19:58 Several dead after Russian attack on civilian targets

Russian troops have attacked the city of Vilniansk in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, resulting in the deaths of seven people, including two children, according to Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. At least 18 people were injured, among them four children. Vilniansk had a population of approximately 15,000 before the war and is located 30 kilometers from Zaporizhzhia. Following an air alarm in the region, several explosions were reported. The Russian attack damaged a critical infrastructure facility, a business, and residential buildings.

19:21 Poland: The West must learn to counter escalation againPoland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is convinced that Russia is not invincible and that the West can defeat Vladimir Putin. "In contrast to its propaganda, Russia is not invincible," Sikorsky said during a speech. "It has lost some of its wars." The Kremlin can be contained and even defeated. The West must learn how to win in the "escalation game." "For example, we could confiscate all 300 billion euros of Russian state assets," Sikorsky added.

18:39 Ukraine plans privatization of system-relevant banksUkraine plans to sell the system-relevant Sberbank and Ukrgasbank. Moreover, an internationally recognized financial advisor is to be appointed by September 2024, according to a memorandum with the International Monetary Fund. The process is to be "transparent" and "following consultations with international financial organizations." Ukraine commits to not increasing the state share in the banking sector. The IMF will provide Kiev with an additional 2.2 billion dollars for its budget.

17:58 Ukraine denies attack plans on BelarusKiev denies Belarusian claims of Ukrainian advances across the shared border. The Ukraine poses no threat but is instead strengthening its defensive lines, according to Border Guard Spokesperson Andrij Demtschenko. There are no provocations. "They are probably confused," Demtschenko was quoted as saying by the UNIAN agency. "The real threat comes from Belarus, where there are enough Russian troops stationed," said Andrij Kowalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation. Russian military is trying to tie up Ukrainian forces. In an interview, a high-ranking Belarusian officer had claimed: "They are trying to drag our country into the war." Belarus is Russia's closest ally.

17:19 Civilians freed in Kiev meet their familiesTen Ukrainian civilians who were held captive in Russia have returned to Kiev. The ex-detainees, dressed in blue and yellow flags, were greeted by their relatives in the capital. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to all involved and specifically to the Vatican for its mediation. Some of the now-released individuals had been detained in Russia before its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, among them Nariman Dzheljal, deputy chairman of the Mejlis, a representative body of the Crimean Tatars. Dzheljal was abducted from Crimea a year before the large-scale invasion, where he lived despite the annexation.

16:47 Ukraine investigates dismissed General Sodol
The Ukrainian prosecutor's office is investigating the actions of dismissed General Lieutenant Yurij Sodol. He is accused of sending unnecessary numbers of soldiers to their deaths with his orders. The General gave orders to Ukrainian troops during Russia's offensive in the Oblast of Kharkiv. At the start of the current Russian offensive on May 10, he was the commander. The General was dismissed on June 24 after one of the commanders of the Azov Brigade filed an official complaint. In it, he accused the General of abuse of power and incompetent leadership of troops, which led to the loss of Ukrainian territory and personnel.

16:10 Ukraine thanks for translation tool for Crimean Tatar
Google's online translator now includes Crimean Tatar as part of an extension of 110 new languages. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry publicly thanks for the initiative. Crimean Tatar is endangered in Ukraine due to the declining number of speakers. Mass deportations and repression waves against Crimean Tatars by the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union have significantly contributed to the decline. The illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 has intensified the trend. Crimean Tatars are subjected to persecution and deportation by the Russian occupiers on their homeland.

15:29 EU imposes sanctions on Belarus
Due to Belarus' involvement in Russia's offensive war, the EU is imposing sanctions on the country. This is intended to also complicate Russia's sanctions evasion.

