Norway
Belgium is battling the largest forest fire in the history of recorded observations, which has engulfed 3,000 hectares of the High Fens nature reserve. Authorities evacuated residents of two villages, while the EU sent aircraft to help.
Acting Minister of Defense Yevhenii Khmara held talks with his Swedish and Norwegian counterparts. They discussed support for financing drones, countering ballistic threats, and long-term projects.
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland are increasing the security of critical infrastructure amid fears that Russia may organize an attack using Ukrainian drones. Intelligence services warn of a possible provocation aimed at destabilizing NATO.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed strengthening protection against Russian strikes with the prime minister of Norway, including the supply of air defense systems. The parties also coordinated joint activities for August במסגרת the FREYJA program.
In July, Belgium imported 0. 4 million tons of LNG from Russia, becoming completely dependent on it. This complicates the EU's energy policy, which plans a full ban on Russian gas next year.
Rustem Umerov, appointed head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, stated his intention to strengthen international cooperation. He plans to implement the President's strategic initiatives, including the Drone Deal and the Freya program.
SBU and GUR took fourth place in the ranking of European intelligence services by L'Express, scoring 77 points. Experts noted the ingenuity of Ukrainian intelligence services and their complex operations.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed the Prime Minister of Norway about the talks in Washington. The sides discussed ways to push Russia toward diplomacy and support for Ukraine's energy resilience in winter.
Andriy Sybiha held a phone conversation with Espen Barth Eide. The sides discussed the intensification of russian attacks on civilian shipping and the strengthening of defense cooperation.
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha met with a delegation of representatives from 23 OSCE countries. He emphasized the need to release the Ukrainian SMM OSCE staff members whom Russia has been holding since 2022.
In the Norwegian town of Krokstadelva, firefighters continue to eliminate the consequences of a large fire, the threat of re-ignition has not yet passed. About 400 people have been evacuated, approximately 100 houses have been destroyed.
The large forest fire in Drammen (Norway) has still not been extinguished, but there is no threat to the residential area. Evacuated residents are gradually being allowed to return to surviving homes; the fire is being called the largest in 100 years.
In the municipality of Drammen in southeastern Norway, a fire has destroyed over 100 homes. The fire continues to spread, and hundreds of people have been evacuated.
On July 16, Kyiv Dynamo will play the return match of the 1st qualifying round of the Europa League against Romanian Universitatea. The first match ended in a goalless draw.
Ukraine and European partners have founded the Anti-Ballistic Coalition, which is launching the creation of a joint anti-ballistic system FREYJA. Well-known European defense companies are joining the project launch.
On July 15, the national teams of England and Argentina will determine the second finalist of the 2026 World Cup. The winner will face Spain in the final on July 19.
President Zelenskyy stated that Russian ballistic missiles will soon be able to reach 5,000 km. He emphasized the need for a European missile defense system and the creation of the FREYJA anti-ballistic shield.
President Zelenskyy stated that the existing anti-ballistic missile capabilities are insufficient, and the number of ballistic missiles will increase. Ukraine proposed to European leaders the creation of a joint air defense system FREYJA, offering its own interceptor missile.
The President of Ukraine hopes to see FREYJA in operation within 12 months. Nine European countries have joined the project, and Ukraine provides the interceptor missile.
President Zelenskyy announced that the FREYJA project will involve the Ukrainian company Fire Point and European companies, including Thales, HENSOLDT, Saab.
President Zelenskyy stated that the joint FREYJA system will strengthen the defense of Ukraine and Europe. He believes that this, together with strikes on the Russian economy, will force Putin to sit down for negotiations.
In Paris, Ukraine and nine European countries signed a declaration on the creation of a defense coalition for a joint air defense system. The coalition will combine the defense-industrial base and experience, including Ukraine's unique experience in defending against Russian aggression.
Ukraine initiated the creation of the Integrated Coalition for Missile Defense, which nine European countries have officially joined. The coalition will work on building the pan-European anti-ballistic shield Freyja.
Guido Crosetto proposes expanding European defense beyond the EU to include the United Kingdom, Norway, Turkey, and Ukraine. He also emphasized the need to strengthen cybersecurity and create a center for combating hybrid warfare.
The EU has initiated the creation of a European Defense Union, which plans to involve Ukraine. The discussion is no longer only about unmanned systems, but also about countering ballistic missiles
European partners may finance the purchase of ten L-39NG Skyfox training and combat aircraft. The aircraft have been equipped with the capability to use underwing machine guns and missiles for intercepting drones.
At the "Ramstein" meeting, partners announced support packages worth over $2. 5 billion. Among the results are over $1 billion for the PURL program, $500 million for long-range munitions, and $1 billion for Ukrainian drones and missiles.
Ukraine's partners at the 35th Ramstein meeting allocated over $1. 7 billion. Of this, $1.2 billion will go to air defense, and $540 million to long-range artillery ammunition.
Svyatoslav Pavlyuk spoke about the development of renewable energy to reduce imports. Currently, it is only capable of powering critical urban infrastructure.
Dynamo will play against PAOK in case of success, while LNZ and Polissya will face Gent and Copenhagen. The qualifying matches will take place on July 23 and 30.