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Russia seeks to involve Laos in war against Ukraine, military intelligence claims
Russia is seeking to involve Laos in its war against Ukraine under the pretense of humanitarian cooperation, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) claimed on July 5.
According to the agency, Moscow is organizing the deployment of a combined unit of military engineers from the Lao People’s Armed Forces to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, allegedly to help with demining operations.
Ukraine initially captured 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory during a cross-border offensive to Kursk Oblast but lost most of it during a Russian counteroffensive this year, which was supported by North Korean troops.
Laotian authorities have reportedly agreed to send up to 50 engineers to support Russian efforts. In addition, Laos is said to be offering free rehabilitation services to wounded Russian soldiers.
"Russia, under the guise of humanitarian rhetoric, is trying to legalize the presence of foreign military contingents on its territory, effectively using them to wage war against Ukraine," HUR said.
This comes amid broader efforts by the Kremlin to recruit foreign personnel. Russia has drawn heavily on fighters from Asia and Africa, as well as North Korea.
Ukraine has captured multiple foreigners fighting for Russian forces. an April investigation by Russian independent outlet Important Stories identified more than 1,500 foreign fighters from 48 countries who had joined Russia’s war.
Laos, a landlocked Southeast Asian country bordering China, Vietnam, and Thailand, has not commented on HUR’s claim. The country maintains close ties with both Moscow and its ally Beijing.
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4 killed, 37 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least four civilians were killed and 37 others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, regional authorities reported on July 5.
Russia launched 322 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type attack drones, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Air defenses intercepted 292 drones, while another 135 dropped off radars, likely used as decoys to overwhelm Ukrainian systems.
The attack was repelled using aviation, electronic warfare, mobile fire teams, and air defense systems.
In Donetsk Oblast, Russian strikes killed two civilians and injured four more, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. In Kharkiv Oblast, one person was killed and 15 injured, including two children, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
In Kherson Oblast, 11 civilians were injured as Russian forces targeted residential areas and other civilian infrastructure, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.
A 49-year-old postal worker was injured in Chernihiv Oblast by a first-person-view (FPV) drone, Governor Viacheslav Chaus said. The man sustained shrapnel wounds while delivering mail.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, four civilians, two men and two women, were injured in Russian strikes, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, an 84-year-old man was killed, and two others — a 54-year-old man and a 10-year-old boy — were injured, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.
The latest strikes come as Russia continues to escalate its aerial campaign and reject calls for a ceasefire. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly urged Western partners to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities amid persistent drone and missile strikes.
Trump says Putin ‘wants to keep killing people,’ signals US may send Patriots to Ukraine“It just seems like he wants to go all the way and just keep killing people. It’s not good,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
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Trump says Putin 'wants to keep killing people,' signals US may send Patriots to Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump said on July 5 that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not appear interested in ending the war in Ukraine, according to a comment made onboard Air Force One.
Trump reiterated that he was “very unhappy” with the July 3 phone call between the two leaders.
“It just seems like he wants to go all the way and just keep killing people. It’s not good. I wasn’t happy with it,” Trump told reporters.
The call, which lasted about an hour, was confirmed by the Kremlin to have focused on Ukraine. Putin reportedly told Trump that Russia would continue pursuing its “goals” in the war.
Trump’s remarks follow a sharp escalation in Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine that have killed and injured hundreds of civilians in recent weeks.
The strikes have hit multiple regions, destroying civilian infrastructure amid persistent calls from Ukraine, the U.S., and Europe for an unconditional ceasefire.
The day after his call with Putin, the U.S. president spoke by phone with President Volodymyr Zelensky and said the two had a “very strategic” conversation.
“We talked about different things… I think it was a very, very strategic call,” Trump said. When asked about supplying Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, he replied, “Yeah, we might."
“They’re going to need something because they’re being hit pretty hard,” Trump added.
The statement comes as the U.S. Defense Department has paused deliveries of several key weapons systems, including Patriot missiles and precision-guided munitions, prompting concern in Kyiv.
While Trump has said he wants to help Ukraine, his administration has not imposed new sanctions on Russia since taking office and has not approved additional aid packages.
The U.S. president has instead directed strikes against Iran, targeting three nuclear facilities in June in response to regional escalations, a move critics say contrasts with his cautious approach toward Moscow.
When asked why he appears tougher on Tehran than Moscow, Trump told reporters, “No, I think I’m tougher on Russia than I am on Iran."
Despite two rounds of face-to-face talks between Moscow and Kyiv in May and June in Istanbul, no agreement on a ceasefire has been reached. The negotiations have only resulted in prisoner exchanges, as Moscow continues to push for maximalist demands in peace talks.
