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The Counteroffensive: A JD Vance vice presidency would be a disaster for Ukraine

6:42 PM

Opinion

The Counteroffensive: A JD Vance vice presidency would be a disaster for Ukraine

Editor’s Note: This article was published by the twice-weekly newsletter “The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak” on July 16, 2024, and has been re-published by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to "The Counteroffensive," click here. J.D. Vance’s selection as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s running

5:50 PM

Russian media: Medvedchuk sends letter to Trump seeking to blame Ukraine for assassination attempt.

Viktor Medvedchuk, a former pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmaker, sent a letter to Donald Trump claiming that “Ukraine's trace may appear” in the case of Republican Party nominee assassination attempt, the Kremlin-controlled TASS news agency claimed on July 16.

5:28 PM

Czechia to open bullet factory, start production of assault rifles in Ukraine.

The governments of Ukraine and Czechia signed two agreements on joint arms production on July 16, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced after the meeting with Czech counterpart Petr Fiala.

4:46 PM

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak: Developments in Ukraine’s parliament on economic reforms, international obligations — Issue 64

Editor’s note: This is issue 64 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly “Ukrainian Economy in Brief” newsletter, covering events from July 8-14, 2024. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks

4:11 PM

Defense company's production blocked by Bureau of Economic Security's investigation.

The Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) is preventing the work of a body armor manufacturer due to suspicions of tax evasion, Forbes Ukraine reported on July 16.

3:37 PM

Ukrainian intelligence 'hacks Russian websites, replaces homepages with pig head pictures.'

"The cyberattack was aimed at destroying internal information of companies that serve Russian public sector clients involved in the war against Ukraine," HUR said in a post on Telegram.

3:09 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Ukraine's volunteer hacker army is pioneering a new era of cyber warfare

Over two years have passed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the volunteer IT Army of Ukraine is more effective than ever. On June 20, 2024, the hacker group launched what they claimed to be the "largest DDoS attack in history" against Russia's banking system, crippling numerous banks and

2:18 PM

Ukraine's top prosecutors investigated over suspected $170,000 bribe.

One of the prosecutors had been charged and detained at their workplace following an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).

1:52 PM

Two more Russian kamikaze drones enter Belarusian airspace.

On July 13, another Russian Shahed kamikaze drone targeting Ukraine veered off course and flew more than 350 kilometers over Belarusian airspace, following a similar incident two days earlier.

1:41 PM

Shmyhal visits Czechia to discuss ammunition, energy cooperation.

The visit comes only days after Czech President Petr Pavel announced Ukraine would receive 50,000 shells under Prague's ammunition initiative in July, with the deliveries rising to 100,000 rounds monthly since September.

12:41 PM

Orban urged EU to restore diplomatic relations with Russia in letter to Michel, Bild reports.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the EU should restore diplomatic relations with Russia, listing it as one of the conclusions of his supposed "peace mission," Bild reported on July 16, citing Orban's letter it had obtained.

11:50 AM

India summoned Ukrainian ambassador over Zelensky's comments, media reports.

India summoned a Ukrainian envoy over President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, the Economic Times newspaper reported on July 16.

10:56 AM

Death toll of Russia's July 14 attack on Donetsk Oblast town rises to 3.

The death toll of a Russian attack against Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast on July 14 has risen to three as rescue operations concluded, the Interior Ministry said on July 16.

10:30 AM

Drone drops munitions on factory in Russia's Kursk Oblast, authorities say.

Alexei Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk Oblast, also said that a Ukrainian drone dropped explosives on the town of Tyotkino, located some 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Korenovo. Smirnov claimed that the explosives landed on a house and injured its resident.

10:13 AM

Lavrov arrives in New York to chair UN Security Council meetings.

Russia, a permanent member of the council, assumed the one-month rotating presidency on July 1 for the first time since April 2023.

10:02 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine injure 16 over past day.

In Kharkiv Oblast, a 51-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man were injured when Russia struck the village of Kindrashivka in the Kupiansk district shortly before midnight on July 15, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

9:23 AM

Trump will demand Ukraine hold peace talks with Russia if elected, Orban claims.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump "has detailed and well-founded plans for (a peace plan)."

9:12 AM

European Commission snubs Hungary's presidency over Orban's rogue diplomacy.

"In light of recent developments marking the start of the Hungarian Presidency, the President (Ursula von der Leyen) has decided that the European Commission will be represented at senior civil servant level only during informal meetings of the Council," said von der Leyen's spokesperson Eric Mamer.

8:07 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 561,400 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

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

7:39 AM

Russia proposes broader criteria for designating individuals to terrorist, extremist list.

