Air-raid sirens rang out around 11:20 a.m., with Ukraine's Air Force reporting Russian missiles heading to the Ukrainian capital.

Logistics centers belonging to Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, came under fire in the Russian cities of St. Petersburg, and Tver, as well as in the Russian-occupied Crimea overnight on July 24, amid reports of widespread Ukrainian drone attacks targeting the facilities.

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Despite a long and difficult birth, EU countries passed the bloc's 21st package of sanctions against Russia on July 23, and the measures that made it through show that the EU is not lacking in creativity when it comes to restricting Russia's war efforts. The EU published 218 new sanctioned entities in its July 23 announcement, the most in a single sanctions package since 2022. Several high-profile names did not make the final listing. Bulgaria blocked the addition of Patria

The figure includes 1,410 personnel losses recorded over the past day.

President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington next week during a visit to the United States for the funeral of late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, Suspilne reported on July 24, citing diplomatic sources.

Russian forces struck the southern city of Zaporizhzhia with five guided aerial bombs on the evening of July 23, injuring at least 25 people, regional authorities said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on July 23 that Ukraine and U.S. defense contractor Raytheon have agreed to jointly produce Patriot interceptor missiles following a meeting with company executives.

The Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora was founded by the Dorian Greeks in the 5th century B.C. It was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2013.

Four years of existential war against Russia have produced a military technology model in Ukraine few traditional procurement systems could replicate. Brave1, Ukraine's state-backed defense tech platform, currently connects more than 2,500 companies and over 5,000 products, and Ukraine no longer needs to prove that it can turn battlefield problems into fielded capabilities at speed. Today's challenge, though, is preserving the incentives that let it adapt faster than the threats it faces. This

Key developments on July 23 * Fedorov turns down Zelensky's offers, seeks return only as defense minister * 'New ideas' needed to reach Ukraine-Russia peace deal, Rubio says after talks with Lavrov in the Philippines * Zelensky says dismissed generals Syrskyi, Hnatov will remain to advise new army command * Russian Su-57 fighter jet reportedly crashes during training flight in Moscow Oblast * Ukrainian drones strike oil refinery, pumping station, explosions seen near 'Russia's Amazon' logi

Ireland announced 125 million euros in new aid for Ukraine during Prime Minister Micheal Martin's visit to Kyiv, as he said a government review found no definitive evidence linking a Russian-owned Irish refinery to Moscow's weapons industry.

Speaking during a press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, Zelensky said that newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi would rely on the experience of his predecessors.

"I'm grateful to the president for all the options offered. However, today there are only three positions in the country that, alongside the troops on the battlefield, actually shape the course of the war: the President of Ukraine, the defense minister, and the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Mykhailo Fedorov said.

The Kyiv Independent's Martin Fornusek speaks with Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of the NATO Military Committee, at the 2026 NATO Summit about the lessons NATO is drawing from the war in Ukraine and how the alliance is preparing for the future of warfare.

The regional prosecutor's office said Russia attacked the city with KAB guided aerial bombs but did not disclose how many were used.

The aircraft went down during takeoff in a remote area, but caused no damage as the pilot reportedly ejected, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that ending Russia's war would require new proposals, arguing that previous ideas had been unacceptable to Ukraine and would likely be even less acceptable now.

In an overnight attack across Ukraine, Russian troops launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile, five guided Kh-59/69 missiles, and 168 drones, the Air Force said.

The figure includes 1,460 personnel losses recorded over the past day.

"The negotiations on this package have been challenging, but we found agreement on the remaining issues while maintaining EU unity as we have in the previous 20 packages," an EU diplomat told journalists.

Ukraine's military launched drone attacks on various Russian regions overnight on July 23, striking an oil refinery and logistics infrastructure, Russian Telegram media channels reported, citing local residents.

According to Suspilne, Zelensky received an invite to attend Graham's funeral, which is set to take place at the Washington National Cathedral on July 28.

"No country has the right to starve the world," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on July 22. "Global pressure can stop Russian terror."

The P1-SUN JetKiller is designed to hunt and destroy Russia's jet-powered Shahed-type drones. Skyfall says the interceptor will enter serial production in August 2026.

President Volodymyr Zelensky held "a good and important conversation" with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on July 22.

The Kyiv Independent asked people on the streets of Kyiv how they assess the military leadership shakeup, what changes they expect under Drapatyi's command, and whether they believe Fedorov should continue shaping Ukraine's defense policy.

This week's letters come from readers reflecting on the dismissal of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. An American military veteran argues the decision may harm the country's reform movement, and a British scholar urges Ukrainians to preserve military reforms while avoiding divisions that could benefit Russia. Got an opinion on anything you've read in the Kyiv Independent? Send it to letters@kyivindependent.com — your letter may appear in our Letters section. As Ukraine’s Crimea campai

Key developments on July 22: * Ukraine protests to continue despite Syrskyi's firing as organizers demand Fedorov's return * Warehouses of Russia's largest online retailer Wildberries burn as Ukraine strikes Krasnodar, Stavropol regions * 13 more Russian shadow fleet vessels struck in Azov Sea and Black Sea over last 2 days, Ukraine says * Trump's NATO envoy arrives in Kyiv for talks on Patriot missiles, drone deal Ukrainians will gather for another protest in Kyiv on July 24 to demand the

Blackouts were reported throughout occupied Crimea, and massive fires broke out in several southern Russian cities amid Ukrainian strikes on retail logistics facilities overnight on July 22, according to monitoring channels.

Mykhailo Drapatyi's appointment was met with celebration among Ukrainian military personnel and protesters, while Russian social media users contrasted Ukraine's political system with Russia's and warned about the new commander-in-chief, describing him as someone who "hates (Russian soldiers) and hates them consistently."

"Every illicit voyage helps sustain Russia's war machine. We are matching our sanctions with actions at sea," the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas tweeted.

"We had a good talk — first and foremost on how to protect Ukrainian skies with more Patriot interceptor supplies through PURL," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.