave of mobilization is being prepared for the fall. [...]

💰 Military spending will remain Russia’s top budget priority for the next three years, according to Vladimir Putin, who spoke at the final meeting of the eighth State Duma on July 27. The Moscow Times says his remarks effectively signal an intention to continue the war for at least another 36 months.
Under the 2026 budget law, Russia initially allocated 12.9 trillion rubles ($165.3 billion) to national defense. However, actual military spending is expected to exceed that figure by another 4–5 trillion rubles ($51.3–64.1 billion).
To finance the war, Russia’s Finance Ministry is reportedly preparing to cut civilian spending and plans to raise an additional 2–3 trillion rubles ($25.6–38.4 billion) through government borrowing.
According to The Moscow Times, prioritizing defense and security spending is forcing the government to become more selective in financing other sectors, while opportunities to boost revenue through higher taxes are becoming increasingly limited. [...]
Despite increases in corporate profit taxes and recycling fees last year, budget revenues fell 3 trillion rubles ($38.4 billion) short of projections. This year, the Finance Ministry raised VAT to 22%, yet the federal budget deficit had already reached nearly 6 trillion rubles ($76.9 billion) by the end of the first half of the year.
Citing Russian Finance Ministry data, Janis Kluge of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs estimated that Russia spent 5.9 trillion rubles on the war and military production in the first quarter alone. That represents an increase of 29.9% compared with the same period last year, 68.7% compared with January–March 2024, 129% compared with 2023, and 4.6 times the level recorded in the first quarter of 2022. According to the report, Russia’s cumulative spending on the war since 2022 has reached 53.079 trillion rubles, or approximately $746.6 billion.
The publication notes that this amount is equivalent to 28 years of Russia’s current healthcare spending, 30 years of education spending, or the annual budgets of around 100 large Russian regions such as Krasnoyarsk Krai or Sverdlovsk Oblast.
Despite increases in corporate profit taxes and recycling fees last year, budget revenues fell 3 trillion rubles ($38.4 billion) short of projections. This year, the Finance Ministry raised VAT to 22%, yet the federal budget deficit had already reached nearly 6 trillion rubles ($76.9 billion) by the end of the first half of the year.

🇺🇦🇬🇧 Ukraine has acquired the intellectual property rights to the British Stone Cloak compact electronic warfare system, which can be mounted on drones to help them evade air defense systems.
According to reports, the transfer of the intellectual property rights is expected to be announced during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with the UK’s new prime minister, Dan Burnham, at a naval base.
Stone Cloak is a British electronic warfare system roughly the size of a laptop. The UK has previously supplied thousands of these systems to Ukraine to reduce the detectability of Ukrainian drones by Russian air defenses.
The technology transfer will allow Ukraine to manufacture and further develop the system independently.
Detailed technical specifications—including its range, operating frequencies, and power output—have not been publicly disclosed.

❗️ Russia has significantly increased its use of guided aerial bombs (KABs), according to Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat.
Speaking during a national telethon, Ihnat said Russian forces are intensifying airstrikes against both Ukrainian defense positions and civilian infrastructure.
“Every night, the enemy exerts constant pressure along the front line with guided aerial bombs. It’s a continuous operation. The enemy is winning through quantity, not quality,” Ihnat said.
According to him, Russian tactical aircraft often release four, eight, or even twelve guided bombs in a single strike. These bombs carry warheads weighing 100, 250, 500 kilograms, or more, allowing Russia to blanket large areas with explosives.
Ihnat also said Russia is using the Banderol drone missile, which has flight characteristics similar to those of a cruise missile. According to him, the weapon is launched from helicopters and Orion UAVs.
Over the past several years, Russia has converted large stocks of Soviet-era bombs into precision-guided glide bombs. The most common variants are the FAB-250, FAB-500, FAB-1500, and FAB-3000, with the number indicating the bomb’s nominal weight in kilograms.
These munitions are fitted with glide and guidance kits that include deployable wings, control surfaces, an inertial navigation system, and satellite guidance, allowing them to glide 60–80 kilometers after release. Newer variants can reportedly reach ranges of up to 95 kilometers.

❗️The United States has acknowledged that it is currently significantly behind Ukraine in UAV production.