Export restrictions on goods and technologies for shipping and luxury goods to Belarus
Extension of the export ban on technology and goods that could contribute to increasing Belarusian industrial capacity
New export ban to Belarus for goods and technologies suitable for oil refining and gas liquefaction
Import ban from Belarus of gold, diamonds, helium, coal, and mineral products, including oil
Comprehensive ban on services for Belarus
Ban on goods transport in the EU for Belarusian trailers and semi-trailers

14:56 Ukraine's Foreign Minister wants to make war "impossible"
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba states the goal for the time after the war during a podium discussion. "As we know from our own recent history and from the history of other regions, peace without justice leads to a new war," he said. "Therefore, the goal is not only to end the war, but to create a reality in which peace is just and lasting, and a new war is impossible. This will be the victory."

14:31 Belarus Reinforces Air Defense at Ukraine BorderAccording to its own statements, Belarus has reinforced its air defense at the border with Ukraine. The reason being an increase in Ukrainian drone activities in the area, the military of the close ally Russia reports. Additional air defense forces have been sent to the border to protect "critical infrastructure installations." The situation in the airspace over the border remains tense. The Defense Ministry reports that there are reports of Ukraine moving more troops, weapons, and military equipment to the northern region of Schytomyr, which borders Belarus.

13:52 Seehofer on No to Taurus Deliveries for Ukraine: "Scholz's Behavior is Exactly Right"The former Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer justifies Chancellor Olaf Scholz's "No" to Taurus Missile Deliveries to Ukraine. "In one point, I find Scholz's behavior exactly right - regarding the Taurus Missile Deliveries," the CSU politician said in an interview on the occasion of his 75th birthday in the "Augsburger Allgemeinen." The Chancellor wanted to prevent an escalation and work together with the Americans under all circumstances. "I have always considered that to be right, even though that is also seen differently in my party," said Seehofer about the stance of the SPD politician in the Taurus issue. "This stance does not use up the chance that, if the Ukrainians consider it right, they might try to end this horrible and brutal war of the Russians at some point," said the CSU politician and former Bavarian Minister-President.

13:23 Economists Warn Against New Foreign Policy Course of the AfDEconomists warn against the efforts of influential AfD politicians to distance themselves from the EU and the USA and to orient themselves more strongly towards Russia and China. "A departure from the USA and the EU to cooperate more strongly with China could contribute significantly to political and economic uncertainty and also entail long-term risks," said Oliver Holtemoeller, Deputy President of the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle, to the "Handelsblatt." The President of the German Institute for Economic Research, Marcel Fratzscher, told the newspaper that orienting oneself more strongly towards Russia and China would be the "biggest mistake" that Germany could make politically and economically.

12:58 Russia Reports Taking Control of Village in the Donezk OblastAccording to reports from Russian state media, the Russian military has taken control of the Ukrainian village of Schumy in the Donezk region. The state Russian news agency Ria, referring to the Russian Defense Ministry, reports that the army has taken the settlement near the city of Torezk. In the announcement, it is stated that the Ukrainian troops suffered 360 casualties. The claims cannot be independently verified.

12:38 Zelensky: Russian attacks have destroyed 80% of Ukraine's thermal energy
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian attacks have destroyed 80% of Ukraine's thermal energy and a third of its hydropower. The British newspaper "Guardian" reports this. Russian attacks reportedly targeted energy facilities and other critical infrastructure frequently. The attack in Dnipro, as the Ukrainian leader noted, shows that Ukraine needs more air defense systems. "Only sufficient quantities of high-quality air defense systems, only sufficient determination from the entire world can stop Russian terror," Zelensky said.

12:25 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba on a visit to Croatia
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is on a visit to Croatia. He is participating in the 17. Dubrovnik Forum. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the focus of the meeting will be on restoring peace and security in Ukraine and Europe, as well as the results of the first peace summit. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and EU Foreign Policy Chief Joseph Borrell are among those attending the meeting.

