Ukrainska Pravda

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced the continuation of EU support for Ukraine and the disbursement of new financial assistance tranches.

Source: Von der Leyen speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Rome, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Von der Leyen emphasised that the EU will support Ukraine for "as long as it takes".

Quote: "Since the full-scale invasion, Europe has been and will stay Ukraine’s largest donor with almost €165 billion of support. This year alone, we will cover 84% of external financing needed."

Details: She also made official announcements regarding the disbursement of the next tranches of assistance on the occasion of the conference.

Quote: "As part of this support, I can announce a €1 billion payment in macro-financial support, dear Volodymyr. I can also announce a payment of more than €3 billion from the Ukraine Facility. And these guarantees and grants that we are signing here today … are set to unlock €10 billion in investment for growth, recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine."

Details: Von der Leyen also emphasised that supporting Ukraine helps EU member states meet their own defence targets: "Supporting Ukraine will also allow member states to reach their NATO target of 3.5% plus 1.5% of GDP".

Background:

At the same conference, Von der Leyen announced the establishment of a fund dedicated to Ukraine’s reconstruction.Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed in his speech at the conference that Ukraine’s recovery is impossible unless it wins the war.Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Ukraine not to stray from the path of reforms as it moves toward EU membership.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

For the first time in history, Russian troops surrendered to ground robotic systems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Source: 3rd Separate Assault Brigade on Facebook, as reported by Oboronka, a defence industry project created by Mezha.Media, a technology and IT news platform within Ukrainska Pravda's holding company

Quote: "Without infantry and without casualties. The 3rd Assault Brigade has carried out an unprecedented operation – soldiers attacked enemy positions in Kharkiv Oblast, carried out a mop-up operation and captured occupiers using only drones and ground robotic systems."

Details: The brigade reported that Russian fortifications had been struck by FPV drones and kamikaze ground robotic systems. When another robot approached the destroyed dugout, the Russian soldiers, seeking to avoid detonation, declared surrender. The surviving Russians were escorted to Ukrainian positions by drones and were taken prisoner in accordance with protocol.

"Positions that had previously withstood two assaults by adjacent units were retaken by the 3rd Assault Brigade’s robots thanks to well-planned offensive actions. The cleared fortifications and a forest belt have been secured by our forces," the brigade added.

They said that the operation had been carried out by the first platoon NC13 of the Unmanned Systems Forces "DEUS EX MACHINA" company of the 2nd Assault Company.

"This is the first confirmed successful assault in modern warfare conducted exclusively by unmanned platforms!" the 3rd Assault Brigade emphasised.

Background: Ground robots have been used to evacuate wounded Ukrainian soldiers from the battlefield. In May, the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard conducted a successful evacuation operation using a ground robotic system. It was a Ukrainian robot logistician called Tarhan that had been converted into a tow truck.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu says that concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme were among the reasons President Emmanuel Macron phoned Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin for the first time in three years.

Source: Lecornu in an interview with French news magazine Valeurs actuelles, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Lecornu emphasised France’s concern over the development of Iran’s nuclear programme, particularly following recent strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

He stated that in order to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, "it is necessary to work with the members of the UN Security Council, the major nuclear powers, regardless of the differences that may exist with these countries on other matters".

When asked whether this was the reason Macron phoned Putin on 1 July, Lecornu responded, "Of course".

"The last time President Macron called Putin was in September 2022 concerning the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine – that is, in connection with nuclear energy," Lecornu said.

"When the president asked me to call Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s former defence minister, it was mainly to discuss nuclear issues and the fight against terrorism," he added.

Background:

On 1 July, Putin and Macron held their first phone call since September 2022. The Élysée Palace stated that the French president called for a swift ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia during the conversation.Media also reported that after the call with Putin, Macron spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has begun a meeting in Rome with Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda correspondent

Details: The meeting is taking place during Zelenskyy’s visit to the Italian capital, where the main event on 10–11 July is the Ukraine Recovery Conference, hosted this year by the Italian government.

The formal meeting between Zelenskyy and Kellogg in front of the media did not include any statements by the officials or responses to journalists’ questions.

The Ukrainian delegation also includes Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umierov, Head of the President's Office Andrii Yermak and his deputy Pavlo Palisa.

The meeting comes after the US initially paused certain arms deliveries to Ukraine before announcing their resumption. Trump recently stated that Ukraine needs more weapons amid intensifying Russian attacks.

