Ukrainska Pravda

The suspended deliveries of some US military assistance to Ukraine could resume following high-level meetings between US and Ukrainian officials scheduled to take place in Rome and Kyiv next week.

Source: Politico, citing two sources familiar with the plans

Details: The sources stated that Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine, is expected to hold two meetings with Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov – first in Rome at an international aid conference and then in Kyiv. The resumption of weapons deliveries, which were suspended earlier this month, is expected to be a key topic of discussion.

The sources noted that the US had informed Kyiv of its intention to resume deliveries of engineering equipment and certain types of armoured vehicles. However, no specific timeline has been set.

Kellogg spokesperson Morgan Murphy said the meeting between Kellogg and Umierov in Kyiv had not initially intended to address US military assistance and had been "set up before news of the arms pause came to light last week".

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed on Monday 7 July that this is not a complete halt in assistance, but "a pause, to review, to ensure that everything the Pentagon is pushing out there is in the best interests of our military and our men and women in uniform."

Politico mentioned that the suspended assistance package includes 8,400 155-mm artillery shells, 142 Hellfire missiles, 252 guided rockets for multiple-launch rocket systems with a range of up to 80 km and 30 missiles for Patriot air defence systems.

Background:

On 1 July, the White House confirmed that the Pentagon had paused the delivery of certain air defence missiles and other precision-guided munitions to Ukraine because of concerns over dwindling US weapons stockpiles.Ukraine's Defence Ministry said it had not received any official notification regarding a suspension or revision of the delivery schedule for US military aid and had requested a phone call with its US counterparts.On Friday 4 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with Trump, seeking to convince the American leader to resume supplies and sell more weapons to Ukraine.NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that he understands the US administration's desire to prioritise its own interests, but called for continued military support for Ukraine.

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The UK updated the list of individuals sanctioned over the use of chemical weapons on 7 July, adding two individuals and one organisation from Russia.

Source: European Pravda; updated sanctions list on the UK government's website

Details: The new UK sanctions targeted the Russian Research Institute of Applied Chemistry, as well as the head of the Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops, Aleksey Rtishchev, and his deputy, Andrei Marchenko.

As explained by the UK, the Research Institute of Applied Chemistry provided Russian forces with chemical grenades, which they use against Ukraine’s defence forces.

The UK government explained that Rtishchev and Marchenko "participated in the transfer and use of chemical weapons against Ukraine".

*Updated list of sanctions.*Screenshot: GOV.UK

Background:

The UK imposed sanctions against three Russian institutions and one individual in October 2024 in connection with the Russian use of chemical weapons against Ukraine.Dutch intelligence services have recently collected evidence of Russia's large-scale use of banned chemical weapons in the war against Ukraine.

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Sweden is to allocate SEK 20 million (about €1.8 million) to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) nuclear safety missions in Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda; statement on the Swedish government's website

Details: The statement notes that support for the IAEA's work aligns with the Swedish government's overarching goal of supporting Ukraine in light of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

"The IAEA’s work is crucial for the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. This is why the Government has decided to provide additional support so that the IAEA can maintain its presence in Ukraine," Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said.

Sweden’s contribution is mainly used to finance the presence of IAEA experts at Ukrainian nuclear power plants and at Chornobyl.

The aid helps reduce the risk of armed attacks, provide expert advice on nuclear safety and non-proliferation, and ensure impartial and independent reporting to the international community.

Background:

Last week, the Swedish government made the decision to allocate SEK 1.5 billion (about €130 million) for new military capabilities for Ukraine, including barrels for Archer self-propelled artillery systems.Sweden is also reportedly set to review the structure of the economic aid it provides to other countries, which will free up an additional SEK 1.67 billion (about €150 million) for aid to Ukraine and other humanitarian measures.

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First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko will lead the Ukrainian delegation to the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which will be held in Rome on 10-11 July.

Source: Zelenskyy in a decree

Details: The decree appoints Svyrydenko as head of the delegation, while current Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is absent from the list.