🔥 The Tyumen Oil Refinery has completely suspended operations for an indefinite period following a Ukrainian drone strike, Reuters reported, citing industry sources.

🇮🇳🇺🇦 India has summoned Ukraine’s ambassador over an attack on a vessel carrying Indian citizens.
“Today, Ukraine’s Ambassador to India, His Excellency Dr. Oleksandr Polishchuk, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs in connection with the attack on the commercial vessel MV Omorfi, which tragically claimed the life of an Indian citizen,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said. [...] India called on Ukraine to refrain from attacks on civilian vessels, describing such actions as unacceptable.

🕯 Russian forces have attacked civilian merchant vessels in ports in the Mykolaiv region that have remained there since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Administration.
One person was killed and another was injured in the attack.

🇷🇴 Romania has expelled a Russian diplomat following repeated incursions by Russian drones into its airspace.
Romania’s Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of an employee of the Russian Embassy in Bucharest after Russian drones violated the country’s airspace between July 24 and 26.

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan has become the main supplier of beryllium oxide ceramics to Russia’s defense industry—a material essential for military radars, including the guidance systems of Iskander missiles, according to an investigation by The Insider.
Beryllium oxide ceramics are valued for their exceptionally high thermal conductivity—the highest among dielectric materials after diamond—while also being highly durable and heat-resistant.
These properties make the material indispensable for substrates used in ultra-high-frequency transistors and integrated circuits found in radar systems, including missile seekers.
Beryllium components are also used in traveling-wave tubes, which serve as microwave radiation sources in military systems such as the S-400, Tor, Buk, Kub, Kinzhal, and Pantsir air defense systems.
Despite possessing some of the world’s largest beryllium reserves, Russia has not developed domestic production of beryllium ceramics.
According to the investigation, Russia instead purchases the material from the Kazakh company Kaz Ceramics and its subsidiary Zenit-K.
[...]
The Insider also reports that, according to Kazakh media, Kaz Ceramics supplies beryllium substrates to the Belarusian manufacturer Integral, which produces microchips used in Russian weapons, including the Kh-101 and Iskander-K missiles.

Journalists note that the Kazakh company’s products are finished ceramic components designed for specific microchips or transistors, meaning they have little or no practical civilian use

🇺🇦🤺 Alina Polozyuk has won Ukraine’s first-ever World Championship medal in women’s foil.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

The Trump administration plans to delay spending the remaining $400 million in Ukraine aid until fiscal year 2029, according to a Pentagon letter to Congress.
The money has yet to be put on contract as Kyiv faces critical weapons shortages.

Moscow came under another major drone attack overnight, with Russia claiming it shot down 81 UAVs headed for the capital.
The reported attack forced temporary flight restrictions at three of Moscow’s main airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky.

Russia’s FSB claims it uncovered a New Zealand-linked espionage operation after arresting a Russian man accused of passing sensitive information to Wellington.
New Zealand dismissed Russian state media as an unreliable source, while experts said the allegations should be treated with skepticism amid already strained bilateral ties.

WATCH: Ukraine’s drone forces shot down a rare Russian Forpost-R strike and reconnaissance UAV over the Kursk region using a domestically developed interceptor drone. The high-value aircraft was destroyed at an altitude of 14,100 feet, marking only the sixth confirmed loss of the model since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Romania spent about €1.5 million to shoot down three Russian drones that entered its airspace in three days, exposing the high cost of defending NATO borders and fuelling efforts to deploy more affordable counter-drone systems.

Ukraine could launch its first ballistic missile strikes on Moscow as early as this autumn, the head of defense company Fire Point said.
The developer claims testing of a new missile system is nearing completion, with Ukraine preparing to deploy domestically produced weapons against targets inside Russia.

Russia said it is going to commission its new submarine, Perm, by the end of 2026, where it comes pre-equipped with launchers for the Zircon missiles – the same missiles that saw increased use in recent air raids against Ukrainian cities as Russia exploits Kyiv’s Patriot missile shortage.

Russian strikes have wiped out more than 80 petrol stations across Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, leaving the entire Kharkiv–Poltava highway without a single working fuel stop.
Ukrainian officials say the attacks are part of a broader Russian campaign targeting civilian logistics and critical infrastructure.