Trump’s team is currently discussing possible deliveries of air defence systems to Ukraine.

Background:

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering sending a Patriot air defence system to Ukraine.Axios stated that the US is pressuring Germany to sell a Patriot battery to Ukraine.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

The Czech government has approved a proposal by the Ministry of Defence to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.

Source: Czech Ministry of Defence, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The state-owned company LOM Praha will provide up to 150 flight training hours to a maximum of eight Ukrainian pilots by the end of 2026.

"The pilots will train on F-16 aircraft, which are not in service with the Czech army, but the Ukrainian side has also expressed interest in training on simulators and subsonic L-39 jets," the ministry said.

All training-related expenses – totalling CZK 32 million (about US$1.5 million) – will be covered by the approved budget of the Czech Ministry of Defence, the government said.

"We have the capacity, the know-how and the experience, and in cooperation with the Czech Army, we are ready to offer them where they are truly needed," said LOM Praha Director Jiří Protiva.

Background:

In May, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala agreed to cooperate in training Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighters.In June, 18 Ukrainian civil aviation pilots completed a two-year training programme in Czechia.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi has said that he received a detailed report from the new commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), Major Robert Brovdi, and discussed the results achieved by the USF.

Source: Oleksandr Syrskyi on Facebook

Quote from Syrskyi: "In June, every third enemy target – out of all those affected by the defence forces of Ukraine – is on the account of the Unmanned Systems Forces.

In total, over the previous month, the Unmanned Systems Forces groups hit more than 19,600 targets and destroyed 5,024. In particular, 88 Russian tanks, 129 armoured combat vehicles, 427 artillery systems and 31 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) were destroyed.

As for the enemy personnel, our USF groups have killed or wounded a total of more than 4,500 Russians. Of them, 2,548 have been killed."

Robert Brovdi**Photo: Brovdi on Facebook

Details: Among the most effective subdivisions, Syrskyi named the following: Birds of Magyar, Phoenix, Achilles, Nemesis, Steppe Predators and Rarog regiments.

The commander-in-chief said that he fully supports the development of interceptor drones. "The more of them and trained crews we have, the deeper we echelon the main fronts, the calmer Ukrainians will sleep in rear cities," Syrskyi believes.

Quote: "At the same time, we see that the enemy is also not standing still, improving, enhancing the characteristics of its attack UAVs, changing tactics, increasingly using fibre optics, artificial intelligence and machine vision for FPV and designing Geran drones with a turbojet engine."

Details: All this was discussed in the intelligence report. Syrskyi stated that the Armed Forces "are preparing an effective countermeasure and will use innovative Unmanned Systems Forces projects".

Quote: "Now is a very important moment in the war. We will be able to hold our ground on the battlefield if we skillfully use drones, increasing their number and quality. Drones help us destroy more occupiers and, above all, infantry, which is most effective in the offensive. At the same time, unmanned systems help preserve the lives of our soldiers – both UAVs and ground robotic systems. After all, medical evacuation and logistics with the help of ground robotic systems are also among our priorities."

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

A one-year-old child was killed in Kherson Oblast as a result of a Russian drone attack on the afternoon of 9 July.

Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "In the village of Pravdyne, Bilozerka hromada, the Russians used a drone to attack a one-year-old boy and an elderly woman who were in the yard of their house. Unfortunately, the child died on the spot from his injuries." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]

Details: Prokudin said that a 64-year-old local resident suffered a concussion, explosive and closed head injuries.

An ambulance crew provided her with assistance on the spot, but the woman refused hospitalisation.

Background: The Russians have been attacking civilians in Kherson Oblast with FPV drones almost daily for several years. On the morning of 9 July alone, the Russians wounded two Kherson residents.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Rome on Wednesday 9 July, where he is scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV and a US delegation.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy's visit to Italy is part of his participation in the International Conference on Ukraine's Reconstruction. His programme in Rome begins with an audience with Pope Leo XIV.

He will then travel to the official residence of the Italian president, the Quirinal Palace, where an official welcome ceremony, delegation presentations, and a group photo will take place.

At 16:10, Zelenskyy is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Later, at 17:30, the Ukrainian president will meet Keith Kellogg, the US President’s special envoy for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy is expected to hold a number of important meetings with leaders of states and international organisations to strengthen support for Ukraine.

