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Russia’s war against Ukraine

A residential building damaged following a Russian drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, overnight on July 28, 2025. (National Police / Telegram)
Russia’s drone attack on Kyiv leaves 8 people injured, including 3-year-old. Explosions were first reported in the capital late on July 27, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. The attack comes mere days after Russia and Ukraine held their third round of peace talks in Istanbul on July 23.
Moscow cancels Navy Day parade in St Petersburg as nearly 100 drones reportedly downed across western Russia. The decision to cancel the Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg, an event traditionally held on the last Sunday of July, was announced by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on July 27, who said it was made “for security reasons.”
Ukraine sanctions nearly 100 entities tied to Russian defense industry. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the decree synchronizes Ukraine’s sanctions with European sanctions. “As of now, all 18 sanctions packages are fully aligned and in effect in Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote.
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Moscow warns of ongoing war unless Ukraine complies with its maximalist demands. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Russia would prefer to resolve the conflict through dialogue, but said military operations continue because “opponents rejected the path of negotiations.”
Russia depletes Soviet arms, heavily relies on foreign supplies for Ukraine war, analysis suggests. New data from the Kyiv School of Economics Institute indicates that Russia has significantly depleted its vast Soviet-era weaponry stockpiles since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, causing the flow of military goods to the front lines to revert to pre-2022 levels.
‘We assessed your attempt‘ — top Ukrainian drone commander hints Russia tried to strike multiple unit leaders at once. “We assessed your attempt yesterday to hit all of us at once,” Brovdi said in the Telegram post, without offering further details. The post ended with a string of insults aimed at the Russian forces behind the alleged attack.

Anti-corruption
EU urges Ukraine to fortify anti-corruption bodies. “Ukraine has already achieved a lot on its European path. It must build on these solid foundations and preserve independent anti-corruption bodies, which are cornerstones of Ukraine’s rule of law,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on July 27.
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Ukraine war latest: Moscow cancels Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg as nearly 100 drones reportedly downed across western Russia
Russia canceled its annual Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg for the first time, citing security concerns amid a wave of drone attacks that disrupted airports and railways across western Russia overnight on July 27, local officials and Russian media reported.
Photo: Artem Priakhin / LightRocket via Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian drone strike on bus kills 3, injures 19 in Sumy Oblast. A Russian drone targeting a bus with evacuated residents killed three people and injured 19 in Sumy Oblast on July 27.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,050,250 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,000 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Mass protests after Zelensky’s debacle | Ukraine This Week

International response
‘Serbia will not impose sanctions against Russia,’ Vucic says. Serbia will not impose sanctions against Russia, President Aleksandar Vucic said, responding to recent comments by Minister for European Affairs Nemanja Starovic that suggested otherwise, Serbian media reported on July 27.
Ukraine to receive 33,000 AI drone kits under US defense deal, FT reports. Ukraine will receive 33,000 AI-powered drone kits by the end of the year under a new contract between the U.S. Defense Department and U.S.-German software firm Auterion, the Financial Times reported on July 27.
Rubio says Trump ‘losing patience with Russia,’ despite giving Putin 50-day peace deal deadline. “Despite having very good interactions with (Russian President) Vladimir Putin and phone calls, it never leads to anything,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. “So, the time has come for some action.”
In other news
US, EU agree on new trade deal with 15% tariff on most European goods. U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in the U.K. on July 27 and agreed to a trade deal between the two major economies.
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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Kate Tsurkan, Anna Fratsyvir, Olena Goncharova, Volodymyr Ivanyshyn, and Lucy Pakhnyuk.
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