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General Staff: Russia has lost 1,025,260 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost 1,025,260 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on July 5.
The number includes 1,050 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,990 tanks, 22,953 armored fighting vehicles, 54,148 vehicles and fuel tanks, 29,921 artillery systems, 1,428 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,191 air defense systems, 420 airplanes, 340 helicopters, 43,609 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
Ukraine strikes deep into Russia with drones, targets airfields after record Kyiv barrageThe Russian Defense Ministry reported a total of 42 drones destroyed, with 37 of them intercepted in three regions bordering Ukraine: Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
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New NATO commander takes helm as alliance lauds outgoing chief for modernizing defense
U.S. Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command as the 21st Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) on July 4 during a ceremony at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte presided over the handover, commending outgoing U.S. Army General Christopher G. Cavoli for his contributions to modernizing NATO’s collective defense and bolstering support for Ukraine.
Rutte highlighted Cavoli’s efforts to strengthen NATO’s presence in the Baltic Sea in response to threats to critical undersea infrastructure and credited him with conceiving and establishing NATO’s new command in Germany to enhance assistance to Ukraine. He also noted Cavoli’s role in refocusing the Alliance on collective defense following the 2022 Madrid Summit, where NATO adopted a new Strategic Concept in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Cavoli played a central role in developing and securing approval for NATO’s regional defense plans at the 2023 Vilnius Summit—a significant overhaul of the Alliance’s military posture since the Cold War.
His tenure also included the integration of Finland and Sweden into NATO’s military structures, expanding the Alliance’s strategic reach. In 2024, Cavoli oversaw “Steadfast Defender,” NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War, involving approximately 90,000 troops practicing large-scale reinforcement across the eastern flank and validating a new high-readiness force model.
Rutte specifically acknowledged Cavoli’s leadership in rapidly reinforcing NATO’s Baltic Sea presence during threats to underwater infrastructure and for establishing the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), which continues to support Ukraine.
The secretary general welcomed General Grynkewich, noting that, as a former fighter pilot, he brings “a deep understanding of the threats we face from the skies, and across other domains.” Rutte added that Grynkewich’s recent role as Director of Operations of the Joint Staff provides him with broad experience in advancing military and security priorities amid global challenges.
Allied Command Operations—responsible for planning and executing all NATO operations—now falls under General Grynkewich’s command, a position first held by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Russia launches another horrific attack on Kyiv hours after Trump-Putin callRipe cherries and apricots fill the stalls of fruit vendors, while people bustle about on a scorching July Friday. Yet just a five-minute walk from the stand, the scene shifts dramatically: a gaping hole mars the five-story residential building where the stairwell once stood. Rescuers tirelessly sift through the
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
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Ukraine strikes deep into Russia with drones, targets airfields after record Kyiv barrage
After Russia launched a record missile and drone attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight on July 4, Ukraine responded the following night with drone strikes across multiple regions of Russia. Local air defenses reportedly downed at least two drones near St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region surrounding St. Petersburg, said on Telegram that two drones were intercepted in different districts south of the city, with no injuries or damage reported, though operations at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport were temporarily suspended.
Beyond the St. Petersburg area, widespread drone activity was reported overnight on July 5.
The governor of the Smolensk region in western Russia said anti-aircraft units downed three drones without casualties or damage. The governor of the Voronezh region, bordering Ukraine, also confirmed the destruction of “several” drones.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported a total of 42 drones destroyed over a three-hour period, with 37 of them intercepted in three regions bordering Ukraine: Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk.
Further deep inside Russia, unknown drones attacked Borisoglebsk in the Voronezh region. Russian Telegram channels and NASA’s fire monitoring system reported a fire near a military airfield following the strike. Residents in Borisoglebsk reported powerful explosions around 2 a.m. local time, with accounts suggesting 8-10 loud blasts.
Explosions also occurred overnight in the city of Cheboksary in the Chuvash Republic. Residents captured video footage showing impacts and a fire, reportedly at a local industrial facility. Additionally, explosions were heard during the night in Engels, Saratov region, with some Telegram channels suggesting a military airfield was likely targeted.
Death of top Russian oil executive fuels fresh scrutiny of elite’s ‘window falls’The unexplained death of a top Russian oil executive on July 4 is fueling renewed scrutiny over the rising number of high-profile Russian officials and businessmen who have died under mysterious circumstances, specifically, have fallen out of windows. Andrei Badalov, vice president of Transneft, Russia’s largest state-controlled pipeline transport company,
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
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Moldova's EU future rests on September election, President Sandu says
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on July 4 that her country’s European Union aspirations depend on Moldovan citizens as a crucial September 28 election approaches.
