Gold prices rose 0. 4% to $3350.87 per ounce on Friday, while platinum reached its highest level since 2014. The US dollar weakened by 0.4%, and the EU approved the 18th package of sanctions against Russia.
The 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the "Ramstein" format will be held online on Monday, July 21. Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal will hold talks with G7 defense ministers.
The ban on marketing agreements between pharmacies and drug manufacturers from March 1, 2025, negatively affects small manufacturers who have lost their promotion tools. This can also lead to market shadowization and job losses.
In January-June 2025, Ukraine recorded 249,000 deaths and 86,800 births, meaning the mortality rate exceeded the birth rate by 2. 9 times. The worst demographic situation is observed in the Kherson and Donetsk regions.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal is preparing a specific work program for the Ministry and key priorities. These will be implemented in the short and medium term.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard a report from Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal and instructed to urgently conclude contracts for drones, including interceptors. They also discussed ensuring diplomatic strikes and the frequency of strikes.
US Special Representative Keith Kellogg was shown Western components extracted from Iranian "Shaheds" and Russian "Gerbera" drones. This happened during his visit to Ukraine, organized by the War&Sanctions portal of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Starting July 19, applications for bachelor's and master's degrees in medical, pharmaceutical, and veterinary fields will begin. Online application submission will last until August 1, with the possibility of submitting up to five applications for state-funded places and up to ten for contract-based places.
In just a week, the KBU Business Club will take place, dedicated to the analysis of the Ukrainian real estate market for the first half of 2025.
Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko held the first international meeting with Ambassador of the Netherlands Alle Dorhout. They discussed the functioning of the Special Tribunal on the crime of aggression by the Russian Federation and cooperation in bringing to justice for international crimes.
The Office of the Prosecutor General ensured the seizure and transfer to ARMA of funds and securities worth over $35 million USD, which belonged to former People's Deputy Volodymyr Makeyenko. The funds, which were in accounts in a Luxembourg bank, show signs of illegal origin.
Donald Trump stated that Ukraine should go on the offensive to change the situation on the battlefield. Volodymyr Zelenskyy replied that this is possible with the availability of "the right weapons."
The new meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense in the "Ramstein" format is scheduled for July 21. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will take part in the virtual meeting, where issues of supplying Patriot systems will be discussed.
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak announced the return of a group of teenagers from the occupied territories. The children were subjected to persecution and pressure from Russian special services; the youngest child is three years old.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed military aid and energy resilience with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The parties reached concrete agreements on preparing for the upcoming winter and accelerating sanctions pressure on Russia.
Participants of the main sessions of the Unified Professional Entrance Exam (UPEE) and the Unified Entrance Exam (UEE) have received their results, which are available in their electronic accounts. The option to generate an examination card is already available for master's students, and for PhD students it will be available until August 8.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian air defense has shot down about 25,000 Shahed-type attack drones and almost 2,500 cruise missiles. According to Yuriy Ihnat, the first "Shahed" was shot down in October 2022, and out of 160 "Kinzhal" missiles, 48 were shot down.
Mykola Kovalchuk has been suspended from his duties for the duration of the investigation.
Hungary analyzed the European Commission's proposal for the EU budget for 2028-2034, stating that Ukraine could receive about 20% of the funds. Hungarian Minister for European Affairs János Bóka called this irrational.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland advises citizens to refrain from traveling to Russia due to the war in Ukraine and Poland's recognition as an unfriendly country. The possibilities of providing assistance to Polish citizens in Russia are limited due to the reduction in the number of consular staff.
The number of Russia's hybrid attacks in Europe has sharply increased since 2022, with over 200 incidents recorded between 2014 and 2024. The main targets are energy, transport, and communications, and the attacks are aimed at weakening European unity.
Repair works at the Ustyluh-Zosin checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Polish border, which began in May, have been extended until the end of December. This will lead to partial traffic restrictions, while the Volyn Customs notes a significant increase in traffic through this point.
In the first half of 2025, 86,795 infants were born in Ukraine, while 249,002 people died. For every newborn, there are three deaths, which has been a constant indicator over the past 5 years.
The Presidents of Ukraine and France discussed Ukraine's defense needs, strengthening air defense, and training pilots for Mirages. France confirmed its readiness to accept additional pilots for training and is working on joint solutions for protection against Russian strikes.
Former deputy head of the State Automobile Inspectorate of Ukraine, Volodymyr Reznikov, who is involved in a case concerning illegal ammunition trafficking, has mobilized to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Forecaster Natalia Didenko predicts moderate temperatures in the west, north, and center of Ukraine, while the south expects heat. Short-term thunderstorms will pass through the western, northern, central, and eastern regions.
Electricity consumption in Ukraine increased by 2. 5% due to cloudy weather and rains, which reduced the efficiency of solar power plants. 29 settlements in four regions are without power due to bad weather, and regional power grid brigades are working to restore it.
On July 17, the HUR Cyber Corps attacked the network infrastructure of PJSC "Gazprom", destroying a large volume of databases and installing special software.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the newly appointed Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Rustem Umerov to intensify negotiations, ensure the implementation of agreements on weapons, and strengthen the technological Staff. Umerov confirmed the work priorities, including coordination of the security sector, arms supplies, and technological modernization.
President Zelenskyy announced the preparation of the synchronization of European sanctions and new decisions regarding sanctions in Ukraine. This is a response to the 18th EU sanctions package, which increases pressure on the Russian tanker fleet and limits the price of oil.
