Scholz: Germany is in confidential talks on security guarantees to Ukraine.

In June, Kyiv signed a deal with Sweden to purchase 16 Gripen E fighter jets, with deliveries to begin as early as 2029.

President Volodymyr Zelensky's dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked a wave of criticism from lawmakers, soldiers, veterans, and civil society figures, who argue Ukraine is losing one of its most effective wartime officials without a clear explanation.

The Russian government has been increasingly restricting access to social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram and instead pushing Russian users to the app Max, the development of which was supervised by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

Recently dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote that he had "submitted an application through an EU loan to purchase PAC-3 missiles," which an EU official has confirmed to the Kyiv Independent.

Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said he suggested "drastic personnel decisions," which involved replacing both Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov, both of whom are often criticized by younger soldiers and commanders for their top-down, Soviet-era command culture.

Koretskyi's Cabinet is expected to be appointed later on July 16.

According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the two vessels hit were the tankers Louise 1 and Banda.

Colonel Pavlo Yelizarov warned in his resignation letter that the dismissal would cause more casualties and destruction in Ukraine from Russian missile and drone attacks.

The number includes 1,340 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Explosions rocked Kyiv shortly before 1 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyv City Military Administration, reported that Russia was attacking the city with ballistic missiles.

"(T)he IHF looks forward to welcoming them back into the international handball community and hopes that, with the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, the necessary steps will be taken to ensure a timely and effective return," the body said in a news release.

Russia's Engels-2 air base in Saratov Oblast was reportedly hit by Ukrainian drones overnight on July 16, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

"Our naval strategic nuclear forces maintain a state of full combat readiness," Russian Presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev said in an interview with the state outlet RIA Novosti.

The new measures, adopted based on proposals from Ukraine's National Bank, aim to stop Russia from using modern financial instruments, such as cryptocurrency, to circumvent sanctions and make international payments.

Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said the president had formally submitted his nomination for Serhii Koretskyi to be the next prime minister of Ukraine.