11:51 Military economist: The war could be over by the end of 2025 - "Time is running against Russia"
According to military economist Marcus Keupp, Russia will not be able to sustain the war against Ukraine for years. As he stated in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," the Russian supply chain is expected to collapse by mid-2027 at the latest, possibly even by the end of 2025. "That's the computational end, then the warehouses are empty." Keupp bases his calculations on losses of the Russian army, which are documented on open-source websites on the internet. According to his calculations, Russia has lost four tanks per day since the start of the war. Since only 300 to 500 new tanks can be built per year, Moscow cannot sustain this indefinitely, the military economist said. Satellite images already show that old Soviet military bases are emptying out "at a massive pace" throughout Russia, according to Keupp. "Russia is living off its reserves. It is practically on the dead legs of the Soviet Union." Keupp's conclusion: "Time is running against Russia." In his opinion, Russia's method of waging war is not sustainable. "Putin has the same problem as Hitler. His resources are melting away, and he's stuck in the mud of the Soviet Union."

11:33 Flight from Military Service: Some Ukrainian Men Seek Help from Forgers
In Ukraine, a new recruitment offensive is underway to mobilize more soldiers for the fight against Russia. Therefore, some Ukrainian men are turning to online dealers and forgers to avoid military service, as reported by the British newspaper "Guardian." It is expected that attempts to flee the country will also increase. Ukraine recently passed far-reaching mobilization measures, which allow the military to call up more soldiers and impose stricter penalties for draft evasion. Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a controversial law in the past April that lowers the draft age from 27 to 25. Anyone who refuses military service can lose their driver's license and access to their bank accounts. Property can also be confiscated.

11:04 Zelenskyy Releases Video of Reunions between Ex-POWs and Their Families
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a video on his social media channels of the moment ten men released from Russian captivity returned home and reunited with their families.

10:36 Ukrainian Police Car in Sumy Attacked by Russian Drone
In the Sumy Oblast in northeastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian police car was attacked by a Russian drone. The Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Post" reports this based on the Ukrainian National Police. According to the report, the policemen were not in the car at the time of the attack but were nearby when they heard the explosion.

10:08 Kremlin Remains Silent on Trump's Remarks about War End
The Kremlin declined to comment on Donald Trump's remarks that he would end the war against Ukraine if re-elected in November. The British newspaper "Guardian" reports this. Trump made these statements during the US presidential debate with incumbent Joe Biden on the previous Thursday. "As for Russia and Ukraine: If we had a real president, a president who knew Putin respected him, he wouldn't have gone into Ukraine," Trump said.

09:26 Zelenskyy Thanks Coe at Meeting for Exclusion of Russian and Belarusian Athletes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Sebastian Coe, President of the World Athletics Championships. Zelenskyy shared this information on his Facebook page. "We welcome the decisions made by World Athletics in early March 2022, banning representatives of Russia and Belarus from participating in international athletics competitions," Zelenskyy wrote. He also thanked Coe for supporting Ukrainian athletes.

09:01 Four People Dead and Ten Injured in Russian Attacks in the Oblast of Chernihiv

Russian forces have shelled numerous cities and villages in the Oblast of Chernihiv, resulting in the death of four people and injury of ten others. This was announced by Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the region, via Ukrinform on Telegram. "Four people were killed by Russian aggression in Sadove, Tiahynka, Novotiahynka, Olhivka, and Chernihiv," Prokudin said. According to him, the Russian military attacked residential areas in the region and damaged some private houses. Additionally, businesses and a gas pipeline were reportedly hit.

08:34 Governor of Kursk: Five Dead in Ukrainian Drone Attack on Border Village

Five people, including two small children, were reportedly killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on a border village, according to Russian statements. The governor of the western Russian region of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, made the announcement on Telegram. "Two more family members are in critical condition," he added. The drone is said to have crashed into a house in the small village of Gorodischche. Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, both sides have regularly targeted each other with drones, some of which have ranges of several hundred kilometers. The Ukrainian army has expanded its drone attacks on Russian territory this year. They are targeting not only Russian energy facilities but also border towns and villages.

