Russian forces bribe residents to collect personal data in occupied territories

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, Politico reports.

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.

9:53 PM

Ukrainian forces hit Russian command post in occupied Donetsk Oblast, General Staff says.

The attack has significantly hampered Russia's ability to plan and conduct operations in the Pokrovsk and Toretsk areas of the front line, the General Staff's statement read.

7:38 PM  (Updated:  July 1, 2025 9:20 pm)

Putin, Macron hold first call since 2022, discuss wars in Ukraine, Middle East.

The conversation between the two leaders took place as the Russian army continues to advance along the front line, trying to gain a foothold in Sumy Oblast and enter Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

5:43 PM  (Updated:  July 1, 2025 9:10 pm)

Russian Su-34 aircraft crashes during training flight, pilot dies, media reports.

According to Russia's Defense Ministry, the crew successfully ejected from the plane, and there were no casualties.

7:48 PM

US sanctions Russian IT company Aeza Group over ransomware operations.

The U.S. Treasury Department characterized Aeza as a "bulletproof hosting service" that provided services to the Meduza and Lumma infostealers, as well as to the BianLian and RedLine ransomware groups.

7:23 PM

Ukraine's power exports surge 25 times, recovering to pre-Russian attack levels.

Ukraine boosted electricity exports by 150% in June 2025 compared to the previous month, reaching over 237,000 megawatt-hours (MWh), according to consulting firm ExPro Electricity.

7:20 PM

Business

Want to invest in Ukrainian startups from the U.S.? This platform promises to be the bridge

6:25 PM

Russia hits evacuation vehicle in Donetsk Oblast, killing civilian.

According to the police, Russian forces attacked the evacuation vehicles provided by chaplains three times.

6:17 PM

War

Ukraine’s new interceptor drones are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the sky

6:02 PM

Video

Why Norway is investing billions in Ukraine's victory.

The Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sat down with Eivind Vad Petersson, state secretary to the Norwegian foreign minister and co-chair of the joint Norwegian-Ukrainian Working Group on Nuclear Safety and Security.

5:46 PM

Photos

Operation Spiderweb and Russia’s record drone assault – Ukraine in photos, June 2025

11:50 PM  (Updated:  July 1, 2025 4:08 pm)

Oil tanker damaged by blast weeks after visiting Russian ports.

According to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), the vessel belongs to Russia's shadow fleet, used by Moscow to evade sanctions.