Ukrainska Pravda

Russian forces conducted another large-scale drone attack on populated areas in Kyiv Oblast on the night of 8-9 July. A woman has been injured and hospitalised as a result of the attack on the Brovary district.

Source: Mykola Kalashnyk, Head of Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Sadly, a 45-year-old woman has been injured in the enemy attack on the Brovary district. She is being hospitalised.

Early reports indicate that she suffered a closed chest fracture. All necessary medical treatment is being provided."

Details: Kalashnyk urged oblast residents to stay in shelters as Russia continues to target civilian infrastructure.

Background: On the night of 8-9 July, Russian forces conducted another large-scale attack on Ukraine using missiles and drones. Air defence was responding in many oblasts, including the capital.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has stated that the United States remains committed to supporting Ukraine and will continue supplying weapons to Kyiv despite the recent pause.

Source: Bruce during a press briefing

Details: A journalist asked during the briefing whether President Donald Trump's recent assessment of Russian leader Vladimir Putin would lead to changes in US policy towards Ukraine.

In response, Bruce stressed that the US position remains unchanged. The US continues to support Ukraine and the short pause in weapon deliveries was merely part of a routine review of all military assistance programmes, not a shift in direction.

"We have been and remain Ukraine's biggest supporters. We care about those people. We care about making sure that they have what they need," she emphasised.

Bruce added that Trump "remains committed" to ensuring Ukraine has everything it needs to defend itself, especially in light of the large-scale killings and the need to achieve a ceasefire.

"We've been helping them, we'll continue to help them. It's a pretty tough situation. And so that is – that's our position. It's what it has always been," she said.

Background:

On 8 July, the Pentagon announced that, at Trump's direction, the US would send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine.Axios reported that Trump had ordered the immediate shipment of 10 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine and is pressing Germany to sell one of its Patriot batteries to Kyiv.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed decrees on Tuesday 8 July to synchronise Ukraine's sanctions with the 15th, 16th and 17th packages of European Union sanctions against Russia.

Source: Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Zelenskyy's Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, as reported by European Pravda with reference to Interfax-Ukraine

Details: Three decrees imposing economic sanctions on a number of individuals were published on the Office of the President's website on Tuesday, but the list of those individuals was not made public.

Vlasiuk said the decrees signed by Zelenskyy align Ukrainian sanctions with the EU's 15th, 16th and 17th sanction packages.

By doing so Ukraine underlines the importance of full synchronisation of sanctions among all partners in the sanctions coalition.

Background:

Earlier, Ukraine adopted sanctions from the EU's 9th to 14th packages as well as measures against individuals involved in human rights violations in Belarus and EU decisions from 2011 and 2020-2025 targeting those responsible for human rights abuses in Iran and military support for Russia's war against Ukraine.On 19 June 2025, Zelenskyy announced plans to synchronise sanctions with partners and increase pressure on Russia's energy sector.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

One person has been injured and houses destroyed in a Russian attack on the Stepnohirsk hromada in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on the morning of 9 July. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]

Source: Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "An enemy attack on the Stepnohirsk hromada resulted in a woman being injured and homes being damaged."

Details: Fedorov added that emergency services had headed to the scene.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

Two people have been injured in Russian drone attacks on the city of Kherson on the morning of 9 July.

Source: Kherson City Military Administration

Details: A 73-year-old and a 47-year-old resident have been injured. They came under attack in the Dniprovskyi district at around 05:00.

The older man sustained a blast injury and wounds to his face and torso. The younger man suffered a blast injury and wounds to his head and arms.

Background: On the morning of 8 July alone, Russian forces killed one person and injured nine others in Kherson. All of them came under drone attacks.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

Russia has lost 1,050 soldiers killed and wounded over the past day alone, bringing its total number of personnel losses to 1,029,660.

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 9 July 2025 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses – ed.]:

approximately 1,029,660 (+1,050) military personnel;11,000 (+5) tanks;22,969 (+2) armoured combat vehicles;30,102 (+68) artillery systems;1,434 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems;1,193 (+1) air defence systems;421 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;340 (+0) helicopters;44,457 (+227) operational-tactical UAVs;3,439 (+0) cruise missiles;28 (+0) ships/boats;1 (+0) submarine;54,575 (+119) vehicles and fuel tankers;3,929 (+2) special vehicles and other equipment.

