Update: Russian media report casualties following explosions in occupied Kherson.

7:04 PM

Iran reportedly preparing to mine Strait of Hormuz, a possible boon for Russia's Ukraine war coffers.

If the Strait were mined, Iran could block one-fifth of global oil demand and spike world energy prices — a boon for Russia's oil-dependent economy.

6:58 PM

NATO chief urges continued US support for Ukraine as Pentagon halts arms shipments.

"When it comes to Ukraine, in the short term, Ukraine cannot do without all the support it can get," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.

1:56 PM  (Updated:  July 2, 2025 6:14 pm)

Ukraine's deputy prime minister won't be dismissed despite corruption probe, court rules.

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

5:55 PM

US envoy Kellogg denies agreeing to help halt Ukraine's drone strikes on Russia.

U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg denied that he agreed to "work on" halting Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia, contradicting Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko's claim.

5:49 PM

Video

Failed US peace effort left Ukraine worse off, expert argues.

The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York sat down with Michael McFaul, an academic and former U.S. ambassador to Russia (2012–2014), to discuss the state of the Ukraine-Russia peace process following U.S. President Donald Trump’s failed effort, the threat of U.S. disengagement, and a congressional bill introducing new sanctions against Russia and its trading partners supporting its war machine.

5:49 PM

Russia's Rosatom seeks to sell 49% stake in Turkey's first nuclear plant.

The project remains a cornerstone of Russian-Turkish energy cooperation.

4:11 PM

Ukraine suspends citizenship of Moscow-linked church head.

The SBU said it had established that Metropolitan Onufrii, also known by his secular name, Orest Berezovskyi, voluntarily received Russian citizenship in 2002 and failed to inform Ukrainian authorities of the fact.

4:09 PM

Interview

'Ukraine is biggest landmine challenge since World War II,' says head of world’s largest demining organization

3:50 PM

Ukraine denies another Russian claim of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast breakthrough, says small incursion repelled.

According to the statement, a small Russian reconnaissance group managed to briefly enter the village of Dachne, located on the edge of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The group reportedly took photos with a Russian flag, but Ukrainian forces "eliminated them."

7:20 PM  (Updated:  July 2, 2025 3:46 pm)

Business

As US aid to Ukraine dries up, new platform connects American investors with Ukrainian startups

3:27 PM

North Korea to send up to 30,000 more troops to aid Russia's war against Ukraine, CNN reports.

The fresh units may arrive in the coming months and are likely to be engaged in combat in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, including during "large-scale offensive operations," according to a Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) assessment reviewed by CNN.

2:45 PM

Ukrainian-founded Grammarly to acquire AI email app Superhuman.

Grammarly, a company with Ukrainian roots, announced its intent to acquire AI email writing app Superhuman as part of its expansion into an AI productivity platform, the company said in a press release on July 1.

1:54 PM

Ukraine says it wasn't notified of US weapons shipment halt; official insists 'deliveries continue.'

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.