Zelensky arrives in Ireland as country's EU presidency begins

The Kyiv Independent’s Kate Tsurkan speaks with Ukrainian author and soldier Kateryna Zarembo about her decision to join Ukraine’s military, the realities of serving as a combat medic, and how Russia’s full-scale invasion has reshaped her relationship with writing.

"And we hope that during Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union, we will be able to achieve tangible progress on the path to membership and open all negotiating clusters," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Kyiv's recent initiatives to commemorate 20th century Ukrainian nationalists, including the Ukrainian National Pantheon, have contributed to the ongoing escalation in its tensions with Poland.

"The operator of the enemy drone clearly saw that it was civilian transport carrying people on their way to work. But this terrorist deliberately chose to strike," Prokudin said.

"Crimea has essentially turned into a military base for the Russians, allowing them to continue occupying the south of our country and transfer forces to the east. Therefore, from both a military and logistical perspective, it is an important target for us," Fedorov said.

Ukrainian drones struck a state-owned bearing plant in the Russian city of Penza overnight on July 1 as strikes were recorded in occupied Donetsk, social media channels reported.

Ukraine and Romania have opened a direct line of communication in an effort to prevent future drone incursions into the country, Romanian President Nicusor Dan told outlet News Ro on June 30.

Euroclear, a Belgium-based financial market infrastructure provider, has filed a lawsuit against the Bank of Russia in a Brussels commercial court, challenging a Moscow ruling that ordered it to pay 200 billion euros (approximately $230 billion) in damages, Belgian media reported.

The Russian government is set to suspend traffic through several railway checkpoints on its borders with Finland, Estonia, and Latvia starting July 1, according to a government order.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 30 that Ukraine and Sweden had signed an agreement for the purchase of 16 Swedish Gripen E fighter jets.