Chinese dissident Dong Guangping, who fled to South Korea on an inflatable boat in May, has arrived in Canada and reunited with his family. It was his fourth attempt to leave China.
In Germany, due to heat up to +40°C, highways have deformed and trains have been canceled. French hospitals admitted nearly 3,000 patients in one day due to heat strokes.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes that Russia has suffered a strategic defeat due to Ukraine's movement towards the EU and NATO, the expansion of the Alliance, and the increase in Europe's defense spending.
Germany is considering reinstating compulsory military service for men from 2027 due to insufficient voluntary recruitment into the Bundeswehr. A decision must be made by July 31, 2027.
In the Russian State Duma, they threatened Finland with a military response after the decision to create a service center for Lockheed Martin rocket systems. Deputy Zhuravlev stated that Finland is "turning into a second Ukraine".
The fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran is under threat after mutual strikes and attacks in the Persian Gulf. Iran claimed strikes on US facilities, while Bahrain reported a drone attack.
The military authorities of Burkina Faso have announced the immediate severance of diplomatic relations with France, accusing it of neocolonial ambitions. France regrets this decision and is considering reciprocal measures.
Rescuers and border guards of Romania conducted a more than 14-hour operation to rescue three Ukrainians in the Maramureș Mountains. One of the men had been in the mountains for seven days without food, and the other two found themselves trapped due to steep precipices.
Russian propaganda claimed about "atrocities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" in the Kursk region and Mariupol, but provided AI-generated photos without evidence. The CPD emphasizes that this is an attempt to attribute Russia's own war crimes to Ukraine.
Activists in Venice are planning actions against the visit of US Ambassador Tilman Fertitta, who will arrive on the 117-meter superyacht Boardwalk. Protesters intend to disrupt his tour, just as they disrupted Jeff Bezos's wedding last year.
In Poland, a 36-year-old citizen of Ukraine was detained for public threats against President Karol Nawrocki on the internet. He faces up to two years in prison.
The head of the Polish MFA stated that Russia could organize a "false flag" operation to justify aggression against Alliance countries. He emphasized that Ukraine's successful resistance has limited Russia's resources for an invasion of NATO's eastern flank.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have called on the European Commission to speed up the preparation of proposals for a complete abandonment of Russian oil. They believe that fears of an energy crisis following the situation around the Strait of Hormuz have not materialized.
In the village of Puzhnyky in the Ternopil region, the second stage of searches has ended, but the second mass grave of Poles killed in 1945 was not discovered. The searches are planned to continue in August in a different area.
Russian troops launched massive strikes on production facilities of Naftogaz in Poltava and Kharkiv regions, using four ballistic missiles and drones. A shift bus was damaged, but there are no casualties.
Gitanas Nausėda stated his readiness to act as mediator in the conflict between Ukraine and Poland, if both sides express such a desire. He plans to discuss this issue at a meeting with the President of Poland.
In Beijing, a light aircraft likely crashed into the 109-story CITIC Tower skyscraper. Chinese authorities have not released official information about the causes of the incident.
The Ministry of Culture of Moldova has published a list of Russian artists whose concerts are not recommended due to a threat to national security. There is no direct ban, but organizers will bear responsibility for the consequences.
State Emergency Service of Ukraine warns of an extreme level of fire danger in most regions of Ukraine. Rescuers urge citizens to strictly follow safety rules and not to light fires.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha stated that historical issues should be resolved by historians, not politicians. He emphasized that Kyiv is categorically against the use of Ukrainian topics in Poland's internal political struggle.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha stated readiness for an equal partnership with Poland. He emphasized that the escalation of relations between Kyiv and Warsaw is beneficial to Russia.
One of the largest electronic music festivals, Defqon. 1, in the Netherlands has been completely canceled due to abnormal heat. Air temperatures in some areas could reach nearly 40 degrees.
In April 2026, Ukrainian banks issued 910 mortgage loans worth UAH 1. 7 billion. The largest number of loans were issued in the Kyiv region and the capital.
In 15 regions of Russia, restrictions on gasoline sales have been introduced, and in occupied Crimea, a state of emergency has been declared. The cause of the shortage is attributed to Ukraine's strikes on oil refining infrastructure.
Ukraine received a diplomatic note from Belarus regarding the regime for visiting the border zone. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported that Minsk cited already invalid documents.
The Russian ruble weakened to its lowest level in two months amid a stock market decline and growing demand for foreign currency. The reason is cited as the need to purchase imported gasoline due to the fuel crisis in Russia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha stated that Belarus has been officially warned about a mirror response in case of provocations. Ukraine received a diplomatic note from Minsk regarding the regime of visits to the border zone.
Russia-appointed "head" of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov announced the signing of decrees on a regional state of emergency. The decision was made to regulate economic issues and ensure the livelihood of the population.
From July 1, 2026, the EU abolishes the duty exemption for parcels up to 150 euros and introduces a temporary fee of 3 euros for each commodity sub-item in the declaration. The new rules will be in effect until July 1, 2028, reported the director of "Nova Poshta", Olga Kalnytska.
The Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, damaged by Russian drones, has been conserved. Ukraine is preparing to restore the cathedral with the support of international partners.