The delegation also includes Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, Agrarian Policy Minister Vitalii Koval, Infrastructure Minister Oleksii Kuleba, Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin, European Integration Minister Olha Stefanishyna, Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi, Defence Minister Rustem Umierov and Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Background: In recent days, various rumours about upcoming reshuffles in the Cabinet of Ministers (Ukrainian government) have appeared in a number of media outlets and anonymous Telegram channels.

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Ukraine has brought back seven children aged 6 to 17 from the temporarily occupied territories, where the children and their families had been living under oppression from the Russian occupation administration for a long time.

Source: Bring Kids Back UA initiative

Quote: "The children and their families had lived under systematic pressure from the Russian occupation administration for a long time – coerced acceptance of Russian citizenship, compulsory education according to the Russian curriculum, systematic ideological indoctrination, threats to deprive the parents of their parental rights, house searches, and limited access to medical care and safe movement."

Details: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, added that the children had been forced to attend Russian schools where they had been subjected to ideological propaganda. Some families had been threatened with deprivation of their parental rights for turning down the chance of a much-vaunted Russian education for their children.

"One of the families was unable to receive medical care or move around safely because they didn’t have Russian documents," Lubinets said.

"Another family had donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine from day one and supported the military, which led to persecution by the occupation administration," he added.

Now the children and their families are safe. Bring Back Kids UA noted that the families can live in freedom once again and the children can study at Ukrainian schools.

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US President Donald Trump has sharply criticised Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, using strong language to complain that he talks a lot of nonsense.

Source: Trump at a meeting of his cabinet, as reported by the Washington Post

Details: The US president reiterated that the war unleashed by Russia should never have started, before launching into a tirade against Putin.

"We get a lot of bulls**t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless," he said.

Asked about the Russia sanctions bill, Trump replied that he is looking at it.

Background:

On 8 July, the Pentagon announced that it is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine on the US president's orders.Axios reported that Trump has ordered 10 Patriot air defence missiles to be shipped to Ukraine and is pressuring Germany to sell one of its Patriot batteries to Ukraine.

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On Tuesday 8 July, Czech arms manufacturer Excalibur Army announced the opening of a representative office in Ukraine, a country to which it has been supplying products since 2022.

Source: the company's website, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Excalibur Army explained that the opening of the Ukrainian representative office is intended to strengthen local cooperation, optimise logistics and start joint production of defence products in Ukraine.

Among other things, Excalibur Army's Ukrainian representative office will process orders and documentation and provide technical advice.

The Czech company emphasised that since the start of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine, it has supplied Kyiv with over 1,000 ground systems, particularly tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems and rocket launchers, as well as over two million large-calibre ammunition rounds.

"Thanks to the collaboration with the Ukrainian Armor company, we have already prepared the project for the local production of large calibre ammunition," Excalibur Army said in a statement.

Background:

In 2022, Excalibur Army won a contract to modernise nearly 100 T-72 tanks, which the United States and the Netherlands financed as part of military aid to Ukraine.Earlier, the Czech company announced the allocation of about CZK 650 million (over €27 million) for the construction of another production facility for modernising Soviet-era tanks for Ukraine.

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Seventeen cultural heritage sites in the Zalopan district, a historic area of Kharkiv, were damaged in a Russian attack on 7 July. Architect Viktor Dvornikov said the buildings have stood since the 19th century.

Source: Dvornikov on Facebook

Details: In an exclusive comment to Ukrainska Pravda.Kultura (Culture), Dvornikov said the strike hit the historic district and a densely populated residential area. Most of the sites were located on Kotsarska Street, some on Zbroiarska Street and several on Chobotarska Street.

Four facilities near the strike's epicentre were seriously damaged, with through-cracks in the walls, deformation of floors and walls, and two houses catching fire. Five more sites had their roofs destroyed, while most suffered broken windows and minor cracks in the decoration.

*The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv on 7 July.*Photo: Viktor Dvornikov on Facebook*The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv on 7 July.*Photo: Viktor Dvornikov on Facebook

"There are wooden floors everywhere, and as a result of the blast wave, they rise and fall slightly," he said. "And all the plaster that sticks to these floors is cracking. Now, they all need cosmetic repairs, but those closest to the explosion’s epicentre, of course, require major repairs."