Background:

As reported earlier, the Ukraine Recovery Conference will be held in Italy on 10-11 July. The US delegation will attend the event together with Keith Kellogg, special envoy of the US President on Ukraine.European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Marta Kos will also take part in the conference.Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker has stated that Vienna is ready to host the next Ukraine Recovery Conference.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

In Kyiv, the Counterintelligence Service of the Security Service of Ukraine has detained two Chinese citizens who attempted to smuggle out information regarding the production of Ukrainian Neptune missiles.

Source: statement by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Office of the Prosecutor General

Quote from SSU: "The Counterintelligence Service of the Security Service of Ukraine detained two citizens of the People's Republic of China in Kyiv who were attempting to illegally export secret documentation on the Ukrainian RK-360MC Neptune missile system to China...

The investigation established that one of the Chinese spies was a 24-year-old former student of one of Kyiv's technical universities. He remained in Kyiv after being expelled in 2023 for academic failure.

The other person involved is his father, who resided in China but periodically visited Ukraine to personally coordinate his son's espionage activities.

*The two detained men (in the centre and on the right).*Photo: the prosecutor's office

Details: The SSU stated that the former Chinese student attempted to recruit a Ukrainian involved in the development of new weapons in order to obtain technical documentation on the production of Neptune missiles.

"The SSU counterintelligence exposed the spy at the initial stage of his intelligence activities and detained him "red-handed" while he was receiving secret documents. The next step was to detain his father, who was supposed to pass on the secret information to the Chinese special services," the statement said. The SSU specified that the father entered Ukraine on 7 July and visited the Chinese embassy in Kyiv the next day.

Both detainees were notified of their suspicion under Part 1 of Article 114, Espionage.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

Consumer and monthly inflation in Ukraine slowed down in June.

Source: State Statistics Service of Ukraine

Quote: "Inflation on the consumer market in June 2025 compared to May 2025 amounted to 0.8%, and compared to June 2024 – 14.3%. Core inflation in June 2025 compared to May 2025 was 0.3%, and compared to June 2024 – 12.1%."

Details: On the consumer market, prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 1.4% in June.

"The sharpest increase (by 13.5%) was recorded for fruit. Prices for meat and meat products, non-alcoholic beverages, fish and fish products, pork fat, bread, dairy products, butter and sugar rose by 3.3% – 0.2%," the State Statistics Service reported.

Meanwhile, vegetable prices dropped by 8.1%. Prices for eggs, pasta, milk and rice fell by 1.1% – 0.4%.

Prices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products rose by 1.1%, mainly due to a 1.8% increase in tobacco prices.

Clothing prices decreased by 2.3% and footwear prices by 2.1%.

Transport prices increased by 1.1%, primarily due to a 5.4% rise in rail passenger fares and a 2.3% rise in fuel and lubricants.

Background:

Earlier, it was reported that consumer price growth in Ukraine accelerated to 1.3% in May, compared to 0.7% in April and 1.5% in March. In May 2024, the increase stood at 0.6%, so in year-on-year terms, inflation in May 2025 rose to 15.9%, up from 15.1% in April and 14.6% in March.In April, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) downgraded its forecast for the consumer price index in 2025 from 8.4% to 8.7%.According to the NBU forecast, price growth in annual terms is expected to slow down over the summer across most goods and services.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

The European Union is considering the possibility of creating a fund of €100 billion to support Ukraine within the seven-year budget for 2028–2034.

Source: Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Funding of €100 billion for Ukraine may become part of the European Commission’s proposal for a seven-year budget, which is due to be presented by the end of July.

If EU member states approve this proposal within the framework of budget negotiations, it will ensure stable financial assistance to Ukraine from 2028, Bloomberg sources noted.

It is assumed that EU financial assistance will be provided, as now, in the form of grants and low-cost loans, conditional on the implementation of European integration reforms.

At the same time, as Bloomberg notes, this is not the only option for long-term support for Ukraine being discussed in the European Union and it is uncertain whether it will be approved.

Hungary is likely to block this initiative. On Wednesday, Balázs Orbán, political adviser to the Hungarian prime minister, criticised the idea of providing Ukraine with €100 billion in aid.

Quote from Balázs Orbán: "While Europe is unable to get out of its own economic, social and security crisis, Brussels continues to finance war – weapons instead of peace, even more debt instead of a competitive Europe."

