According to Enerhodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov, Russian occupying forces are demanding a ransom of $1,700 for the release of the hostages. Hundreds of citizens are currently being held captive, including skilled workers from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and some have been beaten or electrocuted, Orlov said in a Telegram post on June 26.
"The key task should be to develop mechanisms and tools that will allow us to attract these funds," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
"They're getting hit hard, very hard. So we're looking at it," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
The meeting comes on the eve of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, co-hosted by Ukraine and Italy on July 10–11.
The move marks a rare easing of airspace restrictions imposed since the start of the full-scale war.
Internal Pentagon documents reportedly revealed that the Army has boosted its planned purchases of the most advanced Patriot interceptors from 3,376 to 13,773.
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Rome on July 9 and is set to meet with Pope Leo XIV, Suspilne broadcaster reported, citing the presidential spokesperson.
The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York speaks with former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton about U.S. President Donald Trump’s failure to bring peace to Ukraine — and his next steps on Russia's war.
Since EU sanctions require unanimous backing, a single country's veto prevents the package from being implemented.
The poll, conducted on July 4 and 5, found that 73% of Ukrainians trust Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who was dismissed as commander-in-chief in February 2024 but continues to command strong public support.
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers rejected a nominee to lead the economic crimes agency, drawing swift criticism from lawmakers and businesses over alleged interference in the selection process.
Russia launched another mass missile and drone attack overnight on July 9, targeting Ukrainian cities, including in the country's far-west regions located hundreds of kilometers from the front line.
The ruling also found Russia responsible for the deadly downing of Flight MH17, a Malaysian airliner shot down by Russian proxy forces in Ukraine in July 2014.
Ukraine endured the largest aerial attack since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, with at least six civilians killed and 39 injured across multiple regions over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian officials said on July 9.