The architect is still conducting analysis but said that not all the damaged monuments have protected status. However, these are historic sites that have retained their authenticity and are recognised as cultural heritage sites.

"The problem we are highlighting now is that very often these sites are not only absent from the registers of monuments or lists of newly discovered sites," Dvornikov explained, "but this also means they are not regarded as valuable by either residents or local authorities."

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv on 7 July. Photo: Viktor Dvornikov on Facebook

Another problem is that three different buildings are registered at the same address. Two of them have protected status, while the third, which was hit, does not. However, this building also dates back to the late 19th century.

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv on 7 July. Photo: Viktor Dvornikov on FacebookThe aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv on 7 July. Photo: Viktor Dvornikov on Facebook

Dvornikov said that it is generally unique that the buildings in this area are so well preserved.

"With proper management and approach, they could be valuable tourist and cultural attractions. Unfortunately, we don't have that," he added.

As Dvornikov said, not only are the historical buildings on these three streets well preserved on the outside, but also on the inside:

"Inside, there are also a large number of such gems that have been overlooked. Yesterday, we discovered seven such gems. We didn't even know they existed. These houses have preserved facades with stucco mouldings, woodwork, 19th-century windows and doors, and well-preserved interiors in the apartments. It turns out that the tragedy helped us find them."

The houses also feature 19th-century tiles, marble staircases, cast iron fences, many wrought iron items and more.

Two of the 17 damaged buildings had previously been damaged. One of them is located at 33 Chobotarska Street. The building was hit by an Iskander missile back in 2023. It now stands behind a fence and discussions are ongoing about its demolition. However, no work is currently being done there.

Dvornikov is monitoring the situation as part of a working group dedicated to preserving authentic elements of cultural heritage.

The working group quickly visits the scenes of the strikes and works with the damaged materials to prevent them from being taken to landfill.

This time, there were no cases of building collapse or destruction. However, the working group will continue to monitor whether the original frames or doors in these buildings are replaced. If they are, the group will insist on preserving them or will arrange for their restoration and preservation in a specialised workshop.

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Members of US President Donald Trump's national security team are going to discuss details of arms supplies, including Patriot air defence missiles, to Ukraine on Tuesday 8 July after Trump announced that weapons will be sent to Kyiv.

Source: CNN, citing a source familiar with the matter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The source said that the administration is already discussing how to deliver additional interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defence system to Ukraine following a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday 4 July.

The source said that during his conversation with Zelenskyy, Trump made it clear that he remains ready to help Ukraine.

Another source noted that in telephone conversations with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron at the end of last week, Trump also discussed Patriot deliveries to Ukraine, including the possibility of sharing costs among European countries or sending their own systems to Kyiv.

Negotiations on arms supplies are expected to continue this week in Rome at a conference on Ukraine's recovery, which Keith Kellogg, Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine, will attend.

Background:

On 8 July, the Pentagon announced that it is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine on the US president's orders.Axios reported that Trump had ordered the shipment of 10 Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine and is pressuring Germany to sell one of its Patriot batteries to Ukraine.

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Jake Sullivan, former national security advisor under Joe Biden, has denied that the administration focused on preventing escalation by Russia or Ukraine, insisting its main priority was to supply Ukraine with weapons.

Source: Sullivan in an interview with Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Responding to a question about restrictions on Ukraine’s use of US long-range weapons to strike Russian territory, Sullivan "completely rejected" the notion that the US strategy under Biden was primarily about "managing escalation".

Quote: "The main strategy was to deliver an unprecedented amount of military aid to Ukraine and impose historic sanctions on Russia. If you look at the quantity of weapons we supplied and the speed with which it was done – I think it exceeded any expectations in February 2022."

Details: Sullivan stated that the US had continued delivering weapons to Ukraine even during moments of "heightened tension and a high likelihood of potential Russian tactical nuclear weapon use".

Quote: "Yes, we imposed restrictions on long-range strikes against Russia for a significant period. But at the time, and still today, we believe such strikes would have brought limited results. They are never going to be a silver bullet in this war."

