Explosions reported in Russian city of Belgorod Oblast

1:56 PM

Ukraine's Deputy PM Chernyshov won't be dismissed despite corruption probe.

Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksii Chernyshov will keep his position after a decision from the High Anti-Corruption Court on July 2.

1:54 PM

Ukraine wasn't officially notified of halt in US weapons shipments, Defense Ministry says.

In a statement, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said it is working to verify the current status of all elements in the agreed aid packages and has requested a phone call with U.S. defense officials for further clarification.

1:40 PM

Kremlin welcomes reported pause in US arms shipments to Ukraine, says it brings war's end closer.

"The fewer weapons that are supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the... (Russia-Ukraine war)," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

1:27 PM

Armenian parliament speaker urges ban on Russian TV broadcasting.

"We must very seriously discuss the suspension of Russian television channel broadcast in the territory of Armenia," Armenian Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan told reporters, according to Armenpress.

1:17 PM

Military aid delays will 'encourage Russia to continue war,' Ukraine tells US envoy.

Ukraine warned that "any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace."

12:32 PM

USAID officially ends operation, remaining programs moved under State Department.

"Foreign assistance programs that align with administration policies — and which advance American interests — will be administered by the State Department," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

12:05 PM

Russia cannot launch 500 drones every day, Ukraine's intel chief says.

Russia has the capacity to launch as many as 500 Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones at Ukraine in a single attack, but doing so on a daily basis is not possible, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on July 2.

11:13 AM

Russia plans gas extraction in Sea of Azov, Ukrainian officials warn.

According to the Berdiansk Municipal Military Administration, Russia's Federal Subsoil Resources Agency (Rosnedra) has announced plans to explore and possibly develop gas fields such as the Morske, Pivnichno-Kazantypske, and Skhidno-Kazantypske deposits.

10:55 AM

Russia killed at least 273 Ukrainian POWs during full-scale war, prosecutors say.

Seventy-seven criminal cases have been launched in connection with the murders, while only two people were convicted, and a trial against a third person is ongoing.

8:11 PM  (Updated:  July 2, 2025 10:10 am)

Ukraine

5 ways you can support Ukraine — even if your government doesn't want to

10:00 AM

At least 2 killed, 33 injured across Ukraine in Russian attacks over past day.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 114 Shahed-type and decoy drones overnight from multiple directions, as well as four S-300 missiles. Air defenses shot down 40 drones, while 39 disappeared from radars or were intercepted by electronic warfare.

9:24 AM

Russian officer admits to downing Azerbaijani airliner in reported leak.

A person claiming to be a Russian officer said he had received an order to open fire at an aerial target last December that turned out to be an Azerbaijani airliner, Azerbaijani news outlet Minval reported on July 1, citing audio and written statements it had received.

9:06 AM

'Tied to a motorcycle and dragged' — Russia likely executed another Ukrainian POW, ombudsman says.

Russian forces likely executed another Ukrainian prisoner of war (POW), Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on July 1, referring to a recent video that appears to show the captive tied to a motorcycle and dragged along a road.

8:19 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,022,090 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,110 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:38 AM

'Oreshnik will be on Belarusian soil,' Lukashenko says of Russian missile deployment by year-end.

Lukashenko said the deployment of advanced weapons systems to Belarus would serve as a tool for maintaining domestic stability. "I’m confident that even those of our supporters who don’t yet understand this will come to realize it — without a war."

5:40 AM

Germany still weighing Taurus missile supply to Ukraine, Merz says.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also cited the Taurus missile system’s complexity, saying it requires at least six months of training — something Germany has not yet agreed to begin.

3:52 AM

Top Russian defense official gets 13 years in graft crackdown.

Authorities detained former Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov in April 2024 on bribery allegations, later adding embezzlement charges in October.

2:39 AM

As Russia ramps up missile attacks, US halts promised air defense shipments to Ukraine.

Among the items being held back from Ukraine are Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, and drones, three sources told Politico.

10:34 AM  (Updated:  July 2, 2025 2:12 am)

'With surgical precision' — Ukrainian drones strike Russian plant 1,300 km away, SBU source says.

The SBU said its long-range drones targeted the Kupol plant in Russia's Udmurt Republic on the morning of July 1, resulting in at least two confirmed strikes and a fire at the site.

1:15 AM

'Important facility hit' — Ukraine attacks Russian oil refinery in Saratov Oblast, military says.

"The occupiers use the capacity of this refinery to supply fuel and lubricants to Russian military units involved in the armed aggression against Ukraine," the General Staff reported on July 1.

12:14 AM

Ukraine to launch joint weapons production program with Ramstein summit countries.

As part of a new joint production program, new factories and weapons manufacturing facilities will be built in Ukraine and abroad, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on July 1.

11:39 PM

War analysis

Ukraine to exit mine ban treaty, citing war demands, realities on the ground

11:15 PM

North Korea already using Russian Pantsir missiles to defend Pyongyang, Ukraine's intelligence chief says.

North Korea is "currently significantly increasing its military power" through direct cooperation with Russia, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), said in an interview with Hromadske Radio on July 1.

11:00 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones strike Russian plant 1,300km from border, SBU source says

10:46 PM

Russian missile strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kills brigade commander, injures 30 people, Zelensky says.

A Russian missile attack killed the commander of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Serhii Zakharevych, and injured 30 people in Huliaipole in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on July 1, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address.