In a effort to continue to crackdown on political dissent on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the proposed legislation would allow the Russian Federal Service for Financial Monitoring (Rosfinmonitoring) to add individuals convicted of spreading "false information" about Russia's military to the list - provided it is motivated by broadly defined hatred.

6:08 AM

Russia sentences US journalist in absentia for comments on Ukraine war.

According to the New York Times, Gessen was convicted by the Basmanny District Court for spreading “false information” about Russia's military, having described the massacre committed by Russian Armed Forces in Bucha and neighboring communities during an interview in 2022 with a Russian journalist.

4:59 AM

Congress urges White House to disclose whether Russia is sharing insight on US weapons with China.

A bipartisan congressional committee urged the White House on July 15 to reveal whether Russia is sharing insights on U.S. weapons used on the front lines in Ukraine with China, Reuters reported.

Ukraine war latest: Russia withdrew its last patrol boat from occupied Crimea, Ukraine's navy says

1:33 AM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia withdrew its last patrol boat from occupied Crimea, Ukraine's navy says

Key developments on July 15: * Last Russian patrol ship left occupied Crimea, Ukraine's navy says * Mobilization is going 'according to plan,' but there are not enough training facilities, Zelensky says * Syrskyi orders inspection of 59th Motorized Brigade after recent losses * 44% of Ukrainians believe it's time to start official

1:28 AM

Anti-corruption

Top anti-corruption official promises results of probe into whistleblower scandal this week

An internal probe into alleged pressure on a whistleblower at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine will be completed this week, Semen Kryvonos, chief of the anti-graft agency also known by its acronym NABU, told a parliamentary committee probing the affair. "The deadline (for the probe into the pressure on

JD Vance opposes military aid, NATO membership for Ukraine. He's now Trump's VP pick

1:26 AM

US Election

JD Vance opposes military aid, NATO membership for Ukraine. He's now Trump's VP pick

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump selected Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate on July 15. The 39-year-old conservative, whose fame ballooned after the publication of his 2016 memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," was announced as Trump's pick for vice president on the first day

1:05 AM

Mass fire reported at low voltage equipment plant in Kursk Oblast.

A large fire broke out at a low-voltage equipment plant in Kursk Oblast, Governor Alexei Smirnov reported on July 16.

Kremlin blames Democrats, Ukraine for Trump assassination attempt

12:47 AM

US Election

Kremlin blames Democrats, Ukraine for Trump assassination attempt

The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party nominee for the upcoming presidential election, prompted shock, sympathy, and concern from capitals across the world. President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wished former U.S. President Donald Trump "a speedy recovery." The response from the Kremlin stood out. Spokesperson

12:44 AM

Ex-intelligence officer may be released on bail for $219,000, media reports.

The Ukrainian ex-intelligence officer Roman Chervinsky was released on bail on July 15 for Hr 9 million ($219,450) following his arrest in April 2023, Suspilne news outlet reported.

12:27 AM

UK, EU member states will step up inspections of Russian oil fleet, Bloomberg says.

An "unspecified number" of governments are expected to approve the plan on July 18, during a meeting of the European Political Community hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the U.K., according to a draft statement.

Trump names senator in favor of Ukrainian territorial concessions as his running mate

11:09 PM

US Election

Trump names senator in favor of Ukrainian territorial concessions as his running mate.

"Any peace settlement is going to require some significant territorial concessions from Ukraine, and you're gonna have a peace deal because that's the only way out of the conflict," Senator J. D. Vance said in February.

10:54 PM

India is aiming to increase exports to Russia after Modi-Putin meeting, Reuters says.

"When we are looking at Russia, we are looking at how both countries can gain by better trade relationships," Indian Trade Secretary Sunil Barthwal said during a press conference.

10:29 PM

Georgian president appeals to Constitutional Court on law on 'foreign agents.'

Georgian President Salome Zourabishvili has filed a motion against the law on "foreign agents" to the Constitutional Court of Georgia. The bill requires organizations that receive foreign funding to be labeled as "foreign agents," mirroring repressive Russian legislation used to crack down on Kremlin critics.

News Feed

2:19 PM

(Updated: July 7, 2025 1:43 pm)

KI Insights

Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week

1:12 PM

(Updated: July 7, 2025 1:38 pm)

Zelensky, Trump discussed replacement of Ukraine's US ambassador, source says.

Oksana Markarova has held the post since April 2021, and played a central role in coordinating U.S. military and financial support during the early phases of Russia's full-scale invasion.

12:17 PM

Ukrainian drones reportedly target Russian chemical plant near Moscow.

The Krasnozavodsk Chemical Plant is one of the city's biggest employers and an important part of Russia's defense-industrial complex.

