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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Ukrainian emergency service workers extinguish a fire in three houses after Russian shelling on the city of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, on July 16, 2025. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ukraine’s parliament dismisses prime minister and his cabinet. The move comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky tapped First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko to replace Shmyhal after he had held the office for more than five years.
Zelensky unveils new cabinet nominees in major government reshuffle. “Today, I have already signed documents to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine regarding Denys Shmyhal as the new defense minister,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Patriot missiles bound for Ukraine already being shipped, Trump says. “They’re already being shipped,” U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters when asked about Patriot missiles and other weaponry. “And in all cases, the United States gets paid back in full.”
Putin unfazed by Trump’s threats, plans to fight on in Ukraine, Reuters reports. According to Reuters, Russian President Vladimir Putin sees no reason to back down. Instead, the undisclosed sources say the Russian leader is confident that Russia’s military and economy can withstand additional Western pressure.
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France, Italy reportedly opt out of US-NATO arms deal for Ukraine. France declined to join the plan because of President Emmanuel Macron’s push for European nations to strengthen their own defense industries by purchasing domestically produced arms, Politico reported, citing French officials.
‘We are doubling the Ukraine Facility’ — EU proposes 100 billion euros for Ukraine aid fund in 2028–2034 budget. The proposed package doubles the current Ukraine Facility budget of 50 billion euros, which was approved in February 2024 and runs through 2027.
‘No one has been briefed’ — Europe blindsided by Trump’s Ukraine weapons deal. U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed weapons deal for Ukraine caught NATO allies off guard, with European diplomats saying they weren’t consulted ahead of the announcement, Reuters reported on July 16.
After rejecting ceasefire, Russia calls on West to ‘pressure’ Ukraine toward negotiations. “Many statements have been made, many words of disappointment have been spoken, but we want to hope that pressure is being exerted on the Ukrainian side,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: Mass attack hits cities overnight as Ukrainians brace for 50 more days of Russian terror
Explosions rocked Ukrainian cities overnight on July 16 as Russia once again launched waves of drones and missiles across the country.
Photo: State Emergency Service/Telegram
Ukraine’s new ground drones are hitting the battlefield in ever-increasing numbers
Ukraine’s use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) has accelerated in recent months, a development experts say could help ease pressure on infantry as Kyiv struggles with ongoing recruitment problems and losses.
Photo: Serhii Mykhalchuk / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Azov is where you can learn to defend your homeland from Russia
Today, the International Battalion of the Azov Brigade is the best place for foreign citizens to gain firsthand experience and learn the rules of modern warfare.
Photo: Elizabeth Servatynska / Azov Media / Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russia drops 500-kg bomb on shopping center in Donetsk Oblast — killing 2, injuring 28. Russian forces dropped a 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) aerial bomb on a shopping center in Donetsk Oblast, killing at least two people and injuring 27 others, regional officials reported July 16.
Latvian mayor injured in Russian strike while delivering aid in Ukraine. The mayor of the Latvian town of Ogre, Egils Helmanis was injured while delivering vehicles and other support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Russian double-tap attack injures 5, including emergency workers, in Nikopol. Russian first-person-view (FPV) drones initially struck a cargo truck, causing a fire and injuring two civilians. Soon after, as emergency workers were working on site, another Russian drone targeted the scene, injuring three emergency workers, the State Emergency Service said.
Missing Russian Mi-8 helicopter found crashed in Far East, all 5 onboard dead. The aircraft, operated by the airline Vzlyot, disappeared on July 14 during a flight from the remote settlement of Okhotsk to the city of Magadan, according to the state news agency TASS.
US-founded extremist group claims killing of Ukrainian security service colonel in Kyiv. In a statement, the local affiliate — known as White Phoenix — praised its “comrades” for the July 10 killing of the colonel. Sources in the counter-terrorism field consider the group’s claim credible, the Guardian reported.
Latvian PM on Trump’s NATO deal and new Russia sanctions
International response
‘Unbearable’ — EU’s Kallas raises alarm over Russia’s escalating chemical warfare in Ukraine. “Again, it shows that Russia wants to cause as much pain and suffering as possible so that Ukraine would surrender,” top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said at a press conference during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. “It is really unbearable,” she added.”
US State Department fires Russia and Ukraine analysts in recent layoffs, NYT reports. It remains unclear how many analysts of the department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) were fired, and the arm retains employees who specialize in Russia and Ukraine, the NYT reported.
‘Call the Ayatollah’ — Senator Graham warns Putin as he backs Trump’s 50-day Russia ultimatum. “If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and others are wondering what happens on day 51, I would suggest they call the Ayatollah,” Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on X.
EU slaps new sanctions on Russia over hybrid threats, disinformation. The new restrictive measures target actors involved in what the EU described as “Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference” (FIMI), a term encompassing activities such as cyberattacks, disinformation, and manipulation of infrastructure and public opinion.
German Quantum Systems takes 10% ownership in Ukrainian defense robotics firm Frontline. German-Ukrainian defense technology company Quantum Systems has acquired a 10% stake in Frontline, a Ukrainian defense robotics firm, Quantum Systems announced in a press release on July 16.
Russian authorities call for urgent tax increase to save national budget. Moscow needs to urgently raise more money as shrinking oil and gas revenues and a worsening economic outlook continue to strain the federal budget, a senior Russian lawmaker warned on July 16.
In other news
Home of deceased Ukrainian pilot ‘Juice’ searched over anti-corruption activist’s case, media reports. Lilia Averianova, the mother of late MiG-29 pilot Andrii “Juice” Pilshchykov, told Suspilne that investigators came to the Kharkiv apartment on July 11 and demanded entry, threatening to break down the door.
4 Ukrainians make Forbes’ ranking of wealthiest immigrants in US. Ukraine entered the top ten countries by the number of billionaire immigrants, with four Ukrainians securing spots on Forbes’ ranking of America’s wealthiest immigrants and their combined fortunes totaling $25.3 billion, Forbes Ukraine reported on July 15.
Ukraine parliament backs nearly $10 billion defense budget increase in first reading. Ukraine’s parliament approved a Hr 412.4 billion ($9.8 billion) increase in defense spending in the first reading, Ukraine’s Finance Ministry announced in a press release on July 16.
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