Ukrainska Pravda

Czech President Petr Pavel has disagreed with the statement that Russia is currently "winning the war" against Ukraine.

Source: Pavel in an interview with BBC Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda

Details: President Pavel was asked for his assessment as a general regarding claims that Russia is winning the war based on the situation on the front lines.

In response to Russia's claim that they were winning, the Czech president said that victory looked different. He acknowledged that Russia had achieved some tactical successes and had managed to seize parts of Ukrainian territory, but noted that their advance had come at a high cost in terms of casualties and losses. He believed this was a very high price to pay for seizing land.

He went on to say that Ukrainian defenders are successfully holding the front line, particularly in difficult areas, while inflicting damage on the Russians.

Petr Pavel said that if the war continued at its current pace, it would last for years, adding that such a state of affairs was unacceptable for everyone.

He also shared his view on the balance of power between Russia and Ukraine in the war.

Background: As reported, NATO predicts a difficult summer for Ukraine due to Putin's misguided perception of war.

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Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha has announced that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy intends to replace ambassadors to the Group of Seven countries, including the United States.

Source: European Pravda; Andrii Sybiha in an interview with Ukrainian Radio, a radio broadcaster in Ukraine

Details: Sybiha said he expects "personnel changes" in the Ukrainian diplomatic corps in the near future.

"We should probably expect about 20 decrees that will dismiss and appoint new heads of foreign missions," Sybiha said.

The foreign minister specifically mentioned Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, whom he called "one of our most successful ambassadors".

"She is extremely effective and charismatic, but every diplomat has a rotation cycle. I will confirm to you that the vision of the President of Ukraine is to rotate in all countries of the G7 and G20. That is, first of all, to strengthen these countries, in particular, the US track," Sybiha added.

Background:

In June, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Zelenskyy had already made "certain personnel decisions" concerning replacing the heads of several foreign missions, which are expected to take place in July.The media reported that Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump discussed Markarova's replacement during their telephone conversation on 4 July.

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Danish Minister for Economy Stephanie Lose has confirmed that the EU is discussing ways to provide Ukraine with additional funding for the future.

Source: European Pravda; Stephanie Lose announced this to reporters before the meeting of the EU Council on Economic and Financial Affairs in Brussels on Tuesday 8 July

Details: Lose noted that support for Ukraine is a priority for Denmark, which took over the presidency of the EU Council in July.

"Of course, it’s very relevant here at EcoFin, where we have to discuss how we can make sure that Ukraine has the financing that is needed. We know that there will be financing for Ukraine in 2026, but we also know that there will be a need to find further financing," Lose said.

The Danish minister stressed that the day before, during an informal ministerial dinner, they had a "very good exchange of views" on the matter.

"We talked about the way forward and [we] look forward to discussing concrete options to make sure that Ukraine can have the help they need. And I think it is safe to say that there is still strong support for Ukraine within the European family," Lose said.

Earlier, a European Pravda source said that EU ministers would discuss aid to Ukraine if the war continues in 2026.

A source told European Pravda that funding for Ukraine is foreseen for 2025 and largely covers 2026. However, if the war continues, further funding will be required at some point.

Background:

The Ukraine Facility programme, which came into force on 1 March 2024, provides up to €50 billion in stable financing in the form of grants and loans to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and modernisation from 2024 to 2027.Also in 2024, the G7 agreed to provide Ukraine with a US$50 billion loan from Russian assets.

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Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna has stated that the foundational documents of the European Union contain no provisions that would allow Hungary to block the commencement of accession talks with Ukraine.

Source: Stefanishyna in an interview with Fakty ICTV, a Ukrainian public broadcaster, as reported by European Pravda.

Details: Stefanishyna noted that Denmark assumed the presidency of the EU Council in July, and Ukrainian authorities have already synchronised their plans with Copenhagen.

Quote: "There was a meeting involving President Zelenskyy, the Danish prime minister and two presidents of European institutions. And now we clearly understand that opening negotiations does not require a unanimous decision by all 27 [member states]."

Details: Stefanishyna emphasised that "none of the key provisions in EU documents currently require a unanimous decision for this".

She explained that Hungary’s blocking of the first negotiation cluster with Ukraine prompted a deeper review and reconsideration of the EU enlargement process.

Quote: "This kind of political dumping by Hungary, which undermines the EU’s ambitions through its obstruction, has triggered an analysis and search for solutions. It became clear that neither the Treaty on European Union nor any decisions made by the European Parliament or the European Council require unanimity for this step. Unanimity only applies to closing negotiations or completing specific chapters."

More details: Stefanishyna said that as a result, communication and political efforts must now be carried out with member states.

She also stressed that in this regard, "Denmark has taken quite a radical stance" as it defends "procedural integrity" and "fairness".

Background:

At the start of its EU Council presidency, Denmark pledged to apply maximum pressure on Hungary to unblock the start of Ukraine’s accession talks.At the same time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has not disclosed whether the EU has a plan B should Hungary continue to block the launch of formal negotiations.It was previously reported that the EU is working on a plan B in case Viktor Orbán cannot be persuaded.

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A person injured in the Russian strike on Kyiv on the night of 3-4 July has died in hospital, bringing the death toll from that attack to three people.

Source: Tymur Tkachenko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Sadly, the enemy attack on the night of 3-4 July has claimed another life. One of those injured has died in hospital. Doctors fought for his life until the very end."

Background:

From the evening of 3 July and on the night of 3-4 July, the Russians conducted a large-scale attack on Kyiv using drones and ballistic missiles. Fires broke out and residential buildings were damaged in six city districts. It was reported that 32 people had been injured.On 4 July, while dealing with the aftermath of the attack on a non-residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district, one person was found dead.On 5 July, a 25-year-old man who had suffered severe injuries in the Russian attack died in hospital.

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Russia has lost 1,070 soldiers killed and wounded as well as more than 300 weapons and pieces of military equipment over the past day.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 8 July 2025 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses – ed.]:

approximately 1,028,610 (+1,070) military personnel;10,995 (+0) tanks;22,967 (+4) armoured combat vehicles;30,034 (+41) artillery systems;1,434 (+2) multiple-launch rocket systems;1,192 (+0) air defence systems;421 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;340 (+0) helicopters;44,230 (+172) operational-tactical UAVs;3,439 (+0) cruise missiles;28 (+0) ships/boats;1 (+0) submarine;54,456 (+86) vehicles and fuel tankers;3,927 (+0) special vehicles and other equipment.

The information is being confirmed.

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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 announced his intention to increase military assistance to Ukraine, saying that the focus is primarily on defensive weapons.

Source: Trump during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House

Details: Responding to a journalist's question about plans to send more weapons to Ukraine, Trump confirmed this.

Quote from Trump: "We're going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They're getting hit very hard now. They're getting hit very hard. We're going to have to send more weapons, defensive weapons, primarily. But they're getting hit very, very hard. So many people are dying in that mess."

Details: Trump also mentioned his latest conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the results of which left him dissatisfied.

"I'm disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn't stopped. I'm not happy about it either." [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda doesn't recognise Putin as president – ed.]

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.On 8 July, Politico, citing sources, reported that the suspended shipments of some US military assistance to Ukraine could resume after high-level meetings between US and Ukrainian representatives to be held in Rome and Kyiv over the coming week.

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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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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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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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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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