Ukraine's leading allies in Europe plan to approach the EU for tens of billions of euros in loans for joint procurement of weapons for Ukraine and to strengthen their own defense. The SAFE program envisages loans for weapons, financed by EU debt with a 45-year repayment period.
Nine countries have officially expressed interest in borrowing funds from the EU military procurement program SAFE by the deadline. Poland plans to request 25 billion euros, and Greece – at least 1.2 billion euros.
On the night of July 29, an unknown unmanned aerial vehicle fell in Minsk after being affected by electronic warfare systems. Local residents report that the UAV crashed into a house, then fell onto a car and exploded.
Lithuanian police received dozens of reports about an unknown object in the air, likely a drone from Belarus, spotted near Vilnius. The version that it is a disoriented Ukrainian air defense drone is being considered, and searches are ongoing in central Lithuania.
The Head of the President's Office commented on the Russian shelling of Kyiv on July 28, stating that Putin responds with war to calls for negotiations. He also emphasized Russia's testing of NATO's reaction with drone flights in the airspace of the Baltic countries.
On July 28, an unknown drone crossed Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, spotted at an altitude of about 200 meters near Vilnius. Lithuanian media suggest it could have been a Russian "Gerbera" drone, similar to "Shahed", or a smuggler's UAV.
Western sanctions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine are increasing the isolation of Kaliningrad, which has no land connection with Russia. This has led to overloaded sea routes and problems for small businesses in the region.
Lithuania plans to allocate up to 30 million euros for the purchase of American long-range Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine. This decision is part of an agreement under which European NATO members will buy American weapons for Kyiv.
Lithuanian intelligence records an active KGB of Belarus campaign on social networks aimed at recruiting Belarusian citizens abroad. KGB officers openly contact the diaspora, offering rewards and making threats.
The ICRC, together with the National Police of Ukraine and the Commissioner for Missing Persons, will conduct DNA sample collection in the Baltic and Northern European countries. Applications are accepted until July 31, 2025, to search for missing relatives.
A number of countries issued a joint statement, calling on Israel to cease hostilities in the Gaza Strip due to the suffering of the civilian population. The Israeli Prime Minister's advisor called this statement a "delusion" that sends Hamas a "wrong and dangerous signal" because it does not pressure the group.
Law enforcement agencies from over ten European countries, Canada, and the USA conducted a joint operation "Eastwood" against the NoName057(16) network. As a result, over a hundred computer systems were destroyed and seven arrest warrants were issued, including for six Russian citizens.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski expressed optimism about the swift adoption of the 18th EU sanctions package against Russia. This will happen despite public opposition from Slovakia, which blocked it the day before.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania met in Lublin, reaffirming their support for Ukraine on its path to the EU and NATO. They called for increased sanctions pressure on Russia and an immediate ceasefire.
Lithuanian border guards shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle that flew into the country's airspace from the territory of Belarus. The drone was detected 4 km from the border after it was intercepted using special equipment.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha confirmed Ukraine's readiness for peace talks in any format and geographical zone. He refuted Russia's statements about delaying negotiations, calling them manipulation.
A man was detained in Dnipro who last year threatened terrorist attacks in schools in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. His activities were financed by Russians, and the detention took place with the participation of Ukrainian, Czech, and Slovak special services.
US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with NATO on arming Ukraine. Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, the Baltic states, the Netherlands, Canada, and Great Britain supported the initiative, while the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia refused.
Tomorrow, a meeting of the Lublin Triangle will take place in Lublin with the participation of the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland. The parties will discuss the security situation, Euro-Atlantic integration, and countering Russian threats.
EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius calls on Lithuania and the Baltic states to create a drone shield and establish mass production of drones after a Russian "Gerbera" drone flew into Lithuanian territory. He emphasizes the need to train specialists for rapid drone production.
UNN analyzed the cost of studying at ten leading foreign universities where Ukrainians can get higher education. The review includes universities in the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, and Ireland.
Satellite images from Planet Labs recorded large-scale construction at five Russian nuclear facilities, including Osipovichi, Gadzhiyevo, Kaliningrad, Kamchatka, and Novaya Zemlya. The modernization indicates Moscow's possible plans for nuclear forces amid tensions in Europe.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated the readiness of the German military to defend NATO's eastern flank, particularly Lithuania, from a possible Russian attack. Germany has already realized the need for rearmament and increased defense spending.
The Ukrainian government concluded 200 agreements worth over 13 billion euros at the Recovery Conference in Rome. The funds will be directed towards strengthening air defense, restoring infrastructure, housing, medicine, and supporting IDPs.
Fugitive businessman Serhiy Kurchenko and a number of high-ranking Russian officials have been served with a notice of suspicion for appropriating Ukrainian enterprises in the occupied territories. From 2017 to 2021, they exported products worth over 55 billion hryvnias to Russia and other countries.
Lithuania is investigating an incident with a Gerbera drone that flew in from Belarus on July 10. The military assures that the object did not pose a threat, but they are studying possible scenarios for its use.
40 years after the establishment of the Schengen area, internal border controls are being tightened, limiting freedoms. Poland has introduced controls at its borders with Germany and Lithuania, and other EU countries are also strengthening checks.
Lithuania and Finland plan to start domestic production of anti-personnel mines in 2025 for their own needs and for Ukraine. This decision is driven by the threat from Russia, and Finland considers mines to be a highly effective and cost-efficient weapon.
The European Court of Human Rights will announce its decision on July 9 in the case "Ukraine and the Netherlands v. the Russian Federation". The case concerns systemic human rights violations in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the downing of flight MH17.
There are no legislative initiatives in Ukraine regarding the reduction of the work week, and during the war, its duration can reach 60 hours. However, employers offer vacancies with various working time regimes, including part-time.