11:24 AM

12 killed, 69 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 101 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type attack drones, as well as four S-300/400 guided missiles.

10:45 AM

After airport chaos, tanker blast, Putin fires Russian transport minister.

The dismissal comes amid a series of high-profile disruptions to Russia's aviation and shipping sectors.

10:36 AM

As Ukraine awaits stalled US weapons, Trump says he's 'helping a lot' in war with Russia.

"I am helping Ukraine. I'm helping it a lot," U.S. President Donald Trump said when asked in Washington why the U.S. does not support Ukraine as strongly as it supports Israel.

9:12 AM

Trump threatens 10% tariff on countries backing BRICS 'anti-American policy'.

"There will be no exceptions to this policy," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

8:13 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,027,540 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,100 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

7:52 AM

Trump slams Musk’s third party plan as ‘ridiculous,’ calls Musk ‘train wreck’.

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on tech billionaire Elon Musk’s plan to create a new political party, calling it “ridiculous” and warning that third-party movements have historically failed in the United States.

5:47 AM

BRICS summit statement condemns attacks on Russian railways, avoids urging Russia to cease war efforts in Ukraine.

BRICS summit participants condemned recent attacks on Russia’s railway infrastructure, according to a joint declaration on July 6 from Rio de Janeiro.

2:51 AM

Lavrov meets Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi at BRICS summit, reiterates Russia's offer to mediate disputes over nuclear program.

Russia reiterated its offer to mediate the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program during a meeting between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart at the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Reuters reported on July 6.

10:49 PM

Moldova's pro-Russian political bloc to participate in upcoming elections.

Ilan Shor, an exiled pro-Kremlin oligarch, established the Victory bloc in August 2024. "Our main goal in these elections is to overthrow the fascist regime and hold early democratic elections within the next six months," Shor said on July 6.

10:06 PM

Zelensky's top adviser behind bid to replace prime minister, spy chief, sources tell Economist.

According to anonymous officials, Andriy Yermak was also a driving force behind the recent corruption probe into Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov.

5:34 AM

(Updated: July 6, 2025 8:49 pm)

Russian airports cancel nearly 300 flights amid drone attacks on Russia.

Rosaviatsia reported on the evening of July 6 that 287 flights had been grounded across three major airports: Moscow's Sheremetyevo, St. Petersburg's Pulkovo, and Strigino Airport in Nizhny Novgorod.

8:12 PM

Explosion damages tanker in Russian port, marking 6th mysterious blast this year.

An explosion "of an unknown nature" aboard the Eco Wizard tanker in Russia's Ust-Luga port near St. Petersburg caused an ammonia leak on July 6.

7:22 PM

Ukraine imposes sanctions on Russian financial, cryptocurrency schemes.

Restrictions were imposed on 60 legal entities and 73 Russian citizens.

6:59 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Drones attack Russia's Black Sea Fleet; Russian pipelines explode in country's Far East, HUR says

6:36 PM

'Evacuate to safer regions!' — Russian attacks kill 5, injure 1 in Donetsk Oblast.

Russia attacked the front-line towns of Kostiantynivka and Druzhkivka on July 6, killing civilians and damaging homes and infrastructure. Governor Vadim Filashkin urged remaining residents to evacuate.

6:20 PM

Death toll in Russia's July 3 attack on Poltava rises to 3.

The attack, which occurred at around 9 a.m., injured 59 people, sparked fires, and damaged civilian infrastructure.

6:17 PM

Bus сarrying Ukrainian сhildren сrashes in Hungary, 21 injured.

Four victims are reported to be in serious condition, including two teenagers (ages 14 and 18) and two seniors (ages 67 and 71). The bus was carrying a children's ensemble from Lviv to a dance festival in Ohrid.

5:14 PM

Drones reportedly attack Russia's Black Sea fleet.

The media outlet also published footage purportedly showing a burning maritime drone that was allegedly shot down during the attack.

4:07 PM

German lawmakers call on Merz to increase aid to Ukraine, Bild reports.

The signatories emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense systems urgently.

2:25 PM

China may ask Russia to attack NATO if Taiwan is invaded, Rutte says.

Fears of escalating Chinese military intervention in Taiwan have risen sharply since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

10:59 AM

(Updated: July 6, 2025 1:36 pm)

Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 6, injure 25 over past day.

Russian forces launched four S-300 anti-aircraft missiles and 157 Shahed drones against Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

12:46 PM

Yerevan denies Ukraine's report on Russia increasing military footprint in Armenia.

The news comes amid a major deterioration in Russian-Azerbaijani relations after a deadly June 27 operation in Russia's Yekaterinburg, where Russian security forces killed two Azerbaijani nationals.

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