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Russia’s war against Ukraine
People take shelter overnight in an underground metro station during Russian missile strikes in Kyiv on July 4, 2025. (Barbara Wojazer / AFP via Getty Images)
‘Nothing but terror and murder’ — Russia pounds Kyiv with ballistic missiles in massive overnight attack. Fires broke out across the city as Russia attacked the capital overnight on July 4, striking multiple civilian targets and injuring at least 19 people.
Trump says he ‘didn’t make any progress’ with Putin following phone call. The two leaders were no closer to a ceasefire deal after speaking for an hour on July 3. “No, I didn’t make any progress with him today at all,” Trump said after the call.
Deputy commander of Russian Navy killed in Ukrainian strike in Kursk, Russian official confirms. Major General Mikhail Gudkov also led a brigade involved in combat operations against Ukraine. His death reportedly occurred during a Ukrainian attack on a Russian command post.
‘One of Russia’s most critical targets’ — Ukraine confirms strike on missile battery plant in Lipetsk. The Energia plant in Yelets produces parts for ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as batteries for drones and glide bombs. The factory was previously targeted multiple times this past May.
‘A powerful secondary explosion’ — Ukrainian drones destroy Russian ammunition depot in Donetsk Oblast, SBU says. Unconfirmed videos posted to social media show a fire already burning followed by a large explosion and shockwave.
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Ukraine signs major drone co-production deal with US Swift Beat, Zelensky announces. Ukraine signed a major deal with U.S. company Swift Beat to co-produce various types of drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on July 3 during his visit to Denmark.
Former Russian proxy mayor reportedly killed in explosion in occupied Luhansk. Manolis Pilavov had been wanted in Ukraine since 2015 on charges including attempting to violently overthrow the constitutional order and violating Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Ukrainian Air Force officer acting as ‘FSB mole’ arrested, SBU says. The alleged spy, arrested during a special operation in Lviv Oblast, was reportedly recruited through his ex-wife, a former military officer now cooperating with Russian forces in occupied Melitopol.
Russia targets Ukrainian conscription offices to disrupt mobilization, military spokesperson says after Poltava attack. “We will continue to strengthen our army, train our troops, and involve more people in defense to deliver a strong response to the enemy,” said Ground Forces spokesperson Vitalii Sarantsev.
Ukrainian bank wins $1.5 billion appeal against Russia over lost Crimea assets. The ruling orders Russia to pay more than $1.5 billion in damages and an additional 300,000 euros ($330,000) in legal costs to Ukraine’s largest state-owned bank, according to a press release.
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Ukraine war latest: Putin tells Trump Russia won’t back down from its war aims in Ukraine
“Our president said that Russia will pursue its goals, specifically addressing the root causes that led to the current situation, and will not back down from these objectives,” Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said after a phone call between the two leaders on July 3.
Photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images
‘Not many events like this left’ — A Ukrainian literary festival in a city falsely claimed by Russia
Zaporizhzhia lies in southeastern Ukraine, one of four partially occupied regions Russia has claimed as its own following sham referenda in late 2022. “In the eyes of the Russians, we are holding a festival of Ukrainian literature on their territories,” Svyatoslav Pomerantsev explains.
Photo: Danylo Martynov/Meridian Czernowitz/Facebook
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russia’s attacks kill 3, injure 34 across Ukraine over past day. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia used 52 drones launched from several directions, including Oryol, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Air defenses destroyed 40 of them, including 22 shot down and 18 jammed electronically.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,023,090 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,000 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
International response
China’s foreign minister tells EU that Beijing cannot afford Russia to lose in Ukraine, media reports. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas on July 3 that the country cannot afford for Russia to lose the war in Ukraine amid fears the U.S. would shift focus towards Beijing, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, citing sources familiar with the conversation.
US halts Ukraine-bound weapons already staged in Poland, WSJ reports. The shipment includes over two dozen PAC-3 Patriot missiles, more than two dozen Stinger air-defense systems, Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, and over 90 AIM air-to-air missiles intended for use with Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets, according to U.S. administration and congressional officials cited by the Wall Street Journal.
‘We haven’t’ — Trump denies US pausing weapons to Ukraine, despite Pentagon decision to halt shipments. “You know, Biden emptied out our whole country giving them weapons and we have to make sure that we have enough for ourselves,” Trump added after his initial denial.
Trump’s pause on Russia sanctions under investigation by Senate Democrats. “Americans should be asking why a president who says he wants to end a major war is instead letting the aggressor run rampant,” the senators said in a joint statement.
Russian propaganda media Sputnik shuts down operations in Azerbaijan amid tensions. “The conditions for Sputnik Azerbaijan to continue its activities in this country are not in place,” Russia Today media group CEO Dmitry Kiselyov said.
In other news
In landmark ruling, same-sex couple recognized as family by Ukrainian court. Ukraine does not currently recognize same-sex marriages or partnerships, and this court ruling may serve as a critical legal milestone in expanding rights for LGBTQ families.
Poland establishes July 11 as National Day of Remembrance for Volyn massacre victims. The law passed both houses of Poland’s parliament with reportedly near-unanimous support. Lawmakers emphasized that the victims of the massacres deserve a permanent place in the nation’s collective memory.
Russia becomes first country to recognize Afghanistan’s Taliban government. “We believe that the act of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
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