Background:

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the European Union has provided and committed to providing Ukraine with nearly €160 billion in aid, including €50 billion within the Ukraine Facility programme by 2027.Together with the Group of Seven countries, the EU also created an instrument for Kyiv in the form of a US$50 billion loan, which will be financed from funds received from the frozen assets of the Russian central bank.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

A group of Russian websites is conducting a large-scale online campaign against Ukrainian military personnel and activists, publishing their personal data and calling for persecution.

Source: an investigation by the Investigative Centre of Jan Kuciak (ICJK), as reported by Aktuality, a Slovak news outlet

Details: The Investigative Center of Jan Kuciak (ICJK) found out that servers in Slovakia are being used to provide technical support for these resources.

The investigators state that these sites publish confidential information not only about Ukrainian military personnel and their families but also about public figures from Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland, Czechia and Hungary.

The aim of the campaign is public humiliation, intimidation and the organisation of persecution – a phenomenon known on the internet as "doxing".

It is noted that StormWall, a company registered in Slovakia but owned by Russians, is among these sites' technical partners.

According to the available information, this company provides hosting and other technical services not only for individual doxing platforms but also for one of the Kremlin's key propaganda resources, the NewsFront website.

Among the tools used by Russian operators is the so-called "doxing Wikipedia" – specially created websites where personal data about military personnel, activists, politicians, and even the families of deceased or captured Ukrainians are systematically published.

The investigators state that such activities are part of a broader information and psychological war that Russia is waging against Ukraine and its allies.

Background:

Recently, an online service used by municipalities and provinces in the Netherlands to publish official documents was attacked by a pro-Russian hacker group.The pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16) claimed responsibility for the attack. It has already carried out similar attacks on the websites of countries that support Ukraine.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

The total damage, along with downtime and relocation costs, resulting from the completely destroyed warehouse of the publishing house and online store Nash Format due to the Russian attack on Kyiv on 4 July, is approximately US$100,000.

Source: Vladyslav Kyrychenko, owner of Nash Format, as reported by Forbes Ukraine

Quote from Kyrychenko: "Some 5% of books are wet, and there are practically none that burned."

Details: Kyrychenko states that the books were largely undamaged because they were stored in boxes on pallets.

Nash Format is now relocating to a new warehouse, with premises already secured.

They plan to resume operations in two to three weeks. This requires transporting approximately 300,000 to 350,000 books stored in the warehouse, including titles from Nash Format and other publishing houses sold through its online store.

Considering downtime and relocation costs, Nash Format’s losses amount to US$100,000, Kyrychenko stated. "It’s definitely not US$10–30,000, but it’s clearly no more than US$100,000," he believes.

Background: As a result of Russia’s attack on Kyiv on 4 July, a blast wave and debris destroyed the facade of the building housing the Nash Format warehouse. The warehouse office was completely burned down.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV on 9 July at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

Source: Vatican News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Before the audience with the Pope, Zelenskyy thanked Leo XIV for agreeing to receive him.

The Ukrainian president noted that the main topic of their meeting would be the Russo-Ukrainian war.

"Of course we want peace, we want the war to be finished," Zelenskyy said. "We very much count on the Vatican and His Holiness to help provide a place for a high-level meeting of leaders to end this war."

He also expressed hope that the Vatican would support efforts to return Ukrainian children who were abducted by Russia.

It was reported that Zelenskyy and Pope Leo XIV had discussed the ongoing war and the urgent need to find lasting and just paths to peace.

The pontiff once again confirmed his readiness to receive representatives of both Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican for negotiations.

Background:

Zelenskyy arrived in Rome on 9 July. The visit takes place as part of his participation in the Ukraine Recovery Conference.The conference will be held on 10–11 July and will include participation by the US delegation led by President Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.President of the European Council António Costa, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos will also take part in the conference.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

The Kremlin has cast doubt on the authenticity of last year's audio recording in which US President Donald Trump recounts how, during his first term, he threatened Russian leader Vladimir Putin that he would "bomb Moscow".

Source: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Reuters

Quote from Peskov: "I cannot confirm or deny this, even if I wanted to... Whether it is fake or not, we do not know either. There is a lot of fake news these days."

Details: This refers to an audio recording from last year's meeting between Trump and campaign donors, now released by CNN. In it, Trump recounts how he supposedly threatened the leaders of Russia and China with the harshest possible response if they dared to invade Ukraine and Taiwan.

"With Putin I said, ‘If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the sh*t out of Moscow. I’m telling you I have no choice’," Trump said.

