Moroccan man kidnapped, forced to transfer Bitcoin, then murdered in Kyiv, police say
CCTV footage released by the police appears to show the moment the man was kidnapped.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
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80th brigade commander promised promotion after commanders speak out against dismissal
Emil Ishkulov, commander of Ukraine's 80th Air Assault Brigade, will be promoted to a higher position, the command of Air Assault Forces said on July 29 after an appeal from high-ranking officers opposed to his imminent dismissal.
Russia increasingly moving military equipment to Zaporizhzhia Oblast, official says
The transport of Russian military equipment toward Zaporizhzhia Oblast through occupied Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast has "sharply increased," said Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the city's exiled mayor, on July 29.
Ukraine damaged Russia's Tu-22M3 bomber 1,800 kilometers away from border, HUR confirms
Ukrainian drones attacked the Russian airfields of Olenya in Murmansk Oblast, Engels in Saratov Oblast, and Diagilevo in Ryazan Oblast overnight on July 27.
Ukraine announces charges in absentia of 2 pro-Russian collaborators over Olenivka POW killings
The Prosecutor General's Office said the investigation involved statements from 20 victims and 30 eyewitnesses, as well as forensic evidence of those killed. The two unnamed Russian commanders have been charged in absentia with violating the laws of war.
Wagner confirms deaths of soldiers in Mali, blames battle defeat on 'sandstorm'
According to the Telegram message, Wagner troops and their Malian army comrades fought off the initial assault by Tuareg rebels, but a sandstorm allowed to the rebels to regroup and lay an ambush, resulting in heavy losses for the coalition of Russian mercenaries and Malian government soldiers.
Chinese banks reject about 80% of Russian yuan payments, media reports
According to sources cited by Kommersant, Chinese banks routinely let Russian yuan payments delay for several weeks before ultimately rejecting them, often without providing a reason.
Fighting in Donetsk Oblast 'extremely challenging,' but Ukraine has 'strength to achieve its goals,' Zelensky says
Despite the tense situation near Pokrovsk, "Ukraine has the strength to achieve its goals," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Georgian opposition to file complaint to Constitutional Court over 'foreign agents' law
The lawsuit was signed by 32 opposition lawmakers on July 22.
General Staff: Russia has lost 576,000 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,310 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Ukraine war latest: Russia reportedly captures Vovche in Donetsk Oblast advancing toward Pokrovsk
Key developments on July 27, 28: * Russia reportedly captures Vovche, Ukrainian military doesn't confirm * Ukraine attacks 3 Russian airfields, bomber damaged, source says * Ukraine's military confirms strike on oil refinery in Russia's Kursk region * Rebels in Mali claim to have killed and injured dozens of Russian mercenaries * Fire engulfs Donetsk
Ukraine will receive first F-16s 'in few weeks,' WP reports
According to WP, the F-16s will not be brought close to the front line at first, so it is unclear whether they will be able to deter Russian planes flying in from Russian airspace.
PTSD accounts for 29% of neuralgic diseases suffered by military, Defense Ministry says
The share of PTSD from neuralgic diseases among the military will only increase, according to Oksana Sukhorukova, head of the Healthcare Department of the Defense Ministry.
Polish Foreign Ministry suggests Hungary leave EU, NATO after Orban's controversial statements
"I do not understand why Hungary wants to remain a member of organizations that they dislike so much and that supposedly mistreat them," Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski said.
Ukraine will introduce 'action plan for peace' by end of November, Zelensky says
The president said Kyiv will start "detailed discussions with relevant countries" on territorial integrity and other issues, according to NHK.
Rebels in Mali claim to have killed and injured dozens of soldiers, Russian mercenaries
Mali’s army and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group lost dozens in killed and wounded in a battle with rebels in the country’s north, a spokesman for the rebels claimed on July 27.
