Kremlin's war economy shows cracks as military spending boom fades
The slowdown indicates that Western sanctions, though not a knockout blow, are increasingly damaging the Russian economy.
Russia-Ukraine War
Ukraine hits Russian electronic warfare facility making Shahed, Iskander components, General Staff says
The facility develops and manufactures Kometa adaptive antenna arrays used in Shahed-type drones, Iskander-K cruise missiles, and guided aerial bomb modules, according to the Ukrainian military.
Russia captures 2 villages near Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border, monitoring group says
Russian troops have been escalating their assaults in the area and are attempting to breach into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which has not seen significant Russian incursions since 2022.
Ukraine's army chief warns of new Russian offensives in northeast as he visits Kharkiv Oblast front
Russian troops are ramping up attacks in the sector using large numbers of troops, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
Drone threat reportedly causes mass flight delays in Russia's Moscow, St. Petersburg airports
Some passengers reported waiting more than 10 hours, according to the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Shot.
Russia seeks to involve Laos in war against Ukraine, military intelligence claims
Moscow is organizing the deployment of a combined unit of military engineers from the Lao People's Armed Forces to Russia's Kursk Oblast, allegedly to help with demining operations, Ukraine's military intelligence said.
4 killed, 37 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
Russia launched 322 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type attack drones, according to Ukraine's Air Force.
Trump says Putin 'wants to keep killing people,' signals US may send Patriots to Ukraine
"It just seems like he wants to go all the way and just keep killing people. It's not good," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,025,260 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 1,050 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.
NATO chief urges US 'flexibility' on Ukraine aid as Washington halts deliveries
"The US has to make sure that the stockpiles are at the level we need for the U.S. to have, because they are crucial for our collective defense," Rutte told reporters on July 4. "At the same time, of course, we hope for the flexibility, we have to make sure also that Ukraine can move forward."
'Coalition of the willing' for Ukraine to meet in UK on July 10, Politico reports
"On the agenda, there's how to maintain Ukraine in a capacity to fight, how to increase pressure on Russia, and how to continue the work on the next steps," an unnamed French official told Politico.
Ukraine war latest: Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 1 dead, 26 injured
Key developments on July 4: * 'Nothing but terror and murder' — Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 1 dead, 26 injured * Zelensky, Trump discuss air defense, joint drone production amid Russian strikes * 'There is also good news' — Ukrainian drones hit key military optics plant in Russia, General Staff
Germany reportedly mulls $29 billion tank, vehicle order to deter Russia
Berlin is reportedly considering purchasing up to 2,500 GTK Boxer armored vehicles and up to 1,000 Leopard 2 battle tanks.
Russia damages Chinese consulate in Odesa as Chinese drone parts found in Kyiv following similar attack
China has not publicly acknowledged the incident or reported any damage to its diplomatic premises in Odesa.
Zelensky, Trump discuss air defense, joint drone production amid Russian strikes
"Today we discussed the situation: Russian air strikes and, more broadly, the situation on the front lines. President Trump is very well informed," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
'Disingenuous' Hegseth paused Ukraine weapons despite Pentagon finding aid wouldn't hurt US readiness, NBC reports
A senior military review had concluded that while some munitions stockpiles, including precision weapons, were low, they had not fallen below critical thresholds, according to NBC. Still, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth opted to stop the shipment. This is reportedly his third such move since February.
Russia intensifying use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, Dutch intelligence reports
Dutch intelligence services, together with German intelligence, have found that Russia is systematically escalating the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces, the Netherlands Military Intelligence (MIVD) reported on July 4.
Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW exchange
"Our people are home. Most of them had been in Russian captivity since 2022," President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in a statement.
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff pushing to lift energy sanctions on Russia, Politico reports
While Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly advocating for the easing of energy sanctions, others in the administration disagree. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum favors reducing U.S. reliance on Russian imports rather than expanding trade, according to Politico.
Number of Ukrainian children killed and injured amid Russian full-scale invasion jumps threefold in recent months
The latest U.N. figures show a threefold jump in the number of deaths and injuries for children over the three months ending in May.
'I'm very disappointed,' Trump says after phone call with Putin
"I'm speaking to President Zelensky tomorrow in the morning, and I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin," U.S. President Donald Trump told journalists.
'Deliberately massive and cynical' — Russian attack on Ukraine began as Trump and Putin spoke, Zelensky says
"Patriots and their missiles are real defenders of life," President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "It is very important to maintain the support of partners in ballistic missile defense."
'There is also good news' — Ukrainian drones hit key military optics plant in Russia, General Staff confirms
Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's counter-disinformation center, said a drone hit the Azov Optical and Mechanical Plant in the town of Azov, Rostov Oblast. The facility reportedly manufactures critical components for the Russian military, including sights, rangefinders, thermal imaging systems, and fire control equipment for tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, ships, and aircraft.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,024,210 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 1,120 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
China's foreign minister tells EU that Beijing cannot afford Russia to lose in Ukraine, media reports
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas on July 3 that the country cannot afford for Russia to lose the war in Ukraine amid fears the U.S. would shift focus towards Beijing, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, citing sources familiar with the conversation.
Trump says he 'didn't make any progress' with Putin following phone call
When asked if he had made any progress with Putin on the call, Trump responded: "No, I didn't make any progress with him today at all."
Ukraine war latest: Putin tells Trump Russia won't back down from its war aims in Ukraine
Key developments on July 3: * Putin tells Trump Russia won't back down from its war aims in Ukraine * Deputy commander of Russian Navy killed in Ukrainian strike in Kursk, Russian official confirms * Ukraine signs major drone co-production deal with US Swift Beat, Zelensky announces * Russia targets Ukrainian conscription offices to
‘Not many events like this left’ — A Ukrainian literary festival in a city falsely claimed by Russia
When Russia illegally declared ownership in 2022 over all of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast – despite never fully capturing or controlling much of it — it only strengthened the case for holding a literary festival there, says Svyatoslav Pomerantsev, president of the international literary corporation Meridian Czernowitz. Hosting a cultural event in the
'Nothing but terror and murder' — Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 2 dead, 26 injured
Fires broke out across the city as Russia attacked the capital overnight on July 4. At least 23 people have been injured, with 14 of the victims hospitalized.
Ukrainian bank wins $1.5 billion appeal against Russia over lost Crimea assets
The ruling orders Russia to pay more than $1.5 billion in damages and an additional 300,000 euros ($330,000) in legal costs to Ukraine's largest state-owned bank, according to a press release.
Putin tells Trump Russia won't back down from its war aims in Ukraine
The hour-long conversation between the two presidents focused on Russia's war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.
Ukraine scrambles to clarify extent of US military aid pause and 'whether everything will continue'
When the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) halted the transfer of critical air defense missiles and other weapons to Ukraine, Kyiv and its partners were caught off-guard and are now left scrambling for clarity on the scope and length of the Trump administration's decision. The White House confirmed the
Russia-Ukraine war
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, eight years after it annexed the Crimean Peninsula and led an armed aggression in Ukraine’s east.
In February 2014, almost immediately following the end of the EuroMaidan Revolution in Ukraine, Russia swiftly moved to annex and occupy Crimea. Within months, Russian proxy forces took control of parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
By the start of 2022, Russia had amassed nearly 200,000 troops on Ukraine’s border. At 4:50 a.m. on Feb. 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in a speech that Russia was to carry out “a special military operation.” Within minutes, missile strikes were launched on Ukrainian cities and the full-scale invasion had begun.
Learn more about Russia’s war against Ukraine:
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