Background: In recent days, the US president has significantly changed his position on military aid to Ukraine and his rhetoric regarding the Kremlin leader. In particular, Trump expressed doubt for the first time that the Russian ruler wanted peace and said that Putin talks a bunch of nonsense.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

Firefighters have extinguished a fire covering an area of 8,000 square metres caused by a Russian attack in the Brovary district of Kyiv Oblast.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine on Telegram

Details: It is noted that 73 firefighters and 16 fire appliances from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine were engaged at the site, alongside fire brigades from the villages of Trebukhiv, Krasylivka, Hoholiv and Kniazhychi, with seven firefighters and seven fire appliances from local authorities.

Fortunately, there were no casualties, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine adds.

Background:

As a result of the Russian attack on 9 July, a large-scale fire broke out in Kyiv Oblast on the territory of an industrial enterprise. The fire covered 8,000 square metres.Viktoriia Ruban, a spokesman for the State Emergency Service in Kyiv Oblast, reported to Ukrainska Pravda that the fire had broken out at a wood pallet processing plant in the village of Trebukhiv in the Brovary district.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

The Italian capital Rome is hosting a photo exhibition entitled "Behind the Lens: Culture Under Attack", featuring images of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Odesa, which was destroyed by the Russians.

Source: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Details: The exhibition is part of the international conference on Ukraine's reconstruction (Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025, URC2025), which will take place in Rome from 10 to 11 July.

The Italian ministry noted that "Behind the Lens: Culture Under Attack" shows not only the scale of the destruction caused by the war in Ukraine but also the power of culture, which remains strong "despite the conflict".

The photographs show the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, which was destroyed by the Russians on 23 July 2023. The House of Scientists, Zhvanetskyi Boulevard, residential buildings and port infrastructure were also damaged in that attack.

A Russian missile hit the central altar, partially destroying the cathedral building. The ceilings of the three lower floors were also destroyed, the interior decoration and icons were significantly damaged, and the service premises in the lower part of the cathedral were completely destroyed.

"The exhibition documents the loss of cultural heritage – the Odesa Cathedral, which was reconstructed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, which will continue its work on the cultural heritage of the historic city centre," the ministry wrote.

The photos were selected from 6,000 photographs taken by Ukrainian photojournalists.

In addition to the Transfiguration Cathedral, the photo shows:

the building of Lviv National University of Natural Resources in Dubliany, which was damaged by the Russians on 1 January 2024. Photo by Roman Baluk,the Church of Archangel Michael, built in 1906, which was destroyed on 16 April 2023. Photo by Dmytro Smolenko.the Chernihiv Drama Theatre, which was hit by the Russians on 19 August 2023. Photo by Stas Kozliuk.

The ministry noted that this project honours the contribution of journalists who continue to document the war and protect collective memory.

The photo project was implemented in 2024 by the Institute of Mass Information, with financial support from the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund and the Japanese people.

What is known about the Transfiguration Cathedral

The Transfiguration Cathedral on Soborna Square is the biggest Orthodox church in Odesa. According to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church diocese, its construction began 228 years ago to celebrate Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Architect and military engineer Vincent Vanresant was chosen to design the building. The construction began in 1803, after the Duke de Richelieu became the mayor of Odesa.

The church was consecrated on 25 May 1809.

In 1825, the plans for a new bell tower, designed by the Italian Giovanni Frapolli, were approved. In 1841, the architect Deolaus-Heinrich Heidenreich designed the refectory, which combined the bell tower and the old church.

In the late 19th century, parts of the cathedral were renovated, and in 1894 the entire building underwent an extensive renovation.

The Transfiguration Cathedral is a Classicist architectural monument.

It was not the first time Russian occupation forces attempted to lay waste to the Odesa cathedral; they had already done it once nearly 90 years ago.

On 2 March 1932, the Bolsheviks locked the church up. In 1936, they detonated explosives in the cathedral’s bell tower and its main building – but only after looting it.

When the Soviet occupation of Ukraine ended, Ukrainian experts found the church’s original foundation during archaeological excavation. In 1999, the Cabinet of Ministers (the Ukrainian government – ed.) included the Odesa cathedral in the Programme for the Restoration of Outstanding Lost Monuments of History and Culture of Ukraine.

The Transfiguration Church was rebuilt during 2000-2005, and on 6 January 2005, the lower church was consecrated in honour of St Innocent of Odesa.