More details: Sullivan emphasised that the Biden administration’s full track record does not support the notion of restraint.

Quote: "This was a story about rapidly supplying Ukraine with vast amounts of weapons, with very limited exceptions. What the Trump administration is doing today directly contradicts our strategy. It harms Ukraine’s position both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table."

Background:

Last week, the Pentagon announced it would pause the transfer of some artillery munitions and air defence assets to Ukraine, citing the need to preserve arms for other threats.On Friday 4 July, US President Donald Trump held a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which they discussed the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine.Recently, commenting on the halt of some types of munitions to Ukraine, the Pentagon claimed that the Biden administration had "recklessly handed out weapons" for four years.Following the Trump-Zelenskyy call, the Pentagon announced it is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine on the US president's orders.

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The Russian State Duma (lower chamber of the Russian parliament) has allowed the Federal Security Service (FSB) to have its own detention centres for individuals involved in cases "against state security".

Source: Vazhnye Istorii (Important Stories), a Russian media outlet

Details: Russian MP Vasily Piskarev said that the Russian State Duma had passed a law in its third reading that allows defendants accused of crimes against state security to be held in separate detention centres under the jurisdiction of the FSB. Piskarev is one of the law’s authors.

"This will increase the effectiveness of investigations into criminal cases of this category and guarantee the protection of suspected spies and terrorists from unauthorised communication with suspects in other types of crimes," he said.

According to him, the adoption of such a law is "an appropriate response by the state" to existing security threats amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, following which "the activities of foreign special services have intensified significantly".

The law will come into force on 1 January 2026.

Anna Karetnikova, a former analyst with the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, told Vazhnye Istorii that the adoption of this law marks a return to practices characteristic of the KGB (Committee for State Security of the USSR), which Russia abandoned after the collapse of the USSR in the 1990s and 2000s as part of its commitments undertaken when it joined the Council of Europe in 1996.

"Detention and investigation cannot be concentrated in the same hands," she said. "If this is done, it will legalise the arbitrariness that exists now, whereby confessions will be extracted from detainees by creating unbearable conditions of detention."

Karetnikova also notes that it will become even more challenging to obtain information about cases against political prisoners, even though many cases are already classified, such as those involving treason.

"We will not find out anything about these cases, what is happening to these people, whether they are being tortured or not, whether they are being fed or not," she stressed. "I think that their external relations with the world will be limited, as will correspondence with political prisoners, around which civil society is now largely consolidating."

The FSB was allowed to operate its own detention centres until 2006. After that, they came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation and became part of the Federal Penitentiary Service. The only exception is the Lefortovo detention centre in Moscow, which has informally remained under FSB jurisdiction. Although officially subordinate to the Federal Penitentiary Service, the detention centre building is physically connected to the FSB’s investigative department.

There are seven detention centres in Russia under the central authority of the Federal Penitentiary Service, including the Kremlin Central Detention Centre, located inside Moscow's Matrosskaya Tishina Detention Centre No. 1.

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A cutting-edge Altius-RU strike and reconnaissance drone crashed in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan on 8 July.

Source: Defense Express, a Ukrainian military news portal

Details: Early reports suggest the drone fell on a house, possibly killing two civilians. The suspected cause of the crash was loss of connection, which resulted in the UAV losing control and descending into a residential area.

Meanwhile, the press service of the Ural Civil Aircraft Plant said that the crash may have been caused by the effect of an unidentified electronic warfare system.

The Altius-RU drone is a variant of the long-delayed Russian Altius UAV, whose development began in 2011 at the Sokol Design Bureau. The first production order was placed in 2021 with the Ural Civil Aircraft Plant.

The number of units and delivery schedule were not disclosed at the time, but the deal was valued at around RUB 7 billion (approx. US$115 million at today’s inflation-adjusted rate). The drones were intended for the UAV units of the Russian Navy, though no further details about their deployment have been made public since then.

Declared specifications suggest the Altius-RU can remain airborne for up to 48 hours, reach an altitude of 12 km (approximately 39,000 ft) and cover a distance of 10,000 km (about 6,200 miles). Its maximum take-off weight is said to be up to 6 tonnes (around 13,200 lbs), with a fuselage length of 11.6 metres (38 ft) and a wingspan of 28.5 metres (94 ft).

Defense Express suggests its combat load reaches 1 tonne (approximately 2,200 lbs) and its cruising speed is 250 km/h (about 155 mph). One of its key features is the ability to carry Kh-35U anti-ship missiles with a range of up to 260 km (around 160 miles).

The UAV is supposedly equipped with an inertial-satellite navigation system and possibly an undisclosed radar. There have also been reports about the integration of a suspended radar with a phased array antenna and an optical targeting system.

In terms of dimensions and some characteristics, the Altius-RU may even surpass the US-made MQ-9 Reaper, which has a 25-metre (82 ft) wingspan and weighs around 2.2 tonnes (about 4,850 lbs). The American drone’s range is 1,850 km (approximately 1,150 miles), which is significantly lower than that of the Altius-RU.

The Russian Navy was expected to use the drone for reconnaissance, surveillance and support of ship groups, submarines and maritime aircraft.

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The EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) is set to once again consider the 18th package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday 9 July. However, Slovakia’s position blocking the package remains unchanged.

Source: European Pravda, citing officials familiar with the matter

Details: EU ambassadors will discuss the 18th package of sanctions against Russia and attempt to persuade Slovakia to lift its veto.

An informed EU official told European Pravda that they could not predict whether the 18th package would be adopted or if Slovakia would continue to block it. The official added that there is hope for a positive decision either tomorrow or later this week.

However, sources within the Slovak government told European Pravda that the situation remains the same as it was last Friday, when the sanctions package was not approved.

One source said that Slovakia is blocking the 18th sanctions package against Russia until it receives clear guarantees from the European Commission regarding compensation for the losses expected from the planned full EU ban on Russian gas imports from 1 January 2028.

When asked whether Slovakia’s position could change tomorrow, the source replied that anything is possible.

Background:

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said that EU countries are expected to reach an agreement on the 18th sanctions package this week.The 18th EU sanctions package against Russia was discussed and ultimately not adopted during a meeting of the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) in Brussels on 4 July due to Slovakia’s opposition.Slovakia is blocking the sanctions to obtain guarantees from the European Commission on the consequences of a complete rejection of Russian gas from 2028.Earlier, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty editor Rikard Jozwiak predicted that Slovakia would lift its block on the 18th sanctions package following successful negotiations with the European Commission in Bratislava on 3 July.

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Three men have been found guilty of an arson attack targeting businesses linked to Ukraine in London by a UK court. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday 8 July.

Source: Reuters, as reported by European Pravda

Details: UK officials said that the attack had been ordered by Russia’s Wagner Group and represents another instance of Moscow’s criminal activity on UK soil.

An arson attack last year at an industrial site in London targeted two buildings, including one used by a company that shipped parcels to Ukraine, particularly satellite equipment from Elon Musk’s Starlink.

During the trial at the Old Bailey court last month, prosecutor Duncan Penny said the arson was organised by 21-year-old Dylan Earl, who had pleaded guilty to aggravated arson and offences under the National Security Act.

Earl became the first person convicted under the new National Security Act, adopted last year to counter hostile activity by foreign states.

Penny said that Earl was "knowingly acting at the behest of the Wagner Group", which is banned in the UK as a terrorist organisation, and "knew he was acting against Ukrainian, and for Russian interests".

Meanwhile, 23-year-olds Nii Kojo Mensah and Jakeem Rose, along with 20-year-old Ugnius Asmena, denied charges of aggravated arson but were found guilty by a jury. A fourth man, 61-year-old Paul English, was acquitted of the same charge.

Two other defendants – 23-year-old Dmitrijus Paulauskas and 20-year-old Ashton Evans – denied having prior knowledge of the terrorist attack and failing to report it. Evans was convicted on one count and acquitted on another, while Paulauskas was fully acquitted.

Background:

In February, two Russian citizens were sentenced to five and a half years in prison in Poland for joining the Wagner Group and spying for Russia.In May, six Bulgarian nationals were jailed in the UK for spying for Russia.

