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Top Russian defense official gets 13 years in graft crackdown
Former Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was sentenced on July 1 to 13 years in a penal colony after being found guilty of corruption—the toughest sentence so far in a string of graft investigations involving high-level defense officials.
Authorities detained Ivanov in April 2024 on bribery allegations, later adding embezzlement charges in October. Over a dozen individuals, including two other former deputy ministers, have been implicated in separate investigations.
The trial was held behind closed doors due to national security concerns. Ivanov’s co-defendant, Anton Filatov, a former logistics company executive, received a 12.5-year sentence. According to state media, the embezzled amount totaled 4.1 billion roubles ($48.8 million), largely funneled through bank transfers to two foreign accounts.
Ivanov pleaded not guilty. The court stripped him of all state honors and ordered the confiscation of property, vehicles, and cash worth 2.5 billion roubles. Reports in Russian media described his and his wife’s assets, including a luxury apartment in central Moscow, a three-storey English-style mansion outside the city, and a high-end car collection featuring brands such as Bentley and Aston Martin.
Prominent Russian war correspondents known as “Z-bloggers” have publicly condemned the corruption exposed within the defenae sector, especially as the war in Ukraine continues. One of them, Alexander Kots, acknowledged that 13 years is a long sentence but argued that corrupt officials should face trial during wartime as “traitors to the Motherland."
Since 2016, Ivanov oversaw large logistics contracts at the defence ministry, including those tied to property, housing, and medical support.
He served under Sergei Shoigu, who was replaced as defence minister last year but remains influential as the secretary of Russia’s Security Council. Authorities have also arrested two of Shoigu’s other former deputies in separate cases. In April, a court sentenced Lieutenant-General Vadim Shamarin, the former deputy head of the army’s general staff, to seven years for accepting bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The wave of prosecutions reflects what appears to be President Vladimir Putin’s effort to address corruption, inefficiency, and waste in Russia’s expansive military budget, which accounts for 32% of federal spending this year.
Ukraine’s new interceptor UAVs are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the skyRussia’s Shahed drone swarms are pummeling Ukraine on a nightly basis, inflicting ever more death and destruction in cities that had managed to carve out some sense of normalcy amid wartime. Civilian alarm has grown. With traditional air defense stockpiles running low, the government is banking on newly created
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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As Russia ramps up missile attacks, US halts promised air defense shipments to Ukraine, Politico reports
The U.S. Defense Department (DOD) has halted shipments of some air defense missiles and other weapons previously promised to Kyiv out of concerns over the size of U.S. stockpiles, Politico reported on July 1, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The suspension comes as Ukraine faces a shortage of air defense munitions along with increasingly intense and deadly Russian bombardments. In June 2025, Russia launched 5,337 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine, shattering its previous monthly record.
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby made the decision to pause the aid deliveries after conduction a review of U.S. munitions stocks, three sources told Politico. Colby was reportedly concerned about dwindling levels of artillery rounds, air defense missiles, and precision munitions.
Among the items being held back from Ukraine are Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, drones, and other missiles Ukraine launches from F-16 fighter jets.
Colby made the decision in June, amid a surge in Russian mass aerial attacks against Ukraine.
The Pentagon’s decision “was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement issued after Politico published the story.
“The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran,” she said.
Since his inauguration in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has not approved any additional military aid packages for Ukraine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also announced recently that the U.S. will reduce the total aid it sends Ukraine in its upcoming defense budget.
At the NATO summit in The Hague in late June, Trump said he would “see” if the U.S. could supply Kyiv with additional missiles for its Patriot systems.
“They (Ukraine) do want to have the anti missiles, as they call them, the Patriots, and we’re going to see if we can make some available,” he said after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“They are very hard to get. We need them too. We are supplying them for Israel, and they are very effective."
But according to a source who spoke to Politico, plans to reduce and redirect air defense munitions and other weapons for Ukraine have been in the works for months. The administration is looking to redirect artillery shells, tank shells, and air defense systems to Israel or back to Washington.
“They have proposed repeatedly since March to pause the shipments,” the person said.
Colby, the reported architect of the decision, has previously advocated for reducing U.S. military assistance to Ukraine to prioritize deterrence efforts in Asia.
Russia on June 29 launched the largest missile and drone attack against Ukraine since the start of its full-scale war.
Ukraine’s new interceptor UAVs are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the skyRussia’s Shahed drone swarms are pummeling Ukraine on a nightly basis, inflicting ever more death and destruction in cities that had managed to carve out some sense of normalcy amid wartime. Civilian alarm has grown. With traditional air defense stockpiles running low, the government is banking on newly created
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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'Important facility hit' — Ukraine attacks Russian oil refinery in Saratov Oblast, military says
Ukrainian drones struck the Saratovorgsintez oil refinery in Russia’s Saratov Oblast, causing damage to the facility, Ukraine’s General Staff reported on July 1.
“An important facility has been hit,” the General Staff said via its official Telegram channel.
The Saratovorgsintez refinery and chemical plant, owned by Russian energy giant Lukoil, is located nearly 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from Ukraine’s border in the city of Saratov. The city hosts multiple strategic military and industrial sites.
The refinery was targeted to “reduce the enemy’s offensive capabilities,” the General Staff wrote.
“The occupiers use the capacity of this refinery to supply fuel and lubricants to Russian military units involved in the armed aggression against Ukraine.”
The attack was a joint operation carried out by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) and other military units, the General Staff said. A fire broke out at the site of the attack and damage to the refinery’s technological installations has been confirmed. The full consequences of the strike are still being investigated.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
The report is the latest in a series of announcements on July 1 about successful Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets. Earlier in the day, HUR released footage of Ukraine’s UJ-26 drones, commonly known as Bober (Beavers), targeting high-value Russian air defenses and a fighter jet in occupied Crimea.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also announced that Ukrainian drones struck a major Russian military plant in the city of Izhevsk, over 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the front lines.
Ukraine also hit a Russian command post in occupied Donetsk Oblast, according to the General Staff.
Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones strike Russian plant 1,300km from border, SBU source saysKey developments on July 1: * ‘With surgical precision’ — Ukrainian drones strike Russian plant 1,300km away, SBU source says * Russian missile strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kills brigade commander, injures 30 people, Zelensky says * Ukrainian forces hit Russian command post in occupied Donetsk Oblast, General Staff says * Zelensky signs ratification of
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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Ukraine to launch joint weapons production program with Ramstein summit countries
Ukraine is launching a joint weapons production program with members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), or Ramstein summit participants, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on July 1.
The UDCG was formed in 2022 under former U.S. President Joe Biden to coordinate military assistance for Ukraine among about 50 of Kyiv’s allies.
As part of a new joint production program, new factories and weapons manufacturing facilities will be built in Ukraine and abroad, Umerov said in a social media post. The international sites will be UDCG member countries participating in the Ramstein-format summit.
New legal and tax regulations will also be put in place for Ukrainian weapons manufacturers, facilitating the construction of new sites and allowing them to rapidly scale up production, Umerov said.
The Defense Ministry on July 1 joined the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) Finance, Tax, and Customs Committee in presenting four draft laws regarding domestic weapons production “aimed at developing the industry.” The legislation introduces amendments to tax, customs, and budget regulations, as well as the Criminal Code.
The first vote on the new legislative package is expected to take place in a month, according to Umerov.
“This is a new type of military-industrial cooperation, where Ukraine is an equal partner and player in the global defense market,” he said.
As Ukraine scales up domestic defense production, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been lobbying foreign partners to provide funding to help match its manufacturing capacity. At the NATO summit in The Hague, Ukraine signed agreements on joint weapons production with the U.K. and Denmark. Norway also pledged to jointly develop air defense systems with Kyiv.
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Ukraine to exit mine ban treaty, citing war demands, realities on the ground
Ukraine looks to withdraw from a major international treaty on anti-personnel landmines to bolster its defense on the battlefield, where its troops are trying to hold off Russia’s intensifying offensive.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, on June 29, had requested that Ukraine withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Treaty that banned the production and use of indiscriminate anti-personnel mines. Though acknowledging the “complexities” that Ukraine may face in exiting such a treaty during war, he stressed that these explosives are an irreplaceable tool in defending the country.
“Russia has never been a party to this treaty and uses anti-personnel mines with extreme cynicism,” Zelensky said in his address afterward.
Anti-personnel mines are highly controversial explosive devices that can be set off by small pressure, posing a grave long-term threat to civilians. Usually buried or concealed on the ground, they are used in warfare to incapacitate or kill the foe’s personnel.
Kyiv’s move to withdraw the Ottawa Treaty follows a similar action from countries neighboring Russia, such as Finland, the Baltic states, and Poland, who have announced their intention to withdraw or have already exited the treaty.
International observers such as Human Rights Watch are scrutinizing Ukraine’s decision to withdraw from the treaty, which the war-torn country signed in 2005, 17 years before the start of the all-out war.
“Given that Ukraine is in the midst of a war, this is a symbolic move aimed at giving Ukraine political cover to flagrantly violate long-standing prohibitions on developing, producing, and using anti-personnel mines,” said Mary Wareham, deputy director of the Crisis, Conflict and Arms Division at Human Rights Watch.
“It is important for Ukraine, especially in solidarity with the Baltic and Eastern European countries, which understand the threats from Russia.”
Citing Article 20 of the Ottawa Treaty, Human Rights Watch stressed that it takes half a year after the state submits a notice to the United Nations for the withdrawals to come into effect, and that it is not allowed to exit the treaty if the state is still in an armed conflict at the end of that period.
Replicas of anti-personnel landmines prohibited under the Mine Ban Treaty sit on a table at the office of Human Rights Watch in Washington, D.C., U.S. on Nov. 20, 2024. (Bastien Inzaurralde / AFP via Getty Images) "Bringing back anti-personnel mines is a choice that risks causing even more suffering and casualties, over the short and long term," Wareham told the Kyiv Independent.
Refraining from commenting on "who lays what where" and the transfer of weapons between countries, U.K.-based demining nonprofit HALO Trust stressed that the treaty has been "instrumental in saving millions of people's lives."
Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko, who has pushed government institutions to withdraw from the treaty for the past six months, said the parliament would consider the exit from the treaty in mid-July. He doesn't expect there to be an obstacle to achieving parliamentary approval despite the initial hesitation in the earlier months.
"It is important for Ukraine, especially in solidarity with the Baltic and Eastern European countries, which understand the threats from Russia," Kostenko told the Kyiv Independent.
Contrary to Human Rights Watch, Kostenko said that he believes Ukraine can use the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which allows a country to withdraw from international agreements if circumstances change, as it is Russia that attacked Ukraine in 2014 and 2022.
Anti-personnel mines in warfareMilitary experts said that anti-personnel mines, often fired from artillery systems or planted by sappers mechanically, help Ukraine inflict casualties on advancing Russian troops from afar. Already used in combat despite the treaty, the anti-personnel mines have made it more difficult for Russian troops to approach, especially well-protected positions.
Ruslan Gorbenko, a lawmaker from the ruling Servant of the People who regularly travels to the war-torn east and keeps in touch with the military, confirmed that Ukraine already uses anti-personnel mines as a necessary measure to defend against advancing Russian troops that also use them.
Gorbenko told the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine's move to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty is "a logical decision at the official level," exempting Ukraine from the international obligations it has undertaken during peacetime.
Russia has never shown an intention to sign or abide by the treaty, making the banning of such weapons during the current war highly unlikely.
While Kostenko, secretary of the parliament's committee on national security, defense and intelligence, said he could not confirm Ukraine's usage of the small landmines, he said that it would allow Ukraine to officially produce the anti-personnel mines and to receive them from non-signatory countries, such as the U.S.
The Biden administration in 2024 approved the transfer of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine in a surprise move to help the country withstand an increasingly tough situation at the front.
Kostenko said that anti-personnel mines would help Ukraine improve fortification, together with engineering barriers, making it harder for Russian troops to approach Ukrainian positions.
An anti-personnel mine is installed near Ukrainian trenches on the front line in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on May 30, 2023. (Yevhenii Zavhorodnii / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) 
Anti-tank "Dragon's teeth" fortifications are seen in the direction of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Jan. 26, 2025. (Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images) Serhiy Hrabskyi, a retired Ukrainian colonel and military analyst, said anti-personnel mines are "purely defensive weapons" that are "critically dangerous for everyone" but necessary to help outnumbered Kyiv's troops grind down overwhelming Russian manpower.
"It is difficult to stop the enemy in a different way," Hrabskyi told the Kyiv Independent, stressing that Ukraine has no choice but to mine its own territory.
Russian troops have struggled to launch an offensive in some areas of Donetsk Oblast, such as the southern part between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka, despite the "massive troop usage," thanks to the landmines, including anti-personnel mines launched from a distance, according to Hrabskyi.
Ukraine's need for a large quantity of anti-personnel mines became clear when Russia switched its tactics and began relying heavily on direct charges, according to Serhiy Kuzan, co-founder and chairman of the local think tank Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center.
Kuzan told the Kyiv Independent that he believes the official withdrawal would not affect the situation on the front in any way, since it is more of a diplomatic move rather than a practical one.
With Western capitals showing no pushback to the decision, international humanitarian organizations remain wary.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was "deeply concerned" by any steps that could increase the usage of anti-personnel mines, stressing that they have caused "terrible suffering for civilians all over the world."
"We call on all countries to stay committed to a world without anti-personnel mines and to keep strengthening the rules that protect people during war," Pat Griffiths, ICRC spokesperson in Ukraine, told the Kyiv Independent.
Not tied to Ukraine's withdrawal, Russia, however, has never shown an intention to sign or abide by the treaty, making the banning of such weapons during the current war highly unlikely.
‘Talk about an invasion is everywhere’ — How Lithuania is preparing for war with RussiaThroughout Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, repeated and escalating warnings of the potential for a wider war have only raised fears in the Baltic states that they could be next in the crosshairs of the Kremlin. Talk about a potential Russian invasion is “very common at parties, gatherings, lunch breaks,
The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk
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Russia is preparing for a confrontation with NATO: will Europe have time to prepare? #shorts
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North Korea already using Russian Pantsir missiles to defend Pyongyang, Ukraine's intelligence chief says
North Korea is already using Russia Pantsir S-1 air defense systems in Pyongyang, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), said in an interview with Hromadske Radio on July 1.
The arrival of Pantsir missiles is another sign that North Korea is improving its weapons technology and military might through cooperation with Russia. The two nations signed a defense treaty in June 2024, and North Korea has supplied arms and troops to Moscow in exchange for training and advanced military technology.
“I can tell you that, for example, the first Pantsir S-1 installations have already appeared in Pyongyang,” Budanov told Hromadske Radio.
“They are already on combat duty there, guarding their capital. And the Russians are retraining Korean personnel, and soon the Koreans will be working autonomously on this technology."
The Pansir S-1 is the same air defense system Russia uses to guard its military-industrial facilities. It carries an estimated price tag of around $15 million.
North Korea is “currently significantly increasing its military power” through direct cooperation with Russia, Budanov said. It benefits from Russia’s ongoing technology transfers and the “real combat experience” personnel gained by fighting alongside Russian troops against Ukraine.
Budanov also said Ukraine expects “a significant increase” in the number of North Korean citizens in Russia. Some of these citizens will sign up for the Russian military, making it seem less like an official transfer of North Korean personnel and more like voluntary registration from invidivual citizens.
The day before Budanov’s comments, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly honored his country’s soldiers who were killed fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The ceremony coincided with a visit by Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, illustrating the deepening military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang continues.
Russia has also reportedly provided North Korea with advanced electronic warfare systems, helped the country build modern warships, and improved its KN-23 ballistic missiles.
In June, Budanov said that Moscow has agreed to assist Pyongyang in mass-producing Shahed-type attack drones.
Russia-Iran alliance wavers as Tehran suffers major blowsTehran, Russia’s main ally in the Middle East, has been dealt a heavy blow as Israel dismantled its network of proxies and then struck targets in Iran. The recent Iranian-Israeli war, which ended with a ceasefire on June 24, showed that the regional balance of power has shifted in Israel’s favor. This could have a major impact on Russian-Iranian relations as Moscow will have to recalibrate its approach to the region. Russian-Iranian cooperation is likely to continue but Iran’s ability to help
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
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Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones strike Russian plant 1,300km from border, SBU source says
Key developments on July 1:
- ‘With surgical precision’ — Ukrainian drones strike Russian plant 1,300km away, SBU source says
- Russian missile strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kills brigade commander, injures 30 people, Zelensky says
- Ukrainian forces hit Russian command post in occupied Donetsk Oblast, General Staff says
- Zelensky signs ratification of Special Tribunal on Russian aggression
- Russian Su-34 aircraft crashes during training flight, pilot dies, media reports
Ukrainian drones struck a major Russian military plant in the city of Izhevsk, over 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from Ukrainian-held territory, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent on July 1.
The SBU source said the agency’s long-range drones targeted the Kupol plant in Russia’s Udmurt Republic on the morning of July 1. At least two drones struck production and storage facilities, starting a fire at the site, according to the source.
The facility produces Tor and Osa air defense systems, as well as Harpy attack drones for the Russian military, and is under international sanctions as part of Russia’s defense-industrial complex.
"With surgical precision, the SBU continues to carry out strikes against Russia's military-industrial enterprises contributing to the war effort against Ukraine," the source said.
"Each such operation weakens (Russia's) offensive potential, disrupts weapons production chains, and proves that no part of Russia is a safe zone for its military infrastructure."
Residents of Izhevsk reported explosions early on July 1, while local authorities confirmed a drone strike on a facility in the city. Alexander Brechalov, head of Russia's Udmurt Republic, said emergency services had responded to the attack and that further information would be provided as it became available.
Brechalov later reported casualties, citing deaths and serious injuries, but did not provide specific figures.
Russia's aviation agency temporarily suspended flights in and out of the city's airport following the incident.
Russian Telegram channels reported that no air raid siren was sounded before the drone attack on the Kupol plant. According to Astra, Izhevsk residents also could not access warnings via Telegram due to mobile internet outages, which locals say have persisted for nearly two weeks.
Ukraine’s new interceptor UAVs are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the skyRussia’s Shahed drone swarms are pummeling Ukraine on a nightly basis, inflicting ever more death and destruction in cities that had managed to carve out some sense of normalcy amid wartime. Civilian alarm has grown. With traditional air defense stockpiles running low, the government is banking on newly created
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
Russian missile strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kills brigade commander, injures 30 people, Zelensky saysA Russian missile attack killed the commander of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Serhii Zakharevych, and injured 30 people in Huliaipole in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on July 1, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address.
The Russian army struck the Kamianske district, where the village of Huliaipole is located, in the morning on July 1, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.
Huliaipole, with a pre-war population of around 1,200, lies in the western part of eastern Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, roughly 70 kilometers (40 miles) from the front line.
Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent) "We will definitely respond to the Russians for this attack," Zelensky said, adding that the investigation into the Russian attack is currently underway and he is waiting for a report from the military command.
Zakharevych graduated from the Odesa Institute of the Ground Forces. After graduation, he led a platoon in a reconnaissance company of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 1st Tank Brigade.
In February 2025, he was appointed commander of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Prior to that, he served as deputy commander of the 33rd Mechanized Brigade.
Zakharevych was involved in preparing three qualification courses for the Ukrainian Special Forces and headed the 47th Special Forces detachment. He participated in combat missions at the front.
"Our army has lost another representative of a new generation of Ukrainian officers who grew up in combat and became models of courage and proactive military leadership," the General Staff's statement read.
Ukrainian forces hit Russian command post in occupied Donetsk Oblast, General Staff saysUkraine struck a command post of the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Armed Forces in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's General Staff reported on July 1, a day after the attack.
On the evening of June 30, explosions were heard in the Russian-occupied Donetsk, the Russian Telegram channel Shot reported. According to residents, several fires were spotted in different parts of the city.
The attack has significantly hampered Russia's ability to plan and conduct operations in the Pokrovsk and Toretsk areas of the front line, the General Staff's statement read.
Russian losses are still being determined.
Ukraine's military regularly strikes military targets in Russian-occupied territories and deep within Russia in an attempt to diminish Moscow's fighting power as it continues its war against Ukraine.
Russia has for months focused its offensive efforts on the embattled town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast and has recently been escalating attempts to break through to neighboring Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a region that has not yet seen combat.
Ukraine denied reports that Russian forces breached the regional border in May and June.
Russia-Iran alliance wavers as Tehran suffers major blowsTehran, Russia’s main ally in the Middle East, has been dealt a heavy blow as Israel dismantled its network of proxies and then struck targets in Iran. The recent Iranian-Israeli war, which ended with a ceasefire on June 24, showed that the regional balance of power has shifted in Israel’s favor. This could have a major impact on Russian-Iranian relations as Moscow will have to recalibrate its approach to the region. Russian-Iranian cooperation is likely to continue but Iran’s ability to help
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
Zelensky signs ratification of Special Tribunal on Russian aggressionPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 1 that he had signed the ratification documents establishing the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, marking a major step toward prosecuting Russia's leadership.
Ukraine and the Council of Europe signed the agreement establishing the Special Tribunal on June 25 during a ceremony in Strasbourg. Zelensky and Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset signed it after more than three years of advocacy and diplomacy.
"The agreement must now be swiftly ratified so that the process of creating the tribunal can begin," Zelensky said in a statement. He also instructed Ukraine's government to urgently submit necessary legislative changes to parliament to ensure Kyiv's full implementation of the agreement.
"I ask members of parliament to treat this as an immediate priority," Zelensky added, urging lawmakers to pass the needed legislation without delay.
The tribunal, once established, would specifically target Russia's top political and military leadership for the crime of aggression, defined as the illegal use of force by one state against another, which existing international bodies, like the International Criminal Court (ICC), are not able to prosecute due to jurisdictional limitations.
Zelensky also called on the Foreign Ministry and the Presidential Office to finalize a roadmap with international partners for the tribunal's launch.
"Already this year, Russia must begin to feel that accountability for the crime of aggression is inevitable," he said. "Aggression is a crime, and Russia's truly inevitable punishment for this crime is in the global interest of everyone in the world who wants their people to live in peace."
Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on June 25, Zelensky thanked the body for championing the idea from its inception and pushing forward international accountability for Russia's invasion.
"It was here in this assembly, that the first call for such a tribunal was made," Zelensky said. "The idea was born here — and now it’s gaining real support from partner countries in Europe and beyond."
The tribunal is designed to close a legal gap that currently prevents the ICC from prosecuting Russia for the crime of aggression, although the court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova in connection with the deportation of Ukrainian children.
Want to invest in Ukrainian startups from the US? This platform promises to be the bridgeHans Braunfisch wants Americans to invest in Ukrainian startups, but there’s a problem: there’s no clear path for individual investors to put money into the more than 26,000 Ukrainian startups out there. The former PwC consultant plans to change that with Pravo Venture, a platform streamlining foreign investment forThe Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell
Russian Su-34 aircraft crashes during training flight, pilot dies, media reportsA Russian Air Force Su-34 fighter jet crashed during a training exercise in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russian state media Ria Novosti reported on July 1, citing Russia's Defense Ministry.
One of the pilots died due to sustained injuries, Russian media outlet Mash reported later in the day. After ejecting, he landed on a tree. Medics could not save him, according to Mash.
One of the landing gear struts was not released during landing. The crew made several attempts to fix the malfunction in flight, but it did not help.
The crew successfully ejected from the plane, and there were no casualties, according to the ministry.
The Russian Su-34 is a Soviet-era medium-range fighter-bomber.
Plane and helicopter crashes have become more commonplace in Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent imposition of Western sanctions.According to the U.K. intelligence, Russia has lost over 30 Su-34 aircraft since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Moscow does not comment on its losses it faces inn its war against Ukraine.
Note from the author:
Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.
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Russian missile strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kills brigade commander, injures 30 people, Zelensky says
A Russian missile attack killed the commander of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Serhii Zakharevych, and injured 30 people in Huliaipole in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on July 1, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address.
The Russian army struck the Kamianske district, where the village of Huliaipole is located, in the morning on July 1, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.
Huliaipole, with a pre-war population of around 1,200, lies in the western part of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, roughly 70 kilometers (40 miles) from the front line.
Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent) “We will definitely respond to the Russians for this attack,” Zelensky said, adding that the investigation into the Russian attack is currently underway and he is waiting for a report from the military command.
Zakharevych graduated from the Odesa Institute of the Ground Forces. After graduation, he led a platoon in a reconnaissance company of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 1st Tank Brigade.
In February 2025, he was appointed commander of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Prior to that, he served as deputy commander of the 33rd Mechanized Brigade.
Zakharevych was involved in preparing three qualification courses for the Ukrainian Special Forces and headed the 47th Special Forces detachment. He participated in multiple combat missions at the front.
“Our army has lost another representative of a new generation of Ukrainian officers who grew up in combat and became models of courage and proactive military leadership,” the General Staff’s statement read.
Ukraine’s new interceptor UAVs are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the skyRussia’s Shahed drone swarms are pummeling Ukraine on a nightly basis, inflicting ever more death and destruction in cities that had managed to carve out some sense of normalcy amid wartime. Civilian alarm has grown. With traditional air defense stockpiles running low, the government is banking on newly created
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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Russia is really in pain! Zelenskyy on the effectiveness of sanctions #shorts
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Ukraine strikes Russian rear! Crimea is on fire, and allies invest in drones | News Pulse
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Ukrainian forces hit Russian command post in occupied Donetsk Oblast, General Staff says
Ukraine struck a command post of the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Armed Forces in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine’s General Staff reported on July 1, a day after the attack.
On the evening of June 30, explosions were heard in the Russian-occupied Donetsk, the Russian Telegram channel Shot reported. According to residents, several fires were spotted in different parts of the city.
The attack has significantly hampered Russia’s ability to plan and conduct operations in the Pokrovsk and Toretsk areas of the front line, the General Staff’s statement read.
Russian losses are still being determined.
Ukraine’s military regularly strikes military targets in Russian-occupied territories and deep within Russia in an attempt to diminish Moscow’s fighting power as it continues its war against Ukraine.
Russia has for months focused its offensive efforts on the embattled town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast and has recently been escalating attempts to break through to neighboring Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a region that has not yet seen combat.
Ukraine denied reports that Russian forces breached the regional border in May and June.
Operation Spiderweb and Russia’s record drone assault – Ukraine in photos, June 2025For Ukraine, June began with a celebration — not the one the whole country longs for, victory over Moscow — but a celebration of one of the most stunning drone attacks on Russia, known as Operation Spiderweb. On June 1, Ukrainian drones targeted four Russian air bases – two of them thousands of
The Kyiv IndependentIrynka Hromotska
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Azerbaijan-Russia tensions escalate as Baku accuses Moscow of intentional killing of its citizens
Azerbaijan has leveled grave accusations against Russia, alleging the deliberate murder of its citizens. An autopsy conducted in Baku revealed that the Azerbaijani nationals died due to severe trauma inflicted by multiple blunt force impacts.
In a striking development, Azerbaijan has opened a criminal investigation on counts of "intentional murder" concerning two members of its diaspora in Yekaterinburg, as reported by the General Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday, July 1.
The Azerbaijani authorities have directly accused members of the Russian law enforcement agencies. The investigation stems from charges related to crimes committed outside the country, including "intentional murder by a group of people with particular cruelty, abuse of power, and torture resulting in death."
The incident in question occurred on the morning of June 27 in Yekaterinburg during a joint operation conducted by the Russian National Guard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Sverdlovsk region. Azerbaijani citizens and those of Azerbaijani descent were detained on suspicions of involvement in prior offenses. Among them were the brothers Ziyaddin and Guseyn Safarov, who were found dead.
The Azerbaijani General Prosecutor's Office believes the brothers were beaten to death intentionally. An autopsy in Baku confirmed that severe injuries from "multiple blunt force impacts" were the cause of death.
According to the Azerbaijani forensic specialists, 60-year-old Guseyn Safarov had a broken nose, chest deformity, and hemorrhages in the genital area. An autopsy revealed extensive hemorrhaging, fractured ribs, pleura and lung tears, as well as liver and abdominal damage. For 55-year-old Ziyaddin, hematomas and hemorrhages were found "throughout almost the entire body," including the genital and kidney areas. One rib was missing, and others were partially broken.
Azerbaijani experts concluded that the cause of death for both brothers was post-traumatic and hemorrhagic shock resulting from numerous severe injuries.
The Russian Investigative Committee, meanwhile, argued that one of the Safarov brothers died of heart failure, while the cause of the other's death is still under investigation.
On June 28, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement concerning the events in Yekaterinburg that took place the previous day. The Azerbaijani officials expressed serious concern over the FSB-led operation on June 27 in Azerbaijani-populated districts, during which over 50 Azerbaijanis were held.
On Saturday, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires in Baku, Petr Volokhov, demanding a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible.
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, did not comment on the deaths of the Azerbaijanis but stated that the raids are part of a probe into earlier crimes.
In response, Azerbaijan canceled all cultural events involving Russia, an action met with regret by the Kremlin.
Tensions between Baku and Moscow have been simmering for several months. In May, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev declined an invitation to Moscow's May 9 Victory Day parade, opting instead to host Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha in Baku the same month.
The bilateral relationship further strained in December 2024 after a crash involving an Azerbaijani aircraft in Kazakhstan that resulted in 38 fatalities. Aliyev claimed the plane was shot down over Russia and accused the Kremlin of attempting to cover up the incident. President Vladimir Putin expressed sorrow, describing the event as a "tragic accident," yet stopped short of acknowledging Russia's responsibility.
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The commander of the 110th Brigade was killed in a strike
Colonel Serhiy Zakharevich, commander of the 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ground Forces, was killed in the area of operations. According to President Zelenskyy’s evening address, the colonel died as…
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Ukrainian missile strike on Donetsk kills Russian 8th Army commander
Colonel Ruslan Goryachkin, the commander of Russia's 8th Combined Arms Army, was killed in a Ukrainian missile strike using Storm Shadow missiles in Donetsk.
The precise hit on the Russian unit's headquarters occurred on the evening of June 30. The death of the high-ranking officer was reported by Ukrainian soldier and blogger Anatolii Shtefan (Shtirlitz).
Storm Shadow cruise missiles were launched toward Crimea, Donetsk, and Russia's Rostov region. The headquarters of the 8th Combined Arms Army, located in the Donetsk Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals building, near the local shopping mall, came under attack.
Reports from Abkhaz public forums confirm that Goryachkin died on June 30 while "performing his duty" in a combat zone. It is known that the officer was born and raised in Sukhumi, Abkhazia.
Goryachkin dedicated his life to the Russian army from a young age, rising through the ranks from cadet to army commander.
On the night of June 29, the Russian military carried out a massive attack on Ukraine. On that day, Russian forces launched 537 drones and missiles.
Additionally, in the early hours of July 1, Russian forces targeted Zaporizhzhia with Shaheds kamikaze drones, causing damage to private homes and businesses.
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US sanctions Russian IT company Aeza Group over ransomware operations
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on the Russian IT company Aeza Group for hosting infostealers and ransomware operations, according to a press release published on July 1.
Restrictions were imposed on two subsidiaries and four members of the Aeza Group’s management as well, the statement read.
The U.S. Treasury Department characterized Aeza as a “bulletproof hosting service” that provided services to the Meduza and Lumma infostealers, as well as to the BianLian and RedLine ransomware groups.
Aeza Group also hosted the Russian-language darknet marketplace for illegal drugs, BlackSprut.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Aeza Group sells access to specialized servers that help cybercriminals avoid detection and resist attempts by law enforcement agencies to suppress their criminal activities.
Sanctions against the company involve blocking all assets of the named individuals located in the U.S. Any legal entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, by 50% or more by one or more of the mentioned individuals are also blocked.
Violation of the U.S. sanctions may result in civil or criminal penalties.
The news comes as Ukraine continues to call on the U.S. to strengthen sanctions against Russia. Despite Russia’s refusal to accept the ceasefire proposal and its army’s ongoing advance across Ukrainian territory, the Trump administration has not yet imposed new restrictions.
Meanwhile, Senators Lindsey Graham (R) and Richard Blumenthal (D) introduced a bill to impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue to buy Russian oil and raw materials.
The legislation currently has broad bipartisan support, with 82 out of 100 U.S. senators backing it. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson also voiced his support for the bill.
Ukraine’s new interceptor UAVs are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the skyRussia’s Shahed drone swarms are pummeling Ukraine on a nightly basis, inflicting ever more death and destruction in cities that had managed to carve out some sense of normalcy amid wartime. Civilian alarm has grown. With traditional air defense stockpiles running low, the government is banking on newly created
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Putin, Macron hold first call since 2022, discuss wars in Ukraine, Middle East
Editor’s note: This story is being updated.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a call on July 1 for the first time since 2022, discussing Russia’s war against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, the Kremlin’s press service reported.
The conversation between the two leaders took place as the Russian army continues to advance along the front line, trying to gain a foothold in Sumy Oblast and enter Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Moscow has repeatedly rejected the U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, stalling peace talks with Ukraine.
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Ukraine's power exports surge 2.5 times, recovering to pre-Russian attack levels
Ukraine boosted electricity exports by 150% in June 2025 compared to the previous month, reaching over 237,000 megawatt-hours (MWh), according to consulting firm ExPro Electricity.
Current export volumes have returned to autumn 2022 levels, before Russia launched systematic attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure that caused massive blackouts across the country.
This marks Ukraine’s return to exporting more electricity than it imports for the first time since October 2023, ExPro analysis reports.
Electricity cannot be stored in large volumes for long periods, so it can be exported during certain hours when there is surplus in Ukraine’s energy system, and imported during deficit hours.
Hungary imported the majority of Ukrainian exports, with shipments jumping from 34,000 to 122,000 MWh in a single month.
The recovery represents a dramatic turnaround from June 2024, when Ukraine had no exports at all and imported 858,000 MWh, four times more than in June 2025.
Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, with the latest strike hitting a critical energy facility in Kherson Oblast on June 27 that caused widespread blackouts across multiple communities.
Governor Oleksandr Prokudin warned residents to prepare for prolonged outages as power engineers work to restore electricity, saying “Russia decided to plunge Kherson Oblast into darkness."
In February 2025, Emergency energy power shutdowns were introduced in eight Ukrainian oblasts due to Russian attacks on the country’s energy system.
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The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir
