The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Ukrainian paramedics treat civilians injured after a Russian air strike on a house in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, 29 July 2025. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Trump says Russia tariffs will be imposed in 10 days. “I don’t know if it’s gonna affect Russia, because he (Russian President Vladimir Putin) wants to obviously probably keep the war going, but we’re gonna put tariffs and various things,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.
Ukraine shows footage of FPV drones attacking Russian-held gas rig in first such deployment. The video, showing a new phase in Kyiv’s maritime drone warfare, documents a previously unreported Sept. 11, 2024, operation off the coast of occupied Crimea.
‘Taking back what is theirs’ — Ukrainian special forces successfully raid Russian-occupied island in Black Sea. Ukrainian special forces destroyed Russian weaponry and personnel during a combat operation on the Tendra Spit, an island off the coast of the occupied area of Kherson Oblast, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) reported on July 29.
For second day, Russia’s Aeroflot cancels flights after reported cyberattack. The airline canceled 22 flights departing from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport and 31 incoming flights operated both independently and jointly with its subsidiary Rossiya Airlines, pro-government news agency Interfax said.
Ukrainian arms maker unveils new mine-laying drone. The newly developed Threeminer ground drone, designed for mine-laying operations, costs about Hr 120,000 ($3,000) to produce.
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‘Another proof of Russia’s war crimes’ — Russian air strike on Ukrainian prison kills 16 inmates. A Russian air strike against a prison in southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast late on July 28 killed 16 convicts and injured dozens more, Ukraine’s State Criminal-Executive Service said.
Zelensky signs law allowing citizens over 60 to join military during wartime. The measure enables older volunteers to serve in non-combat and specialized roles, expanding Ukraine’s recruitment pool amid continued manpower shortages.
‘New tactic’ — Ukraine thwarts Russian plot to kill prominent army unit commander. The plot was orchestrated by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), which used false-flag tactics and psychological manipulation to recruit a Ukrainian national, according to the SBU.
Unidentified drone crashes in Minsk after being downed by Belarusian forces. Belarusian independent media outlet Zerkalo, citing local residents, reported that the drone crashed into an apartment building, then struck a parked car, and exploded.
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EU’s trust in Ukraine on the line after Zelensky’s crackdown on anti-corruption infrastructure
Even as the Ukrainian authorities now attempt to reverse the controversial move that faced a harsh backlash from the EU and the wider public, the damage to Kyiv’s potential accession to the union has already been done, experts say.
Photo: Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine
Under pressure, Kyiv likely to appoint previously blocked candidate to economic crimes bureau
Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers rejected an independent commission’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Economic Security over alleged ties to Russia in a move observers called politically motivated.
Photo: BEB
Why Ukraine can’t afford to demobilize its soldiers
The challenge is less a question of legislation and more one of recruiting enough new soldiers to relieve those who have been on continuous duty since 2022. Ukraine is not mobilizing enough troops each month, leaving families wondering when they will be reunited.
Photo: Jose Colon / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Russia’s new mobilization law shows Kremlin preparing for war with NATO
The development comes after recent Ukrainian warnings of a massive increase in Russian rearmament spending, and the creation last year of new military districts which experts say are potential preparations for future wars outside of Ukraine.
Photo: Oleg Nikishin / Getty Images
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Opinions and insights
Book Review: Ukrainian author-turned-soldier takes aim at Westerners’ ‘abstract pacifism’
In his latest book “Ordinary People Don’t Carry Machine Guns,” translated into English by Zenia Tompkins and published by Seven Stories Press, Ukrainian writer Artem Chapeye reflects on his path to military service, the ways in which the war has upended parts of Ukrainian society, and what it means to hold onto your humanity when forced to pick up a weapon.
Photo: Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian missile hits Ukrainian military training ground, killing 3 soldiers, injuring 18. A military law enforcement commission has been set up to investigate the security protocols that may have contributed to the casualties.
Russian attack kills 5 as civilians gather for humanitarian aid in Kharkiv Oblast. “People gathered together to receive humanitarian aid – at that moment, Russian terrorists struck with multiple rocket launchers,” the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported.
Russian missile attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kills 3, including pregnant woman, injures 22. Russia launched an attack against the western part of Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on July 29, killing three people, including a pregnant woman, and injuring 22 others, authorities reported.
23 killed, 54 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 37 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones and fired two Iskander-M ballistic missiles overnight.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,051,300 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,050 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
International response
EU to freeze some Ukraine funding unless anti-graft agencies’ independence is restored, media reports. Sources told European Pravda that if the controversial legislation curtailing the independence of anti-graft agencies is not rolled back, the EU would pause funding under the G7’s ERA loan, a program covered by frozen Russian assets. Funding via the EIB and the EBRD would also be paused, according to the outlet.
EU transport infrastructure not ready for war with Russia, commissioner warns. EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas proposes spending 17 billion euros (around $20 billion) in the next multi-year budget to restructure the EU’s transport infrastructure, allowing European troops to respond to aggression within days or hours.
Zelensky discusses new anti-corruption bill with Danish, Canadian leaders. President Volodymyr Zelensky said both leaders expressed support for the new bill and agreed on the urgent need for the Ukrainian parliament to vote on it this week.
Russian space agency head visits US for first talks with NASA since 2018, Russia says. Dmitry Bakanov will meet U.S. Transportation Secretary and acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy to discuss further operations and planned deorbiting of the International Space Station (ISS), as well as a cross-flight agreement, Roscosmos said.
Gazprom’s Serbian affiliate receives new sanctions waiver from US. The waiver allows the company to continue its operational and contractual activities without disruption for another month.
In other news
Colombian man accused of arson attacks in Poland on orders from Russian intelligence. The man is suspected of setting fire to construction warehouses in Warsaw on May 23 and in Radom, a city some 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the capital, on May 30, Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) said.
Former deputy economy minister named Ukraine’s acting culture minister. “This decision guarantees manageability, financial capacity, and effective dialogue with the cultural community,” Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said.
Kyiv recognizes forced resettlement of 700,000 Ukrainians from communist Poland as deportation. The new law provides compensation for material and moral damages incurred by victims of deportation and their descendants.
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