The information is being confirmed.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

A Russian attack with missiles and drones on Lutsk on the night of 8-9 July was the most intense the city has come under since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The attack has caused fires and destruction. No information about casualties has been reported.

Source: Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk

Quote: "Last night saw the most intense enemy attack using UAVs and missiles on our city and hromada. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]

Luckily, as of now, there is no information about anyone killed in the enemy attack."

Details: Polishchuk said the strike had caused a fire and damage to garages at one of the garage cooperatives. A fire also broke out at local business premises. Information on the exact extent of the destruction and other aftermath of the attack is still being confirmed.

Background:

On the night of 8-9 July, Russian forces conducted another large-scale attack on Ukraine using missiles and drones. Air defence was responding in many oblasts, including the capital.At 02:49 and 03:37, Ukraine's Air Force reported launches of Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles from MiG-31K aircraft towards Lutsk.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

US President Donald Trump is considering sending a Patriot air defence system to Ukraine.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, citing two US officials

Details: The Wall Street Journal sources stated that Trump is considering providing Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defence system, following his recent promises to strengthen Kyiv's defences against Russian attacks.

The White House has reportedly asked the Pentagon to prepare other options for additional military assistance. Officials are also exploring whether other countries could supply Ukraine with more Patriot systems.

Meanwhile, there are discussions about involving allies to transfer several more such systems to Kyiv.

A former Pentagon official said the US had supplied Ukraine with three Patriot systems, Germany had sent another three and a consortium of European countries had provided one more. However, not all of these systems are operational simultaneously due to maintenance challenges.

Background:

On 8 July, the Pentagon announced that, at Trump's direction, the US would send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine.Axios reported that Trump had ordered the immediate shipment of 10 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine and is pressing Germany to sell one of its Patriot batteries to Kyiv.Earlier that day, Trump announced his intention to increase military assistance to Ukraine.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

US President Donald Trump has said that he does not know who gave an order last week to halt arms supplies to Ukraine.

Source: Trump during a cabinet meeting, responding to questions from journalists

Details: Last week, the Pentagon announced that it was suspending the delivery of some artillery ammunition and air defence equipment to Ukraine, citing the need to retain weapons to defend against other threats.

However, on 7 July, Trump said that the United States should send weapons to Ukraine for defence.

Commenting on this issue, the US president noted that Washington wanted to supply Ukraine with weapons for defence because Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin "is killing too many people".

"So we are sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I’ve approved that," he said.

Asked who ordered supplies to Ukraine to be suspended last week, Trump replied, "I don't know. Why don't you tell me?"

Background:

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.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.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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

Ukraine has imposed sanctions on several Chinese companies after components manufactured by them were found in Shahed drones used in a Russian attack on the night of 3-4 July.

Source: a decree dated 8 July, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Details: According to the decree, the sanctions have been imposed on China Asia Silk Road International Trade (Tianjin) Co., Suzhou Ecod Precision Manufacturing Co., Shenzhen Royo Technology Co., Shenzhen Jinduobang Technology Co. and Ningbo BLIN Machinery Co.

"Chinese-made components were found in Shahed drones downed during the large-scale drone attack on Kyiv on the night of 3-4 July," Vladyslav Vlasiuk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, told journalists on Tuesday 8 July. "Today, sanctions have been imposed on the supplying companies."

Vlasiuk said that companies such as Ningbo BLIN Machinery and Suzhou Ecod Precision Manufacturing had supplied products to sanctioned Russian entities in 2024 and 2025.

"Ukraine is working with its partners in the sanctions coalition to pursue further restrictions against Chinese manufacturers," he added.

Background: The Security Service of Ukraine reported finding Chinese-made components in drones used by Russia to attack Kyiv on the night of 3-4 July.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

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.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed

From Ukrainska Pravda via this RSS feed