In 2023, the Transfiguration Cathedral and the rest of Odesa’s historic city centre were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

EU ambassadors were unable to agree on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia due to Slovakia’s veto during a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on 9 July.

Source: European Pravda correspondent, citing three anonymous EU diplomats who hold high positions and are familiar with the course of negotiations

Details: Slovakia continues to block the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, and the issue will next be considered at a meeting of EU ambassadors on Friday 11 July.

"There is still no agreement on the 18th package of sanctions, as Slovakia is blocking its adoption," one EU diplomat stressed.

He added that this is happening despite the fact that negotiations with the European Commission in Bratislava on 3 July were described as "good and productive".

Another source asserted that "among the representatives of the EU states, indignation is actually growing. We are simply wasting time but should have given a decisive response to the recent shameful Russian attacks".

"The issue of maintaining the oil price ceiling also remains unresolved; three member states do not want to apply it," noted the third source to European Pravda.

EU ambassadors will return to consideration of the 18th package of sanctions against Russia on Friday 11 July .

Sources report that it is currently planned that agreement on the sanctions package will be reached this week, and it will be approved by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Tuesday 15 July.

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 previously 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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth did not inform the White House of his decision to halt arms supplies to Ukraine before it happened.

Source: CNN, citing its sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Five sources familiar with the situation surrounding the supply of American weapons to Ukraine said that Hegseth did not inform the White House that he had decided to pause arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Keith Kellogg, Trump's Special Envoy for Russia and Ukraine, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also knew nothing about it and first heard about the situation from the press, according to one senior administration official and two other sources.

The sources said that this was the second time in a year that Hegseth had made a unilateral decision on weapons for Ukraine, which then baffled other national security officials. The three sources said that the first time this happened was in February, and the decision was quickly reversed.

When asked on Tuesday who made the decision, President Trump evaded the question with the phrase, "I don't know. Why don't you tell me?"

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt also avoided confirming or denying that it was Hegseth’s unilateral decision. She noted that the Pentagon had reviewed its stocks to ensure that all support going to foreign countries was in line with American interests and that Trump had decided to continue military aid to Ukraine. She also added that the president has complete confidence in the defence secretary.

Background:

Last week, it became known that the Pentagon had suspended the transfer of some artillery ammunition and air defence equipment to Ukraine, citing the need to preserve weapons to defend against other threats.However, on 7 July, Trump announced that the United States should send Ukraine defensive weapons. According to media reports, he told Zelenskyy in a phone conversation that he was not personally involved in the decision to halt supplies.Axios reported that Trump has ordered 10 Patriot air defence missiles to be sent to Ukraine and is also pressuring Germany to sell one of its Patriot batteries to Ukraine.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

The Russians have attacked the settlements of Rodynske and Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast using an FPV drone and aerial bombs, killing eight civilians.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office

Quote: "At 10:00 today, Russian forces shelled Rodynske once again. This time, they targeted civilian cars using an FPV drone. One vehicle carrying two people caught fire. Both died on the spot. Another car was hit, killing the driver and two passengers."

The scene of the attack**Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s OfficeThe scene of the attack**Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office

Details: Ten minutes later, the Russians dropped two FAB-250 aerial bombs equipped with a Unified Gliding and Correction Module (UMPK) on Kostiantynivka. Three men aged 42, 53, and 71, were killed on the street. A 59-year-old local resident sustained a mine-blast injury and shrapnel wounds. Doctors assess his condition as moderate. At least 20 houses have been damaged in the affected areas.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

The European Court of Human Rights has found the Russian Federation responsible for large-scale and systematic human rights violations in the occupied territories of Ukraine before and after 24 February 2022, as well as for the downing of Malaysian Boeing flight MH17 over Donetsk Oblast in 2014.

Source: European Pravda, citing the court's decision

Details: The Russian side was absent during the announcement of the decision, as it had been during previous hearings.

This case combines four interstate complaints against Russia filed with the ECHR by Ukraine and the Netherlands:

Ukraine v. Russia (No. 8019/16) – violations during the armed conflict in Donbas, in particular the downing of MH17, torture, forced labour, etc.;Ukraine v. Russia (No. 43800/14) – abduction and illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation in 2014;The Netherlands v. Russia (No. 28525/20) – circumstances and consequences of the downing of flight MH17;Ukraine v. Russia (No. 11055/22) – gross human rights violations during the full-scale invasion since 24 February 2022.

The Court unanimously held that it had jurisdiction over the complaints concerning events that took place before 16 September 2022, when Russia's membership of the Council of Europe was suspended.

The Court found the Russian Federation guilty of numerous human rights violations that took place in the occupied territories before and after 24 February 2022, and of their large-scale and systematic nature.

These include arbitrary killings of civilians and prisoners of war, deprivation of liberty, inhuman treatment, use of torture, disregard for the consequences of strikes on the civilian population, systematic suppression of Ukrainian identity, including through the education system, the invasive and abusive security checks, deportation of Ukrainian children and adult civilians deep into the occupied territories or to the territory of the Russian Federation, etc.

The court also established that flight MH17 was shot down over Donbas by a Russian Buk air defence system and that Russia is responsible for it.

Background:

Ukrainian judge at the ECHR Mykola Hnatovskyi noted that this is probably the largest and most important case in the history of the ECHR.This case is unprecedented: 26 states and one international organisation have joined it as third parties.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

The number of property confiscations in Russia is growing rapidly, further complicating the prospects of an already sluggish economy, although it does help to temporarily replenish the depleted state treasury.

Source: Bloomberg

Details: Experts report that the total value of confiscated property since 2022 was approximately US$49.5 billion. In the last year alone, the number of such seizures has tripled.

Of this amount, almost half of those seized are strategically important companies over which the Kremlin seeks to tighten control. The rest are assets in various industries, which are often sold to new owners, with the proceeds going to the budget. In total, lawyers have counted 102 such cases.

Although this allows the government to temporarily replenish the budget and strengthen control over the economy, such practices weaken its stability and effectively destroy the private sector, the very sector that helped Russia withstand sanctions and economic blows after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The authorities use various grounds for confiscation – from violations during privatisation in the past, as well as accusations of corruption or extremism to "protecting public interests", lawyers say.

"The Kremlin is solving two problems at once," explains economist Andrei Yakovlev of Harvard University. "Confiscating property that’s later re-sold creates a new revenue stream for the budget and ‘reshapes the business elite so their fate is tied to the regime’s survival’."

Last year, the federal budget received 132 billion roubles (US$1.6 billion) from the sale of confiscated property, many times more than the planned 1 billion (US$12.7 million). Most of the funds came from assets seized by the Prosecutor General's Office, including the car dealer Rolf and companies in the chemical and agricultural sectors.

Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said in March that he wants to maintain this pace in 2025.

However, Yakovlev says that replacing experienced private owners with people whose success depends solely on state support inevitably reduces the efficiency of the economy.

Background: The Russian government has effectively supported a bill that allows the seizure of property belonging to Russians who have left the country and criticise the authorities: in May, the document was already approved by the State Duma after its first reading.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

Mykola Hnatovskyi, Ukrainian judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), has described the Court's ruling in the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia as historic, noting that it is likely the largest and most important case in the Court's history.

Source: Hnatovskyi on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Hnatovskyi stated that the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia, which spans about 500 pages not including appendices, is likely to be the most large-scale and significant in ECHR history.

Quote: "The true importance of this ruling will be determined by history. There will be many comments. Today, I only want to thank fate for the opportunity to be part of this Court and draw attention to the logic the Court followed when assessing specific complaints and interpreting the Convention."

Details: Hnatovskyi pointed out that the Court had emphasised the unprecedented nature of Russia's actions in Ukraine throughout the history of the Council of Europe. He added that the character and scale of the violence, as well as the ominous statements by the Russian leadership regarding Ukraine’s statehood, independence, and even its right to exist, pose a threat to peaceful coexistence in Europe. Thus, Russia aims to undermine the foundations of democracy upon which the Council of Europe is built.

The Court noted that in none of the previous conflicts it had reviewed was there such unanimous condemnation from the international community of the respondent state's flagrant disregard for the international legal order established after World War II, nor such clear measures taken by the Council of Europe to sanction this state's contempt for the fundamental values of the organisation.

Quote: "The Court also noted that its task is limited to assessing the compliance of the respondent state’s actions with the fundamental safeguards enshrined in the Convention and its Protocols, which are interpreted with regard to their purpose – to realise the aims and ideals of the Council of Europe by establishing peace based on justice and international cooperation."

Background: On 9 July, the ECHR found Russia guilty of violating multiple articles of the European Convention on Human Rights in a major inter-state case that combined complaints by Ukraine and the Netherlands regarding numerous human rights violations before and after 24 February 2022 and the downing of flight MH17.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed