Ukraine

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 97 combat engagements over the past day, two-thirds of which occurred in the Pokrovsk, Lyman, and Novopavlivka directions. The situation remains the hottest in the Pokrovsk direction, where 37 enemy attacks were repelled.

Law enforcement officers eliminated a drug smuggling channel, seizing cocaine worth almost 7 million hryvnias. The organizer, a resident of Lviv, involved international drivers to transport drugs, which were then sold in Ukraine.

A story that should not have happened: how modernized helicopters lost their armament due to Soviet standards.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tikhyi, reacted to Lavrov's statements, calling them a rejection of peace efforts. Ukraine calls on partners to immediately impose new tough sanctions against Russia.

Russian troops have intensified attacks on TCCs, particularly on July 7, hitting the Kharkiv and near Zaporizhzhia regional TCCs, with wounded. A day earlier, the Kremenchuk district TCC was attacked, indicating attempts to disrupt mobilization.

Border guards discovered the body of an unknown man while patrolling a high-altitude section of the Ukrainian-Romanian border. This is already the approximately 20th such case in the mountains since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced conditions for ending the war, including recognition of annexed territories and demilitarization of Ukraine. He also demands the lifting of sanctions, the return of assets, and Ukraine's neutral status.

The digital space "Veteran PRO" has been launched in "Diia" for veterans and their families, combining key services. Among the available services are finding a support specialist, veteran sports, "eOselia" (housing program), "eVidnovlennia" (restoration program), establishing disability status, and applying for subsidies.

The number of Chinese components in Russian weapons has almost tripled since 2023, allowing Russia to increase the production of UAVs and other weapons. This leads to an intensification of massive strikes on Ukraine.

The MHP-Hromadi Charitable Foundation and MHP, together with Mariupol State University, announced the second wave of the "Community Leaders School" program. Participants will gain knowledge, mentorship, and grants up to UAH 1 million on co-financing terms.

Four Russian strikes on the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Recruitment Center resulted in the hospitalization of two servicemen with moderate injuries. Additionally, fourteen civilians were wounded, and buildings and cars were damaged.

Since the beginning of the year, 46 cases of botulism have been recorded in Ukraine, resulting in 57 affected individuals, three of whom died. The greatest danger is posed by dried fish and homemade canned goods purchased in unofficial places.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allocates UAH 446. 15 million for the development of veteran spaces. The funds will be received by Zhytomyr region, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Kyiv region, as well as Kremenchuk, Lutsk and Kryvyi Rih communities.

The Vinnytsia Regional TCC and SP stated that it has no relation to the list of new addresses for citizen reception that appeared on their Facebook page. The post was edited due to third-party interference, and mobilization measures are ongoing.

Ukrainian long-range drones of the HUR hit the Ilsky Oil Refinery named after A. Shamara in Krasnodar Krai. As a result of the attack, one of the technological workshops of the enterprise was hit.

Five camps for prisoners of war operate in Ukraine, as well as sections in institutions of the State Penitentiary Service. There are enough Russian prisoners for exchanges; they are involved in paid labor and have proper conditions of detention.

Oleksandr Liev, former acting director of the Department of Military-Technical Policy of the Ministry of Defense, has been served with a notice of suspicion in a case concerning the supply of unsuitable anti-tank missile launchers worth over UAH 90 million.

The government will make a decision to launch the "Schoolchild's Package" cash assistance in the amount of 5,000 hryvnias. The funds are intended for the purchase of school supplies and clothing for first-graders who will study offline.

The SBI has completed its investigation into Serhiy Kolbin, commander of the Sevastopol "Berkut", and his subordinates. They are accused of killing Maidan activists and facilitating the occupation of Crimea, specifically of using prohibited ammunition on February 18, 2014, which led to the death of three people.

British intelligence analyzed the verdict of former Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, sentenced to 13 years for embezzlement. He is the highest-ranking Russian official convicted on such charges, but the verdict does not indicate a fight against corruption, but rather its control.

A former Ministry of Defense official and former heads of a defense enterprise have been notified of suspicion. They supplied unsuitable anti-tank missile launchers, causing 90 million UAH in damages to the state.

People's Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported on a scheme of fictitious employment in the National Circus Company, under which 78 men of conscription age went abroad and did not return. Similar cases have been recorded in philharmonic societies and other cultural institutions.

President Zelenskyy discussed replacing the current Ukrainian ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, with President Trump. Among the potential candidates for the ambassadorial position are Denys Shmyhal, Olha Stefanishyna, Rustem Umerov, and Herman Halushchenko.

The Center for Countering Disinformation refuted the Russian fake news about an emergency failure at the South Ukrainian NPP. The station operates in normal mode, as confirmed by IAEA reports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on massive Russian attacks: 1270 drones, 39 missiles, and almost a thousand guided aerial bombs (KABs) were launched in a week. The strikes resulted in injuries, including children, and one fatality in Odesa.

Ukrainian singer Melovin announced his mobilization into the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. He will serve in the SBGS ensemble, using music as a weapon.

Ukraine's international reserves reached $45. 1 billion as of July 1, 2025, increasing by 1.2% in June. The growth was driven by inflows from partners, which exceeded currency sales and debt payments.

On July 8, hot weather up to +36 degrees is expected in Ukraine, but cyclone Gabriel will bring thunderstorms to the west, north, Vinnytsia region, and Cherkasy region. In Kyiv, rain with thunderstorms is also possible in the evening.

The number of victims of the morning shelling of Kharkiv has increased to 29 people, including three children. The Russian army attacked the city with ударними drones, damaging residential buildings, shops, and a kindergarten.

The number of newborns in Ukraine decreased by 97,093 from 2021 to 2024. Expert Olena Sosedka notes that this leads to a decrease in the working-age population and hinders economic development.