Julia Shramko
The European Union has approved the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, covering the banking, energy, and military-industrial sectors. The package includes a new dynamic oil price cap, and Slovakia supported it after receiving guarantees regarding gas prices.
The US Congress has passed the first federal law regulating stablecoins, paving the way for wider adoption of this technology. The bill establishes federal oversight for dollar-pegged tokens and could accelerate digital payments.
EU ambassadors approved the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. Slovakia, which previously blocked the sanctions, supported them after reaching agreements with the European Commission on gas prices.
On the night of July 18, the enemy attacked Ukraine with 35 Shahed-type attack UAVs and imitation drones. Defense forces shot down 11 enemy UAVs, and 18 UAVs were recorded hitting 5 locations.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 180 combat engagements over the past day, half of which occurred in the Pokrovsk and Lyman directions. The enemy launched 1 missile and 72 air strikes, using 2 missiles and 137 guided aerial bombs.
Hanna Ivanchenko has been appointed Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of Ukraine from July 18, 2025. The previous chief, Yevhen Ferbey, has been dismissed from his position.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the enemy hit an electric locomotive, which led to the death of the engineer. His assistant was wounded but is in stable condition.
Brent and WTI crude futures changed little after rising due to drone attacks on oil fields in Iraqi Kurdistan. Uncertainty over US tariff policy and plans to increase production are weighing on the market.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 72 combat engagements over the past day, more than half of which occurred in the Pokrovsk and Lyman directions. In the Novopavlivka direction, six attempts to break through the defense were recorded, including in the Shevchenko area.
In Kaniv, Cherkasy region, a fire covering an area of 130 sq. m, which arose after a morning Russian UAV strike on an infrastructure facility, has been extinguished. One person is known to have been injured as a result of the attack.
In Kherson region, Russian military attacked an ambulance crew with a drone that was on its way to a call in Zymivnyk. Two medics, a 49-year-old paramedic and a 65-year-old paramedic, sustained concussions and traumatic brain injuries; their condition is moderately severe.
Prosecutors of the Obolon District Prosecutor's Office in Kyiv informed a 29-year-old doctor of a private clinic about a suspicion. The patient died after administration of the drug, as the necessary examinations were not carried out.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed a new treaty providing for mutual assistance in the event of armed attack and joint development of the Deep Precision Strike missile system. The agreement also covers cooperation in trade, transport, and migration, deepening ties after Brexit.
The death toll from the enemy's aerial bomb strike on the shopping center in Dobropillia, Donetsk region, has risen to four. The number of injured remains unchanged at 27 people.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Power Organization supported Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko's submission regarding the new composition of the government. The entire list of 13 ministers has been approved, and now the decision rests with the Rada's vote.
Europe's commercial real estate market is not meeting recovery expectations, with property sales at a nearly decade-low. Annual sales in the first quarter of 2025 remained at €47.8 billion, more than half the figure from three years ago.
Russian troops attacked Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast. As a result of the shelling, two people were killed and seven were wounded.
In the first half of 2025, passenger car imports to Ukraine increased by 12. 5%, reaching 2.55 billion US dollars. Electric vehicles account for 31.6% of imports, benefiting from preferential customs clearance conditions.
In the Kaniv community of Cherkasy region, the aftermath of the morning attack is being eliminated. One person sustained minor injuries, there are no fatalities.
At the Armed Forces training ground, a cadet fired shots at instructors, as a result of which two servicemen died. The Military Law Enforcement Service and the National Police are investigating the circumstances of the tragedy; the suspect has been detained.
The bodies of 1000 deceased citizens, who, according to the Russian side, belong to citizens of Ukraine, including military personnel, have been returned to Ukraine. This was the result of repatriation measures.
From November 1, collective accommodation centers for refugees from Ukraine in Poland will only accept representatives of protected groups. For other refugees, the "Together for Independence" program is planned, offering rental subsidies and Polish language courses.
Due to bad weather, 24 settlements in three regions of Ukraine were left without electricity. Electricity consumption decreased by 5.8% due to the decline in heat.
In late July - early August, deferrals will appear in Reserve+ for scientific, scientific-pedagogical, and pedagogical workers, as well as for citizens who have a spouse with a disability of group 1 or 2. The next categories will be families raising a child with a disability.
Three officials have been notified of suspicion for land pollution and ignoring a court decision regarding an illegal landfill near Fastiv. About 1 hectare of land has been polluted, and the amount of damage exceeds UAH 600,000.
The Commander of NATO's Allied Joint Force Command Europe, General Alexus Grinkevich, announced preparations for the rapid transfer of additional Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. He noted that he is working very closely with the Germans on this issue, despite Germany's previous statements about the lack of information regarding current supplies.
Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has declared the protection of the Druze community a priority following reports of troop withdrawals from As-Suwayda. This comes after Israeli airstrikes on Damascus and amid inter-communal clashes that have resulted in over 350 deaths.
In Kryvyi Rih, a 43-year-old woman was injured as a result of a UAV attack; she received assistance on the spot. Rescuers extinguished the fire that broke out after the strikes.
In Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, the aftermath of the Russian drone attack is being eliminated. A headquarters to assist people has been set up near the impact site.
In the morning, an enemy UAV attacked the Kaniv community of Cherkasy region, hitting an infrastructure facility. All necessary services are working on site, information regarding casualties is being clarified.