European Union

The prime ministers of Estonia and Finland expressed support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. They emphasized the need to increase EU spending on defense and said that Russia should compensate Ukraine for the damage it has caused.

The SBU reported the destruction of more than a ton of heroin confiscated in 2021. Drugs worth UAH 2.3 billion were found in Lviv during a special operation against a transnational criminal group.

The NBU has set the official hryvnia exchange rate at 41. 3464 UAH/USD, which devalued the hryvnia by 6 kopecks. On the interbank market, the dollar is traded at UAH 41.35-41.37, the euro at UAH 45.33-45.44.

Josep Borrell discussed with Dmytro Kuleba the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in the Kursk region. He reaffirmed the EU's full support for the struggle of the Ukrainian people and noted that Putin is forced to retreat deeper into Russia.

The European Commission is developing options for further disposal of the frozen assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation worth more than $280 billion. They are considering indefinite freezing and extending it for longer periods to support Ukraine.

The Georgian Dream party accuses the opposition United National Movement and Saakashvili of provoking the 2008 war with Russia. The party promises to bring its opponents to justice after the elections.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had a phone conversation with EU diplomat Josep Borrell. They discussed expanding cooperation in arms production and details of Ukraine's operation in the Kursk region of Russia.

Ukraine has received EUR 4. 2 billion from the EU under the Ukraine Facility program. The funds will be used for social and humanitarian programs, and another tranche of aid is expected by the end of the year.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a document on pilot auctions for renewable energy producers and the National Renewable Energy Plan until 2030. The goal is to increase the share of renewable energy to 27% of gross final consumption.

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to allocate UAH 2. 7 billion for the restoration of frontline towns in four regions. The funds will be used for the comprehensive reconstruction of communities to return people and develop the local economy.

Due to the Russian attacks, European companies have reduced their gas storage in Ukraine to 10% of last year's volumes. Ukraine wants traders to continue using its infrastructure, as it generates important revenue.

Kyiv police detained a 32-year-old woman who stole money and valuables while cleaning apartments. The suspect is involved in seven episodes of thefts totaling over UAH 270 thousand.

Russian invaders launched 80 attacks on Ukrainian positions over the last day. The most intense fighting took place in the Pokrovsk sector, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 19 of 25 enemy attacks.

The acting governor of the Kursk region said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces control 28 settlements in the region. The depth of penetration is 12 km, the width is 40 km, and the fate of about 2,000 people is unknown.

In the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, the Sudzha gas metering station, which supplies gas to the EU, was damaged. Satellite imagery shows the destruction of the administrative building and the site with the measuring equipment.

The EU funds a €2 million humanitarian demining initiative in Ukraine. 16 Belgian Malinois and 8 Ukrainian instructors were trained to search for mines in the liberated territories.

Deputy Minister of Health Ihor Kuzin said that the risk of monkeypox for Ukraine is estimated to be very low. Only isolated cases have been registered in Ukraine, without an epidemic rise.

Insight News Media has identified a number of regional media outlets registered in Russia that pose as Ukrainian. These sites are spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation in an effort to undermine the credibility of the Ukrainian government.

Israel said it had attacked a Hamas command center in a Gaza school, killing about 100 people. The strike drew international condemnation, with the US and EU calling for minimizing civilian casualties.

The apple harvest in key EU countries in 2024 will fall by 11% compared to the previous year. Production will also decline in Ukraine and Moldova, leading to high prices and new opportunities for exporters.

Canada has imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and 6 legal entities in Belarus, including Lukashenka's son. The list includes judges, heads of military production and companies in the defense industry.

Apple has amended the App Store policy in the EU, allowing developers to promote offers directly in applications. New fees were introduced: 5% for user acquisition and 10% for retail services during the first year.

The UK has imposed sanctions on the heads of Belarusian prisons and defense companies. It also allocated 2.5 million pounds to support human rights and civil society in Belarus.

The harvest of soft wheat in France this year will amount to 26. 3 million tons, which is 24.9% less than in 2023. The harvest of barley, durum wheat and oats is also expected to be lost, but corn production will increase by 9%.

A Bloomberg survey shows that Russia's economic growth will slow by half in the second half of 2024. The overheated economy is slowing sharply as labor and production capacity reserves are exhausted.

The European Commission has called on Mexico to arrest Putin if he attends the inauguration of the new president. As a member of the ICC, Mexico is legally obliged to execute an international arrest warrant.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Presidential Administration, said that the international community has recognized Russia as a legitimate target for any operations and types of weapons. This is the result of Ukraine's diplomatic and legal work.

Jörg Dornau, an AfD MP, was fined 20,862 euros for concealing his business in Belarus. He failed to disclose information about his participation in the company Zybulka-BEL LLC within the prescribed timeframe.

The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine has signed a memorandum with the European Railways Agency. The document envisages cooperation in harmonizing railway systems and Ukraine's accession to the European Railway Area.

July 2024 was the second warmest month on record. Copernicus predicts that 2024 could be the hottest year on record if global temperatures do not drop significantly during the year.