The EU is reportedly considering a new sanctions strategy after Greece delayed the latest package by vetoing measures affecting a company shipping Russian LNG.
Brussels may now opt for smaller or lower-level sanctions to avoid future blockages.

Lithuania's foreign ministry proposed new sanctions that would bar Russian and Belarusian supporters of the war against Ukraine from entering the country and restrict property purchases near strategic facilities.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged “100%” support for Ukraine after hosting Volodymyr Zelensky as his first foreign leader.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇪🇺The European Union plans to change its approach to imposing sanctions against Russia and will no longer adopt them in large packages, the FT reports.
According to sources, instead of preparing large sanctions packages, the EU is discussing the possibility of adopting them individually or in small thematic groups. This would reduce the risk of a single country blocking an entire package due to its own economic interests.
One FT source said that the 21st sanctions package against Russia, adopted last week, could be the last in this format.
The reason for the strategy review was Greece's recent position. The country refused to approve the new sanctions package unless the EU allowed Dynagas vessels to continue transporting Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries.

🇪🇺The EU will resume imports of sable fur from Russia — this proposal was included in the 21st sanctions package approved last week, Euractiv reports, citing sources.
The ban on imports was introduced only in April. The EU explained that Russia dominates the global sable trade, leaving European manufacturers with few alternative suppliers.
However, according to media sources, finding this fur elsewhere proved difficult. Additionally, Italy and Greece — the two main EU buyers of Russian sable pelts — insisted on removing this restriction.

Ukrainian forces attacked an export terminal near Rostov, Russia — approximately 250 km from the front line, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed.
Oil facilities in the Yaroslavl region and the Udmurt Republic, located 1,300 km from the Ukrainian border, were also hit overnight.

🇵🇱🇧🇬🇺🇦Poland may sell MiG-29 aircraft to Bulgaria if Ukraine "doesn't hurry up," said Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in an interview with WP.
According to him, negotiations are currently ongoing between Poland and Ukraine regarding aircraft maintenance and repair financing. In exchange, Poland wants cooperation with Ukraine in drone production.
"If this doesn't work out — well, fine. Ukraine's time on this matter is running out. A final decision must be made in the coming weeks," the defense minister stated.
Meanwhile, on July 24, Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said that Sofia primarily views the aircraft as a source of spare parts to maintain its own fleet of these fighters.

🇱🇹Lithuania wants to require Russian and Belarusian artists and athletes to sign an anti-war declaration — otherwise, they will not be allowed to perform in the country. [...]The ministry also proposes banning entry to the country for Russians and Belarusians who:
🔴support the war against Ukraine, have participated in it, or have worked in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories;
🔴by their actions undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, or support human rights violations and repression against civil society and opposition in Russia and Belarus.
Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to prohibit Russians and Belarusians with residence permits in Lithuania from purchasing real estate near military training grounds and other facilities important for national security.

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is reportedly living in Sochi and traveling around Russia under the name "Oleg Leonov." Over the years in Russia, his family has acquired significant assets and millions of dollars in bank accounts.
Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who has been in Russia since 2014, may be residing in Sochi with his common-law wife Liubov Sadykova (Polezhai). This is according to an investigation by Television Toronto. [...]

The SBU has detained Russian agents who attempted to kill several dozen Ukrainian soldiers by organizing a "charity" party for them.
To lure the soldiers to the "party," the suspects rented a house in the Kharkiv region and posted invitations in Telegram channels. During the event, they were to spike the drinks with potent substances whose consumption leads to death.
The detainees also received instructions from their handler to build a bomb with a 10 kg explosive charge.
Both face life imprisonment.

Italian footballer Andrea Pirlo is no longer being considered for the position of head coach of the national team due to his cooperation with Russia, the BBC reports.
Italian politicians criticized Pirlo for becoming a global ambassador for the Russian bookmaker Fonbet in October 2025.

The wife of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov is challenging EU sanctions and demanding €2 million in compensation.
Former Olympic figure skating champion Tatyana Navka was placed under sanctions in June 2022. The same list included Peskov's daughter Elizaveta and son Nikolai.