08:02 Kiev: Over 1000 Russian Soldiers "Eliminated"

According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, 1,070 Russian soldiers have been killed or incapacitated in a single day. Since the start of the war in February 2022, a total of 541,560 Russian soldiers have reportedly been "eliminated." The Defense Ministry announced in its daily reports on Russian losses that the enemy had lost seven more tanks (8073). Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted over 15,500 armored vehicles and approximately 11,500 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow itself keeps information about its own losses in Ukraine to itself.

07:28 Fire Department in Dnipro rescues man from buried car

Once again, Russian rockets hit a Ukrainian residential area. The latest attack on the city of Dnipro reportedly resulted in at least one fatality, with injured persons including a seven-month-old baby. A man was buried under the rubble of his car.

07:06 Positions of Ukrainian military being spied on: SBU arrests suspected Russian agentThe Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) of the Ukrainian Domestic Intelligence Service has arrested another suspected Russian agent. The man is alleged to have prepared a Russian troop breakthrough in the Donetsk region and spied on Ukrainian defense forces. According to the SBU press service, he is a resident of Myrnohrad, who works as an employee of a private security company. Russia reportedly became aware of the man as an active user of pro-Russian Telegram channels, where he is said to have published anti-Ukrainian comments.

06:34 Ukrainian Air Force: Ten Russian drones shot down in the nightThe Ukrainian air defense has shot down all ten Russian drones launched by Russia in the night, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

05:43 General Staff in Kiev: 102 fights at the frontThe Ukrainian General Staff reports 102 fights at the front within 24 hours. The enemy has increased the tempo of its offensive actions since Friday morning, according to the situation report of the Ukrainian General Staff on Facebook. The most fights are reported near Pokrovsk. The Russian troops attempted 28 times to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions. The Ukrainian army repelled 21 attacks. Seven fights are still ongoing, according to the announcement.

04:59 Czech Republic preparing security accords with KievCzech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on X that the Czech Republic will sign a bilateral security accord with Ukraine during the EU summit in London on July 18. He announced on the previous day that he had agreed with President Zelenskyy to "finalize the negotiations on the text of the Czech-Ukrainian security accord before the NATO summit in Washington." The next NATO summit is scheduled for July 9-11. The Czech Republic is thus joining 19 other countries, including the USA, Great Britain, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, which have already signed similar bilateral agreements.

03:59 USA to supply Kiev with HAWK missilesThe US government will supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition worth $150 million, including HAWK air defense missiles and 155-millimeter artillery ammunition. Two unnamed US officials announced that the weapons aid package is expected to be presented on Monday. The US government is reacting to the desperate pleas for support from Ukraine in air defense, as Russia has bombarded Ukrainian energy facilities with air raids in recent weeks.

02:58 Report: Russian Agents in Vienna ordered hit on Helicopter Pilot Kusminow

In Vienna, Russian agents are under suspicion for their involvement and financing of Russian operations, such as the assassination of the Russian military helicopter pilot Maxim Kusminow. He had defected to Ukraine and lived in Spain, where he was found by the hit squad. The Wall Street Journal reports this with reference to western security circles. The killers, who shot the man five times and then ran him over with a SUV, were criminals who were paid with cash provided by Russian state officials from Vienna, according to the paper. "We are now becoming a burden for our neighbors, as Russia uses us as an operational base," says a high-ranking Austrian intelligence officer to the newspaper. According to Austrian intelligence sources, the number of active Russian diplomats in Austria in the last two years has risen from around 400 to over 500. Approximately half of them are diplomats and managers, while the other half function as spies.

01:58 Russia: Control taken over of location north of Bachmut - Ukraine denies

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian forces have taken control of the settlement of Rosdoliwka in eastern Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian military states that heavy fighting is taking place in the areas around the settlement. Rosdoliwka is located in the Donetsk region, the epicenter of the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine. It is located north of Bachmut and Soledar, two settlements that were taken under Russian control last year.