Russia launched over 700 aerial bombs, 100 Shahed drones at Ukraine over past week, Zelensky says
The Ukrainian president called on allies to provide Kyiv with long-range weapons and air defense equipment, adding that "each concrete decision of the partners to strengthen our force is able to save people's lives."
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 11, injure 41 over past day
Russian attacks against four Ukrainian regions killed 11 people and wounded another 41 in the past day, regional authorities reported early on July 28.
General Staff: Russia has lost 574,690 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has also reportedly lost 8,344 tanks, 16,095 armored fighting vehicles, 21,572 vehicles and fuel tanks, 15,936 artillery systems, 1,127 multiple launch rocket systems, 906 air defense systems, 363 airplanes, 326 helicopters, 12,766 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
Blinken warns China of 'taking measures' if it keeps helping Russia's defense industry
"The secretary reiterated serious concern with PRC (People's Republic of China) support for Russia’s defense industrial base and made clear that if the PRC does not act to address this threat to European security, the United Stares will continue to take appropriate measures to do so," U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
Orban accuses US of blowing up Nord Stream pipelines amid anti-Western tirade
Russia blamed the U.S. and U.K. for blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines connecting Russia and Germany in September 2022. Investigations have so far failed to find conclusive evidence, and both Denmark and Sweden dropped the case in February 2024. The German investigation is still ongoing.
Russia's Lavrov claims he 'does not listen' to Ukraine's peace talks statements
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said he "does not listen" to Ukraine's statements about peace talks, claiming recent comments from senior Kyiv officials have been contradictory.
Russia reportedly captures Vovche, Ukrainian military doesn't confirm yet
Moscow's troops are attempting to break through Ukrainian defenses in the area, and the sector near Pokrovsk in the western part of Donetsk Oblast has become the hottest part of the front in recent weeks.
General Staff: Russia has lost 573,510 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,210 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Romania denies downing Russian drones over Ukraine
Videos on social media that purport to show Romanian air defense units shooting down Russian attack drones above Ukraine are spreading a false narrative, Romania's Defense Ministry said in a statement on July 26.
Ukraine to receive nearly $8 billion in direct budget support from US by November, ambassador says
By November, Ukraine will receive $7.9 billion in direct support to the state budget, part of the $61 billion aid package passed by the U.S. Congress in April, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, said on air on July 26.
Ukraine war latest: Russian losses in Ukraine causing 'serious problems' for recruitment, HUR says
Key updates on July 26: * Russian losses in Ukraine causing 'serious problems' for recruitment, HUR says * Ukraine hit Russian airfield in occupied Crimea, General Staff confirms * Russia using new, cheap drones to locate Ukraine's air defense, military intelligence says * Inspection of Ukraine's 59th Brigade finds management issues, but no criminal
Russia using new, cheap drones to locate Ukraine's air defense, military intelligence says
Russia is now launching a new type of cheaply-made drones to identify air defense systems and act as decoys, Andrii Cherniak, a spokesperson of Ukraine's military intelligence, told Reuters in an interview published on July 26.
Inspection of Ukraine's 59th Brigade finds management issues, but no criminal charges laid
The 59th Brigade is deployed near Krasnohorivka in Donetsk Oblast, a front-line town under heavy pressure by Russian forces.
Ukraine's energy situation improving, state grid operator says
After a "very difficult couple of weeks" due to record-breaking heat and power plants being under repair, Ukraine's energy supply situation is improving, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the head of state grid operator Ukrenergo, said on July 26.
Kharkiv renames 3 metro stations, nearly 50 streets to 'de-Russify' city
The city of Kharkiv has decided to rename three metro stations and 48 streets to "remove Russian markers from public space," Governor Oleh Syniehubov announced on July 26.
Russian Central Bank raises interest rate to 18% amid 'accelerated' inflation
Russia's Central Bank announced on July 26 that it is to raise the interest rate from 16% to 18%, as the Russian economy continues to experience accelerated inflation amid its war in Ukraine.
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