Yesterday, 22-year-old Ukrainian Tetiana Repiy was killed in Zaporizhzhia, by a Russian KAB glide-bomb strike. She was 22 years old — "an age to live, to love, to dream, to laugh, and to enjoy life".

Overnight, the Russians launched 131 drones at Ukraine. Air defense neutralized 107 UAVs, while 16 struck 9 locations.
Late yesterday evening, a Russian drone struck a vehicle in Kharkiv — two people were injured. A man was also wounded in overnight shelling of the Dnipropetrovsk region.
In Sumy, Russian forces struck with guided aerial bombs overnight — three children and three adults were injured. Private houses were damaged and destroyed.
In the morning, Kherson came under enemy artillery and UAV fire — one person is reported dead and at least two injured. In Zaporizhzhia, a balcony in an apartment building caught fire as a result of a morning strike.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-28-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on July 28 to discuss strengthening Ukrainian air defenses and diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
2. Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to present himself as well informed about the battlefield situation in Ukraine, as Russian milbloggers continue to complain about Russian commanders lying about Russian advances.
3. Kremlin officials are reportedly considering a wide range of options to support a potential mobilization in the future, as Putin likely continues to weigh his options.
4. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian logistics and industrial infrastructure from July 27 to 28.
5. Russian forces launched 131 drones against Ukraine overnight on July 27 to 28.
6. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Hulyaipole direction.
7. Russian forces recently advanced in Kostyantynivka.

Its amazing how stupid the Russian military command is, to reassign drone pilots to certain death. Very exciting to think how the wheels might come off the bus soon!

It's really down to Russian/Soviet army culture, something I spent a fair amount of time studying back in the day. Any bad news or failure to meet objectives is severely punished. So when a unit at or near the front is at 40% of its nominal strength in manpower, it may be reporting to its chain of command that it's at 80% strength. If the commander thinks the inaccurate figure may be found out, say by being assigned an objective that requires 80% manning levels, that commander will grab any available warm body to fill out the ranks. It might be drone operators, truck drivers, medics, cooks, etc. This, of course, will lead to more lies about staffing for those ranks and duty assignments as well.

There are also commanders who resent the resources and glory going to the drone units because they think they're taking away resources from their infantry or armor or artillery units, who they consider the "real army".

It won't happen right away, and the wheels may fall off the bus one at a time, but I don't see how Russia gets out of the downward spiral it's in economically and militarily, other than by ending the war and withdrawing from Ukraine, which would likely be fatal for Putin and the others at the top, so that's very unlikely.

I'll admit that I'm having a bit of schadenfreude about the whole situation. 😁

I am curious what it looks like if and when the wheels to come off Russia. If the leadership are hellbent on preserving their legacy/skin/loot/whatever and driving the country until it finally hits a wall economically and militarily with ordinary Russians are too scared and deluded to protest, what does collapse look like? What will replace it? Russia is of course a nuclear power.

This expression comes to mind: how did you go bankrupt? Two ways: slowly and then suddenly.

If Russia collapses completely I'm so glad Finland has already reduced trade so much because of sanctions because last time Russia collapsed it had a huge effect on the Finnish economy, biggest trading partner gone in an instant.

There are lots of possible outcomes, but I suspect it would look like the collapse of the Soviet Union or Yugoslavia. The ethnic republics would break away and become independent, particularly in the North Caucasus (like Chechnya and Dagestan) and parts of Siberia or the Volga region.

The loss of central authority would likely give rise to conflicts between regional elites, private military contractors, and the hundreds of thousands of military veterans returned from Ukraine.

The economic disruptions would likely be severe, with many people trying to flee the country as refugees.

The best-case scenario would be a coup that deposes Putin, maintains control over the military, and withdraws from Ukraine.

I wonder if China might stir the pot a little in the far East of Russia too. There have been signs that they wouldn't mind getting the cities back that used to be theirs decades ago, before they became Russian. Not suggesting military action, but the low level stirring that's going on atm might increase a little.

China ceded vast territory to Russia in the 19th century, all of Outer Manchuria, and it's still a big humiliation and sore point for them. If the Russian central authority collapses, I think China would move to take control of those areas under the guise of providing humanitarian relief and restoring order. Over time, they would move ethnic Russians out and bring in ethnic Chinese so that the territory became de facto Chinese over time.