00:58 US Army awards Lockheed Martin contract worth $4.5 billion

In the USA, the US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a multi-year contract worth $4.5 billion for the Patriot air defense system. The Pentagon announced this. The contract includes 870 PAC-3 MSE missiles and the associated hardware. Lockheed manufactures the latest version of the missile defense system, which equips the Patriot, known as PAC-3 MSE. The Patriot system is part of a series of highly developed air defense systems that the West has provided to Ukraine.

23:58 Further Olympic starting places for Russians - Judokas rejected

The International Olympic Committee continues to invite Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Summer Games in Paris. According to the IOC's evening statement, 50 athletes and athletes from the two countries have been invited so far to compete under a neutral flag at the Olympics. However, not all of these invitations have been accepted, some have already withdrawn. Some judokas were rejected because of their affiliation with army sports clubs. Of the twelve quota places for Russian judokas, only two will be allocated to each gender - whether the four will accept the invitation is open.

23:59 Ten Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity
According to reports from Kiev, ten Ukrainian civilians have returned from Russian captivity. Among the released prisoners is Nariman Djalal, a leader of the Crimean Tatars, writes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social media on Friday. He thanks the Vatican for its mediation in the release of the civilians. Djalal was arrested in 2021, before the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in the Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia since 2014. He was later sentenced to 17 years in prison.

23:30 Lithuania's Foreign Minister: Kallas nomination acknowledges stance towards Russia
Lithuania has welcomed the nomination of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the new EU Foreign Policy Chief. Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis speaks of acknowledging the stance of the Baltic States and other countries at NATO's eastern flank, which have taken a firm stance against Russia and supported Ukraine until its victory. "She has never hidden her position, she has clearly and openly expressed her views on issues that are important to us," Landsbergis told the BNS agency in Vilnius about Kallas. Kallas was appointed as the EU representative for external and security policy at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. The 47-year-old liberal has been Estonia's first female prime minister in its history and is known as a champion of a resolute Western stance towards Moscow.

23:00 Baerbock: Support for Ukraine is the best protection for peaceful sleeping
According to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's belief, the ongoing support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion forces is also a guarantee of peace and security in Germany. "If Ukraine can no longer defend our peace, our freedom, because we no longer support it, then the question is how far Putin's troops will advance then," Baerbock said during a talk by RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), NDR and "Hannoverscher Allgemeine Zeitung". "That's why the support measures for Ukraine are the best protection for our own peace and our own security." Baerbock referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Of course, one could discuss whether the billions in aid for Ukraine should be used differently, Baerbock said. But in this case, she had to say: "I don't know how long we can continue to sleep peacefully here in Brandenburg, directly on the border with Poland." Every reasonable person in the world, in Europe and in Ukraine, wishes nothing more ardently than peace in Ukraine. That depends on Putin. "He must withdraw his troops and finally put an end to this killing." Instead, his answer is "always more violence and terror".

You can read about earlier developments here.

Following the Russian attack on Vilniansk, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasized the importance of creating a reality where peace is just and lasting, and a new war is impossible, stating, "As we know from our own recent history and from the history of other regions, peace without justice leads to a new war."
In response to the Russian attack on Ukraine, Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested that the West could learn to counter escalation by confiscating all 300 billion euros of Russian state assets, stating, "For example, we could confiscate all 300 billion euros of Russian state assets."
Discussing the Russian attack on Ukraine, Belarus's Head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, Andrij Kowalenko, stated, "The real threat comes from Belarus, where there are enough Russian troops stationed."
In response to the Russian attack on Ukraine, Russian military forces are reported to have reinforced their air defense at the border with Ukraine, stating, "Additional air defense forces have been sent to the border to protect 'critical infrastructure installations.'"
Addressing the Ukrainian conflict, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, expressed gratitude to the Vatican for its mediation in the release of ten Ukrainian civilians held captive in Russia, stating, "President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to all involved and specifically to the Vatican for its mediation."