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German photo prize shortlists Kremlin media-linked photographer for occupied Mariupol series
Culture

German photo prize shortlists Kremlin media-linked photographer for occupied Mariupol series

A Russian photographer with ties to Kremlin-backed media has been shortlisted for one of Germany's leading photography awards for his series on occupied Mariupol, raising concerns about how Russian narratives are reaching Western audiences through major cultural institutions. Since 1979, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award has honored photographers from all over the world whose work captures humanity's relationship with the environment. The photos in Valery Melnikov's series "Open Wounds" portray de
The Ankara NATO Summit — A reality check on words and deeds
Opinion

The Ankara NATO Summit — A reality check on words and deeds

The Ankara NATO summit held the facade of transatlantic unity, produced significant practical outcomes in defense-industrial cooperation, and brought greater clarity to sustained support for Ukraine. The central question, however, was left unresolved: the trajectory of continuing American disengagement from European security, and the terms and timetable on which Europe is to assume the resulting burden. U.S. disengagement remains opaque The summit did not alter the direction of U.S. force re
Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv injures 12
 (Updated:  

Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv injures 12

Russia launched 12 missiles overnight, including six Iskander-M and S-400 ballistic missiles, four Kh-59 and Kh-69 cruise missiles, and two Kh-31 anti-radiation missiles, alongside 121 attack and decoy drones, Ukraine's Air Force said.
Will Ukraine's 'long-range sanctions' decide the war?
Opinion

Will Ukraine's "long-range sanctions" decide the war?

The Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv in early July 2026 were the largest such state terrorist attacks to date against civilian infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital. Yet, these acts by the Kremlin do little to change the overall picture of the war. In contrast, the recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and elsewhere have altered the global perception of the Russia-Ukraine war. This is especially true for ordinary Russians and observers outs
Concerns mount as Zelensky turns sanctions into tool for punishing critics, former allies
 (Updated:  Politics

Concerns mount as Zelensky turns sanctions into tool for punishing critics, former allies

Editor's note: Ukraine’s Supreme Court on July 10 rejected ex-President Petro Poroshenko’s lawsuit seeking to overturn his successor Volodymyr Zelensky’s sanctions against him. Read about this here. When President Volodymyr Zelensky slapped sanctions on ex-lawmaker Boryslav Bereza on July 7, many were left wondering what, if anything, linked him to Russia or posed a threat to Ukraine's national security. Bereza has never publicly expressed any sympathies for Russia and has been a pro-Western p
Ukraine halved Russia's rate of advance so far in 2026, Syrskyi says

Ukraine halved Russia's rate of advance so far in 2026, Syrskyi says

The enemy attempted to launch a large-scale offensive but, in fact, failed to achieve any of its objectives despite having an almost twofold advantage in personnel and equipment," Syrskyi said following a meeting reviewing the military's performance during the first half of the year."
How a street check in Lviv became a warning sign for Ukraine's mobilization system
 (Updated:  

How a street check in Lviv became a warning sign for Ukraine's mobilization system

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information from Ukrainian law enforcement. About 200 people clashed with military recruitment personnel and police in Lviv on July 8 after a document check related to Ukraine's mobilization campaign escalated into a public confrontation. The incident, one of the most visible eruptions yet in Ukraine's long-simmering mobilization crisis, has raised alarm that those tensions could escalate into a security threat if left unaddressed. Th