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Russia has significantly expanded its drone capabilities for the war against Ukraine thanks to Chinese companies that officially deny cooperating with Moscow.

Source: Bloomberg in an investigation after reviewing internal documents of the Russian company Aero-HIT and its correspondence with Russian government officials

Details: Based in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk, little-known Aero-HIT began cooperating with Chinese firms in 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, to set up large-scale drone production for frontline combat.

The company has claimed that it will reach the capacity to manufacture up to 10,000 drones per month in 2025 and is also planning to expand into more advanced models.

Documents obtained by Bloomberg reveal that Aero-HIT has been collaborating with engineers from the Chinese company Autel since early 2023 to localise production of the Autel EVO Max 4T drone in Russia.

The backbone of Aero-HIT’s arsenal is the Veles, a first-person view (FPV) drone based on the Chinese Autel EVO Max 4T, which was originally designed for civilian use. Its resilience to electronic warfare systems has made it effective on the battlefield.

Each drone is priced at RUB 650,000 (about US$8,317), VAT included.

In June 2024, Aero-HIT was sanctioned by the US Treasury after its drones were found to "have been used by Russian forces based in Kherson against Ukrainian targets".

To circumvent sanctions, Russia uses intermediaries that operate in other sectors, such as agribusiness, logistics and catering.

Although China officially claims that it does not supply weapons to either side in the war, the documents suggest involvement by engineers from the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), a Chinese university closely linked to the Chinese military and under US sanctions.

In 2024, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin visited HIT during a trip to China. Following the visit, cooperation intensified between HIT, the Khabarovsk airport and the company Komax, which operates the airport and is owned by Konstantin Basyuk, a former KGB operative and Russian senator for the occupied part of Kherson Oblast.

By late 2023, the Khabarovsk plant was already producing 200-300 drones per month. In March 2024, Russia’s Ministry of Defence planned to order 5,000 Veles FPV drones.

Background: On 27 May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists that China had halted drone sales to Kyiv and other European countries, while continuing to supply them to Russia.

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US President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered the shipment of 10 Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine and is pressuring Germany to sell one of its Patriot batteries to Ukraine.

Source: Axios with reference to sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: President Trump's decision on Monday 7 July to send defence weapons to Ukraine was made after several days of consultations with aides and other world leaders on where exactly these weapons would come from.

According to Axios, Trump is looking for alternative solutions, including pressuring Germany to send its Patriot battery.

Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently had a telephone conversation during which, as the sources said, Trump told Zelenskyy that he wanted to help Ukraine strengthen its air defence but stressed that the US had to suspend arms deliveries to review its own stocks.

Meanwhile, the sources said, he promised to immediately send 10 Patriot air defence missiles – fewer than planned in the suspended delivery – and to help find other means of supply.

According to a German official, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Trump on 7 July to ask him to "release" the Patriot interceptor missiles that had been suspended on their way to Ukraine.

The official said Merz told Trump that Germany was ready to buy Patriot batteries from the United States and send them to Ukraine.

For his part, Trump offered Germany to sell one of its own Patriot batteries to Ukraine, according to the sources. They reported that the United States and European allies would share the purchase costs.

Trump and Merz did not reach an agreement, but according to officials, discussions are ongoing. German officials said that Germany had provided Ukraine with a very large share of its Patriot missiles – even more than the United States.

Background:

It should be noted that The Guardian wrote that the United States had only about 25% of the Patriot interceptor missiles needed for all of the Pentagon's military plans after stocks in the Middle East were depleted in recent months, and therefore decided to suspend the supply of defensive weapons to Ukraine.Meanwhile, some media outlets previously reported that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had single-handedly ordered a halt to the delivery of certain types of weapons to Ukraine despite a military analysis indicating that these supplies would not pose a threat to US combat readiness.On 8 July, the Pentagon announced that the US was sending additional defence weapons to Ukraine on Trump's orders.

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The first trailer for 2000 Metres to Andriivka, directed by Oscar-winning Mstyslav Chernov, has appeared online. It will be released in Ukrainian cinemas on 28 August.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Kultura; press service of the distributor Arthouse Traffic

Details: The village of Andriivka is located ten kilometres from Bakhmut. Fierce fighting took place there during the Ukrainian counter-offensive in 2023.

The film shows how the soldiers of the 3rd Assault Brigade fought to liberate this village. The directors captured every step of the operation.

Chernov worked on the project with the FRONTLINE and Associated Press team for almost one and a half years. The team involved in the film includes photographer Oleksandr Babenko, producer Michelle Mizner, who worked with Chernov on the film 20 Days in Mariupol, and Raney Aronson-Rath.

"When the world talks about what Ukraine has to give to whom, which territory we need to forget and what we need to sacrifice, I want them to watch this film and remember two things. The first is that Ukrainians want peace, but will fight for their families and land to the end. And the second, this is not about abstract metres, tens of thousands of kilometres.

This is about human lives and the blood of heroes. Ukrainians want peace, but they will fight to the end. It's not just about metres of land, it's about human lives," Chernov said during the Ukrainian premiere at this year's Docudays UA festival.

This is the second feature film by the director and Associated Press journalist Mstyslav Chernov, who has won Oscar, Pulitzer, BAFTA, and Directors' and Producers' Guild of America awards.

The film's music was composed by two-time Grammy Award-winning composer and music producer Sam Slater, who also composed the music for Chernobyl and The Joker.

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where Mstyslav Chernov won Best Director in the World Cinema Documentary programme award.

The film was screened in Ukraine for the first time at Docudays UA, winning three awards: the main prize at Docu/World, the Rights Now! Award and the Audience Award. Last year, Mstyslav Chernov also presented the film at one of the most prestigious European film forums, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

Background: In 2024, the documentary film 20 Days in Mariupol by Mstyslav Chernov, Yevhen Malolietka and Vasylisa Stepanenko won a number of awards, including an Oscar, a BAFTA and the Sundance Audience Choice Award.

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The United States holds only about 25% of the Patriot missile interceptors required for all Pentagon military plans, after recent deployments depleted stockpiles in the Middle East.

Source: The Guardian, citing four informed sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Missile stockpiles have shrunk to such an extent that the Pentagon has grown concerned this could compromise potential US military operations. As a result, Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg authorised a suspension of deliveries while checks were carried out on weapons destinations.

US President Donald Trump said he would "send some more weapons" to Ukraine, though he did not clarify whether this would include Patriot systems. During a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump said he was not responsible for halting supplies and had only ordered a review of US stockpiles – not a freeze.

However, the sources noted that the decision to halt shipments, taken last month, was based on data from the Pentagon’s global ammunition tracking system, which determines the minimum levels of munitions required to carry out the US military’s operations plans.

Since the start of US military assistance to Ukraine under former president Joe Biden, stocks of several critical types of ammunition have remained below these minimum levels.

According to sources, the Trump administration began reviewing depleted stockpiles of Patriot and other munitions around February. The issue gained urgency after the US deployed more interceptors to the Middle East to support operations in Israel and against the Houthis.

The situation worsened after Trump’s decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites last month, during which the US launched about 30 Patriot missiles to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles.

The recent depletion of Patriot missiles and other munitions was the basis of a "recommendation memo" by Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby. The memo outlined options for preserving armaments and was sent to Feinberg’s office.

Following this, Feinberg made the decision, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later approved it.

White House and Pentagon officials confirmed that some shipments would resume at Trump’s direction, but did not say whether critically low ammunition would be included.

The US delivers arms to Ukraine through two main channels: drawdowns from Pentagon stockpiles and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), under which the Pentagon contracts manufacturers to produce weapons for Ukraine.

Sources noted that both channels were affected by the freeze, as the Pentagon prioritised replenishing its own stocks using the same contractors producing weapons for Ukraine through the USAI programme.

Background:

Earlier media reports indicated that Hegseth had personally ordered the halt of some arms shipments to Ukraine, despite internal military assessments indicating that such transfers would not pose a threat to US combat readiness.On 8 July, the Pentagon announced that, on President Trump’s orders, the US would send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has informed Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's Ambassador to the US, of his intention to dismiss her.

Source: Suspilne, a Ukrainian public broadcaster, with reference to a source in the Office of the President

Details: As noted, Zelenskyy supposedly informed Markarova of his intention to dismiss her, but offered her to remain on the team after that.

The source said that the position for Markarova would be determined later, and early consultations with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha have already taken place.

Meanwhile, a decision on who will replace Markarova has not yet been made.

Background:

In June, Sybiha reported that President Zelenskyy had already made certain personnel decisions regarding changes in the leadership of some foreign institutions, which are expected to take place in July.Bloomberg reported that Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump discussed replacing Markarova during a telephone conversation on 4 July.Last September, a scandal erupted around the post of Ukraine's ambassador to the United States when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a shell factory in Pennsylvania as part of a visit to the United States during the US presidential race.At that time, US House Speaker Mike Johnson demanded that Oksana Markarova be dismissed from her post as ambassador, claiming that she had organised an event at which not a single Republican was present.Johnson also said that Republicans had lost confidence in Ambassador Markarova's ability to perform her diplomatic duties in the United States honestly and effectively.Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by refusing to discuss Markarova's dismissal.Markarova has been the ambassador to the United States since 25 February 2021, for more than four years. The average term of office for Ukrainian ambassadors abroad is about 3-5 years.

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The Russian leader’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov has said that US President Donald Trump's decision to resume arms supplies to Ukraine will not contribute to his efforts towards a "peaceful settlement".

Source: RIA Novosti propagandists

Details: Peskov said that Putin's administration understands that arms supplies to Ukraine are continuing. "It is obvious that Europeans are also actively involved in pumping Ukraine with weapons," he complained.

Peskov also said that the Kremlin considers Trump's "actions" as  "not in line with attempts to promote a peaceful settlement" and added that the Europeans have also chosen a course aimed at "continuing the hostilities".

Background:

After talking with Zelenskyy, Trump said he was happy with the discussion and ready to help Ukraine, but for the first time ever, he questioned whether the Russian leader really wants peace.Zelenskyy called the conversation with Trump the best he’s had with the president.On 7 July, Donald Trump announced a reversal in his policy towards Ukraine, saying that the United States should send weapons for defence.Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that the US Department of Defense had begun supplying additional defensive weapons to Ukraine.

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Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam, is preparing for a potential conflict with Russia by reserving space for military cargo vessels and planning how to reroute shipments if war breaks out.

Source: Financial Times

Details: The port has previously handled military cargo, but even during the Cold War, there was no area specifically designated for such shipments. Now, part of a container terminal is being allocated for these needs, the article says.

"Boudewijn Siemons, chief executive of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said it was coordinating with neighbour Antwerp on how to manage if British, US and Canadian vehicles and supplies arrived," Financial Times reports.

In regards to the coordination with the Belgian port, it was stated that "we see each other less and less as competitors." If a large volume of arms was to arrive, Rotterdam plans to turn to Antwerp or other ports to offload part of the shipments.

Rotterdam is also a strategic oil storage site. Siemons called on European countries to stockpile other critical resources such as copper, lithium and graphite. On 8 July, the EU is expected to unveil a strategy for building reserves of essential goods – including medical and energy equipment, food, and water.

Background:

Earlier reports indicated that Russia used a military vessel to escort sanctioned tankers through the English Channel. Two sanctioned tankers and a Russian navy ship entered the channel simultaneously, heading to Russian ports to load oil.Russia has also started escorting shadow fleet tankers in the Gulf of Finland with warships. The Finnish Navy has confirmed that there has been increased military activity in the region.Meanwhile, Denmark has begun deploying maritime drones in the Baltic Sea to help protect underwater infrastructure and monitor vessels amid growing hybrid threats from Russia.France’s navy has also, for the first time, deployed the 101-metre-long intelligence ship Dupuy de Lôme to the Baltic to intercept radio signals linked to Russian activity.It was also previously reported that Donald Trump’s unstable customs policy, combined with low water levels in rivers, triggered Europe’s worst logistics disruption since the COVID-19 pandemic. The ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg are the most congested, and the situation is expected to last for several more months.

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