Sandu hopes her pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) will retain its parliamentary majority, paving the way for Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest nations, to join the EU by 2030.
Sandu made her remarks at the conclusion of the 27-nation bloc’s inaugural summit with Moldova. Her PAS party faces a challenge from the pro-Russian Socialist Party and its allies in the upcoming election. Sandu secured re-election last year by a narrow margin against a Socialist challenger in the ex-Soviet state, located between Ukraine and Romania. A referendum seeking public backing for EU membership also just barely surpassed a 50% majority.
“Prosperity and peace do not occur for nothing, you have to build them. With collective effort and unity. When citizens are united and choose the correct path and proceed along it,” Sandu told a news conference after the summit. “The European Union is already happening here. The only risk is if we stop. If we decide this autumn that nothing will stop us, then everything is possible."
Sandu and her party have condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and accuse Moscow of destabilizing Moldova. Russia, in turn, claims many Moldovans desire to maintain ties with Moscow and accuses Sandu of fostering Russophobia.
Opinion polls suggest that no single party will likely secure a parliamentary majority. If no majority emerges, pro-European parties would need to engage in coalition talks.
At the summit, which included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council head Antonio Costa, the EU announced the disbursement of the first €270 million ($318 million) tranche of an Economic Growth Plan for Moldova.
‘Disingenuous’ Hegseth paused Ukraine weapons despite Pentagon finding aid wouldn’t hurt US readiness, NBC reportsA senior military review had concluded that while some munitions stockpiles, including precision weapons, were low, they had not fallen below critical thresholds, according to NBC. Still, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth opted to stop the shipment. This is reportedly his third such move since February.
The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir
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NATO chief urges US 'flexibility' on Ukraine aid as Washington halts deliveries
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on July 4 called on the United States to show “flexibility” in its military aid to Ukraine, after Washington unexpectedly paused some weapon deliveries citing concerns over dwindling domestic stockpiles.
The Pentagon’s decision to halt transfers of artillery rounds and air defense systems coincides with a significant escalation in Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, exposing critical vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s air defense capabilities as current US funding nears expiration this summer.
“The US has to make sure that the stockpiles are at the level we need for the U.S. to have, because they are crucial for our collective defense,” Rutte told reporters on July 4. “At the same time, of course, we hope for the flexibility, we have to make sure also that Ukraine can move forward."
The Pentagon announced the aid pause this week, citing a review of U.S. stockpiles as it assesses the need to conserve weapons for other potential security threats. This move comes as Russia intensified its air campaign, unleashing record drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other major urban centers overnight.
President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone Friday, aiming to persuade the U.S. leader to resume deliveries and increase weapon sales to the country. Trump expressed disappointment following his latest conversation with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, which produced no progress toward a ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine, now in its fourth-year.
Given Russia’s apparent unwillingness to pursue a ceasefire, allies must “be sure” Ukraine “has what it needs to stay in the fight,” Rutte emphasized. He spoke after a ceremony welcoming Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, the new commander of U.S. military forces in Europe and top NATO military commander.
Grynkewich acknowledged the ongoing discussions, adding: “We’ll see more play out of the next week or two.” He also announced a 90-day review of U.S. forces in Europe, examining potential future US posture in the region.
A broader US military review is expected later this summer, potentially outlining significant reductions in Europe. This prospect has already raised concerns among European NATO allies, who say they have received no prior information about these plans.
Death of top Russian oil executive fuels fresh scrutiny of elite’s ‘window falls’The unexplained death of a top Russian oil executive on July 4 is fueling renewed scrutiny over the rising number of high-profile Russian officials and businessmen who have died under mysterious circumstances, specifically, have fallen out of windows. Andrei Badalov, vice president of Transneft, Russia’s largest state-controlled pipeline transport company,
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
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'Coalition of the willing' for Ukraine to meet in UK on July 10, Politico reports
The British and French-led “coalition of the willing” is set to meet in the U.K. next week, Politico reported on July 4.
“On the agenda, there’s how to maintain Ukraine in a capacity to fight, how to increase pressure on Russia, and how to continue the work on the next steps,” an unnamed French official told Politico.
As Washington’s intensified efforts to broker a ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine failed, two rounds of largely inconclusive peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow took place in Turkey.
Following various failed attempts to obtain a ceasefire or peace deal, the coalition will meet again on July 10.
The French official told Politico that the priorities of the “coalition of the willing” have not changed, and will continue to focus on Ukraine’s military needs.
The meeting will be led by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, with President Volodymyr Zelensky and various leaders joining virtually, the official said.
The “coalition of the willing” has met repeatedly to determine potential security guarantees and a peacekeeping force for Ukraine. Leaders of 31 nations met in Paris on March 27 at a summit for the coalition.
Several countries, including France and the U.K., which lead the coalition, have pledged to send troops on the ground to enforce a potential ceasefire.
Russia launches another horrific attack on Kyiv hours after Trump-Putin callRipe cherries and apricots fill the stalls of fruit vendors, while people bustle about on a scorching July Friday. Yet just a five-minute walk from the stand, the scene shifts dramatically: a gaping hole mars the five-story residential building where the stairwell once stood. Rescuers tirelessly sift through the
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
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US did not halt weapons shipments to Ukraine, Meloni says
The U.S. has “reviewed” the components it is supplying Ukraine, but did not halt assistance, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on July 4.
“The United States has not stopped supplying weapons and supporting Ukraine, it has reviewed the decision to supply specific components… (this is) significant but very different from the total American disengagement that has been reported,” Meloni said, speaking at a forum.
U.S. President Donald Trump on July 3 denied that Washington has paused supplying weapons to Kyiv amid media reports of a halt in shipments.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed on July 2 that some military assistance to Ukraine has been halted as the U.S. Defense Department conducts a review of foreign aid deliveries.
“I hope for positive developments on the issue,” Meloni said, adding that she has spoken to Trump regarding Ukraine.
The weapons reportedly held back include two dozen Patriot air defense missiles, over two dozen Stinger air-defense systems, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, drones, and more than 90 AIM air-to-air missiles launched from F-16 fighter jets.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on July 2 that he understands the White House’s need to safeguard its own defense capabilities, but underscored that Ukraine urgently requires sustained support.
“I totally understand that the U.S. always has to make sure its interests are covered… When it comes to Ukraine, in the short term, Ukraine cannot do without all the support it can get,” Rutte said.
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers voiced their opposition to the decision to halt military aid shipments to Ukraine on July 2.
“We must build up our own Defense Industrial Base here in the U.S. while simultaneously providing the needed assistance to our allies who are defending their freedom from brutal invading dictators. To not do both is unacceptable,” Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, described the military aid pause as “fallacious and maybe even disingenuous."
Ukraine war latest: Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 1 dead, 26 injuredKey developments on July 4: * ‘Nothing but terror and murder’ — Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 1 dead, 26 injured * Zelensky, Trump discuss air defense, joint drone production amid Russian strikes * ‘There is also good news’ — Ukrainian drones hit key military optics plant in Russia, General Staff
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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'There will be 1,000 units per day' — Ukrainian commander warns of increased Russian Shahed drone attacks
Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, warned on July 4 that Russian Shahed drone strikes could increase to 1,000 per day, prompting Ukraine to consider relocating drone production.
“Under the pressure of increasing mass use by the enemy of a cheap, but everywhere accessible Shahed… There will be 1,000 units (launched) per day and more,” he said in a post to social media.
Russia regularly strikes Ukrainian cities in drone attacks that heavily rely on the Iranian-designed Shahed drone.
Russia launched drones and ballistic missiles at the Ukrainian capital, injuring at least 26 people and killing one overnight on July 4. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched a record 550 drones and missiles during the seven-hour barrage.
“I am not scaring anyone,” Brovdi said, adding that he is citing the result of an intelligence analysis.
Kyiv is now considering relocating drone production amid the increased threat of Russian attacks, he said.
Ukraine has sought to expand its own defense production abroad, reaching key agreements with allies in recent weeks.
Copenhagen and Kyiv signed an agreement on July 4 that allows Ukrainian defense companies to open production facilities in Denmark, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin said.
Skyeton Prevail Solutions, a joint venture between Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton and U.K.-based defense company Prevail Solutions, will manufacture and supply Raybird drones in the U.K., the two companies announced on July 2.
Zelensky and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer met in London on June 23, where the two leaders agreed to an “industrial military co-production agreement."
Death of top Russian oil executive fuels fresh scrutiny of elite’s ‘window falls’The unexplained death of a top Russian oil executive on July 4 is fueling renewed scrutiny over the rising number of high-profile Russian officials and businessmen who have died under mysterious circumstances, specifically, have fallen out of windows. Andrei Badalov, vice president of Transneft, Russia’s largest state-controlled pipeline transport company,
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
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Death of top Russian oil executive fuels fresh scrutiny of elite's 'window falls'
The unexplained death of a top Russian oil executive on July 4 is fueling renewed scrutiny over the rising number of high-profile Russian officials and businessmen who have died under mysterious circumstances, specifically, have fallen out of windows.
Andrei Badalov, vice president of Transneft, Russia’s largest state-controlled pipeline transport company, died after falling from the window of his apartment in Moscow.
Russian state news agency TASS, citing law enforcement sources, claimed the preliminary cause of death was suicide.
While Russian authorities often label these falls as suicides or accidents, others suggest something more deliberate may be at play.
Andrei Badalov, vice president of Russia’s state pipeline company Transneft, died after falling out of the window of his apartment in Moscow. (Social media) Ivan Stupak, a Ukrainian military analyst and former security service (SBU) officer, said it’s likely that Russia’s own security services are behind many such deaths.
“They can pressure a person in one way or another. It’s a well-known tactic — either you kill yourself, and your family is left in peace with what they have, or they start arrests, imprisonments, and leave everyone destitute,” he told the Kyiv Independent.
Wave of suspicious deaths since 2022Since early 2022, dozens of Russian businessmen, state officials, and industry leaders have died under questionable circumstances.
While many of these cases have officially been labeled as suicides, others involve alleged murder-suicides, mysterious accidents, or unexplained falls.
In April 2022, Vladislav Avayev, vice president of Gazprombank, one of Russia’s largest banks, was found dead in Moscow alongside his wife and daughter. Preliminary findings claimed Avaev shot them before turning the gun on himself.
Russian President Vladimir Putin flies in a helicopter to visit the Center for the Construction of Large-Tonnage Offshore Structures of Novatek-Murmansk company in Belokamenka, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, on July 20, 2023. (Alexander Kazakov / Sputnik / AFP via Getty Images) Just days later, former Novatek gas producer executive Sergei Protosenya, his wife, and daughter were discovered dead at a villa in Spain.
Spanish media reported that Protosenya allegedly killed his family and then hanged himself, though the case remains unresolved.
Stupak suggested that not all of the deaths are politically motivated — some may stem from internal business rivalries.
“Apart from business disputes, it could also be a case of unpaid debts, borrowed money, or even embezzlement,” he said.
Eight deadly ‘falls’Among the most striking patterns is the recurrence of deaths caused by “falling out of a window.” At least seven such incidents have been reported since 2022.
In September 2022, Ravil Maganov, chairman of Russia’s second-largest oil firm Lukoil, died after falling from a hospital window in Moscow.
While Lukoil’s official obituary cited a “serious illness,” state media later reported he had allegedly committed suicide.
“Either you mysteriously die, or you end up behind bars.”
That same year, United Russia lawmaker Pavel Antonov was found dead at a hotel in India, lying in a pool of blood beneath his window.
Indian police said Antonov fell from the third floor, and local media reported that he had been "depressed" over the recent death of a friend, who had died in the same hotel days earlier.
Most recently, on Feb. 6, Russian singer-songwriter Vadim Stroykin died during a raid by Russian security forces.
Russian musician Vadim Stroykin fell from a 10th-floor window of his apartment in St. Petersburg, Russia, while officers were conducting a search linked to his alleged donation to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. (Facebook) Human rights group OVD-Info reported that Stroykin fell out of a 10th-floor window of his St. Petersburg apartment while officers were conducting a search linked to his alleged donation to Ukraine's Armed Forces.
Russian media called the death a suicide. Stroykin had previously condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and criticized President Vladimir Putin directly.
Physically throwing someone out of a window would require at least two people, making it a loud and risky operation. Yet sometimes, the intent may be precisely to send a message, Stupak added.
Then-Head of the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023. Prigozhin and other Wagner leaders died in a suspicious plane crash inside Russia later in 2023, two months after he led a brief rebellion against the Kremlin. (Stringer / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) "Look at what happened with (Yevgeny) Prigozhin. He could've been poisoned somewhere in Africa, and they could have easily blamed it on spoiled bananas. But they chose a demonstrative, public execution," he said.
Wagner Group founder Prigozhin and other Wagner leaders died in a suspicious plane crash inside Russia in 2023. The crash came two months after Prigozhin led a brief rebellion against the Kremlin.
"So, this could be a warning to others, showing what happens if you don't pay your debts, refuse to hand over business shares, or go against Putin," he added.
Crackdown on elites deepensIn Russia's system, even high-ranking officials aren't safe from internal purges.
"Just recall the case of Timur Ivanov, Russia's deputy defense minister," Stupak said. "He's a Hero of Russia. Yet he was imprisoned, everything was confiscated, and his family was left with nothing."
Then-Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov in a Moscow court on April 24, 2024, in relation to suspected bribery charges. (Moscow’s Basmanny District Court / Anadolu via Getty Images) On July 1, Ivanov was sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony for bribery and embezzlement, the harshest punishment handed down in a recent wave of corruption cases targeting senior defense officials.
"This shows just how ruthless the regime can be," he said. "Either you mysteriously die, or you end up behind bars."
Stupak believes the trend will only continue, driven by infighting and shrinking economic opportunity.
"There are no Western companies left, and domestic business is stagnating. Not every business group can boast of keeping up its volumes," he said.
"Those who refuse to cooperate," he said, "end up either in prison or out the window."
Note from the author:
Hi, this is Tim. Thank you for reading this article. The Kyiv Independent doesn't have a wealthy owner or a paywall. Instead, we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism funded. If you liked this article, consider joining our community today.
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Ukraine war latest: Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 1 dead, 26 injured
Key developments on July 4:
- ‘Nothing but terror and murder’ — Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 1 dead, 26 injured
- Zelensky, Trump discuss air defense, joint drone production amid Russian strikes
- ‘There is also good news’ — Ukrainian drones hit key military optics plant in Russia, General Staff confirms
- Russia intensifying use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, Dutch intelligence reports
- Ukraine, Denmark sign deal to launch Ukrainian military production on Danish soil
- Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW exchange
Explosions rocked the city of Kyiv for more than seven hours overnight on July 4, as Russia launched a record missile and drone attack targeting the capital and other cities across Ukraine.
At least one person was killed, and 26 others were injured in Kyiv, the State Emergency Service reported.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 14 people had been hospitalized, while Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, in the afternoon confirmed a body had been found during rescue operations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched a record 550 drones and missiles during the seven-hour barrage. Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground heard multiple rounds of explosions in the city beginning around 8 p.m. local time on July 3 and continuing into the early hours of July 4
The attack damaged apartment buildings, businesses, a school, a medical facility, railway lines, and other civilian infrastructure in multiple districts. Fires blazed across the city, making the air dangerous to breathe.
“Russia, a terrorist country, has wreaked havoc,” Tkachenko wrote on Telegram. “The Russians bring nothing but terror and murder. That is a fact."
Smoke rises from a fire after a mass Russian drone and missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 4, 2025. (Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images) Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia had launched a ballistic missile towards Kyiv at around 12:30 a.m., and then additional missiles around 2:30 a.m.
As officials reported real-time updates on damage and casualties amid the ongoing assault, Kyiv Independent reporters in the city said that smoke from explosions clogged the air even in neighborhoods far from the attack sites.
“The first air raids in our cities and regions began yesterday, almost simultaneously with the start of media discussions of President Trump’s phone call with Putin,” Zelensky said in a post on social media on July 4.
“This was one of the largest-scale air attacks — deliberately massive and cynical… Russia is once again demonstrating that it is not going to end the war and terror."
Destroyed building and burned cars after a massive drone and missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 4, 2025 (Elena Kalinichenko/The Kyiv Independent). Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that the consular section of Poland’s embassy in Kyiv was damaged during Russia’s attack on Kyiv. “I just spoke with Ambassador (Piotr) Lukasiewicz; everyone is safe and unharmed,” Sikorski said.
He added that Ukraine urgently needs air defense systems.
Russia also targeted other regions of Ukraine with overnight attacks. Downed drones struck property and a vehicle in the city of Poltava, regional Governor Volodymyr Kohut reported. The strike injured two people.
Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities have faced intensified drone and missile strikes in recent weeks, with Russia deploying Iranian-designed Shahed drones in record numbers.
Russia launches another horrific attack on Kyiv hours after Trump-Putin callRipe cherries and apricots fill the stalls of fruit vendors, while people bustle about on a scorching July Friday. Yet just a five-minute walk from the stand, the scene shifts dramatically: a gaping hole mars the five-story residential building where the stairwell once stood. Rescuers tirelessly sift through the
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna HodunovaZelensky, Trump discuss air defense, joint drone production amid Russian strikesPresident Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation on July 4, agreeing to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, Zelensky announced on Telegram.
The call came as Russia escalated its aerial campaign across Ukraine.
“Today we discussed the situation: Russian air strikes and, more broadly, the situation on the front lines. President Trump is very well informed,” Zelensky said.
“We discussed air defense options and agreed to work on increasing airspace protection. We agreed on a meeting between our teams."
Zelensky said the two leaders also discussed Ukraine’s defense industry potential and explored possibilities for direct cooperation with U.S. partners.
“We are ready for direct projects with America and believe that this is extremely necessary for security, especially with regard to drones and related technologies,” he added.
Trump told Zelensky that the U.S. is willing to assist Ukraine with air defense amid intensified Russian strikes, Axios reported, citing unnamed sources. The call between the two presidents reportedly lasted about 40 minutes.
This conversation followed a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 3, during which the Kremlin said Putin reaffirmed that “Russia will continue to pursue its goals” in its war against Ukraine despite U.S. calls for a ceasefire.
Trump told reporters on July 3 that he was “very disappointed” by the conversation with Putin.
“I don’t think he’s there… I don’t think he’s looking to stop this fighting."
The call also followed the U.S. Defense Department’s decision to pause shipments of key weapons systems to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles and precision-guided artillery rounds. Kyiv has warned that the delay threatens to weaken its air defenses and emboldens Moscow.
Despite repeated expressions of frustration about Russia’s continued aggression, Trump’s administration has yet to impose new sanctions or approve additional aid for Ukraine since taking office in January.
While Russia and Ukraine resumed direct talks in Istanbul this year, the two rounds of negotiations — on May 16 and June 2 — have yielded only prisoner exchanges and no progress toward a ceasefire.
Russia damages Chinese consulate in Odesa as Chinese drone parts found in Kyiv following similar attackChina has not publicly acknowledged the incident or reported any damage to its diplomatic premises in Odesa.The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
‘There is also good news’ — Ukrainian drones hit key military optics plant in Russia, General Staff confirmsDrones struck multiple targets in Russia overnight on July 4, including a high-value defense facility in the southern Rostov Oblast, according to Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation center at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.
Kovalenko said a drone hit the Azov Optical and Mechanical Plant in the town of Azov, Rostov Oblast. The facility reportedly manufactures critical components for the Russian military, including sights, rangefinders, thermal imaging systems, and fire control equipment for tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, ships, and aircraft.
“Despite the difficult night, there is also good news. There were attacks on facilities in Russia, particularly in Moscow and Rostov oblasts,” Kovalenko wrote. “This is where the ‘eyes’ for Russian armored vehicles are assembled."
Overnight on July 4, Russia launched a massive drone and missile assault on multiple Ukrainian cities, with Kyiv as the primary target. At least 23 people were injured in the capital amid widespread destruction and high levels of air pollution.
Ukraine’s General Staff later confirmed that its drone units struck the Scientific Research Institute of Applied Chemistry (FNTs NIIPKh) in Sergiyev Posad, Moscow Oblast.
The military said the facility is involved in the production of thermobaric warheads for Shahed-type drones and plays a critical role in Russia’s airstrike capabilities.
Russia’s Defense Ministry later claimed that air defense systems had intercepted or destroyed 48 Ukrainian drones overnight. According to the ministry, 26 were downed over Rostov Oblast, 12 over Kursk Oblast, six over Belgorod Oblast, three over Oryol Oblast, and one over Lipetsk Oblast.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims.
China’s foreign minister tells EU that Beijing cannot afford Russia to lose in Ukraine, media reportsChina’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.The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
Russia intensifying use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, Dutch intelligence reportsRussia is escalating the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces, the Netherlands Military Intelligence (MIVD) reported on July 4.
Russian troops use banned chemical agents as psychological warfare to panic Ukrainian forces, forcing soldiers from dugouts and trenches with gas grenades dropped by drones, making them easy targets for subsequent drone or artillery attacks.
According to MIVD report, it was previously known that Russia used tear gas, but now intelligence has confirmed the use of chloropicrin — a substance that can kill in high concentrations in enclosed spaces.
Use of of chloropicrin, banned under international law, was discovered by the Netherlands Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) and General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) together with the German foreign intelligence service BND.
The Kyiv Independent previously reported rising chemical attacks, but Ukraine could not accurately identify the chemical substances due to lack of equipment.
The U.S. State Department had already reported in May that Russian forces have used the chemical agent chloropicrin in Ukraine. The May 1 announcement was part of a larger statement about the introduction of new U.S. sanctions against more than 280 individuals and entities.
For now, the original statement has been removed from the U.S. State Department website.
Russia is using this type of weapon more frequently and “with ease,” says MIVD Director Vice Admiral Peter Reesink.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, who announced the news to the Dutch parliament, called the situation “absolutely unacceptable,” calling for “more sanctions, isolation of Russia and unwavering military support for Ukraine."
“We are making this public now because Russia’s use of chemical weapons must not become normalized,” Brekelmans said. “If the threshold for using this type of weapon is lowered, it is dangerous not only for Ukraine but also for the rest of Europe and the world."
Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has conducted over 9,000 chemical attacks. At least three Ukrainian soldiers have died directly from exposure to toxic substances, according to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.
Dutch intelligence has established that Russian military leadership actively facilitates chemical attacks, and the use of banned substances has become standard practice for Russian forces.
Moscow is also increasing investments in chemical weapons programs, expanding research, and recruiting new scientists, MIVD and AIVD observe.
The U.S. has accused Russia of deploying chloropicrin, often used in agriculture and widely weaponized as a “vomiting agent” during World War I.
Number of Ukrainian children killed and injured amid Russian full-scale invasion jumps threefold in recent monthsThe latest U.N. figures show a threefold jump in the number of deaths and injuries for children over the three months ending in May.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
Ukraine, Denmark sign deal to launch Ukrainian military production on Danish soilKyiv and Copenhagen signed a landmark agreement on July 4 that allows Ukrainian defense companies to open production facilities in Denmark, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin announced.
“This is a unique case of international cooperation for the Ukrainian defense industry,” Smetanin wrote on Facebook, following the signing ceremony in Copenhagen alongside Danish Industry Minister Morten Bodskov.
The deal marks the first time Ukrainian defense technologies will be exported abroad specifically for supply to Ukraine’s own Armed Forces, he said.
A year ago, Denmark became the first country to fund weapons production by Ukrainian manufacturers. Now, it has become the first to host Ukrainian arms production lines on its territory, Smetanin added.
“Today, it has become the first country to which Ukraine exports its own defense technologies for production, scaling, and supply to the Ukrainian army,” he said.
The agreement is part of Ukraine’s broader effort to internationalize its defense production. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 21 that Kyiv would soon begin exporting defense technologies and opening weapons production lines in partner countries.
To scale up domestic and international production, Zelensky has called on foreign partners to finance new projects and match Ukraine’s rapidly growing manufacturing capacity.
Denmark has been a key backer of Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. In February 2024, Copenhagen signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement with Kyiv, pledging long-term defense cooperation until Ukraine secures NATO membership.
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff pushing to lift energy sanctions on Russia, Politico reportsWhile Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly advocating for the easing of energy sanctions, others in the administration disagree. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum favors reducing U.S. reliance on Russian imports rather than expanding trade, according to Politico.The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir
Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW exchangeA new prisoner of war (POW) exchange with Russia has taken place, bringing home another group of Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity, many since 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on July 4.
“Our people are home. Most of them had been in Russian captivity since 2022,” Zelensky said in a statement.
According to Ukraine’s Land Forces, the group includes prisoners categorized as “wounded and seriously ill,” those “under the age of 25,” and civilians.
The exchange follows five swaps that occurred in June under the Istanbul deal reached between Ukraine and Russia on June 2. The agreement provided for the regular release of severely ill and wounded POWs from both sides, as well as the repatriation of the bodies of fallen soldiers.
Previous swaps have brought home service members from the Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service, many of whom were captured in 2022 during the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Recently released Ukrainian prisoners of war returned home following a POW exchange with Russia on July 4, 2025. (The Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of War / Telegram) “Exchanges must continue, and I thank everyone who makes this possible,” Zelensky said. “Ukraine’s goal is to free all our people from Russian captivity. I thank everyone who helps make that happen."
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the exchange on July 4, without disclosing the number of soldiers returned.
Previous exchanges have focused on individuals with serious medical needs resulting from injuries and harsh conditions in captivity. Some previously released prisoners had defended Mariupol during the 2022 siege, while others fought in regions including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Kyiv oblasts.
The Istanbul agreement followed months of stalled negotiations and was hailed as a humanitarian breakthrough despite the lack of broader political progress.
Ukraine continues to advocate for a full-scale “all-for-all” exchange, a proposal that Russia has so far rejected. Still, both sides have carried out smaller, phased swaps, sometimes multiple in a single week.
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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Germany reportedly mulls $29 billion tank, vehicle order to deter Russia
Germany is weighing a massive defense procurement plan worth up to 25 billion euros ($29.4 billion) to supply thousands of combat vehicles for NATO’s expanding force structure, Bloomberg reported on July 4, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
The proposed purchases are part of a broader pan-European effort to boost deterrence against Russia, as Western leaders warn of the growing risk of a large-scale war within five years.
Berlin is reportedly considering purchasing up to 2,500 GTK Boxer armored vehicles and up to 1,000 Leopard 2 battle tanks. The purchase would equip up to seven new brigades that Germany has pledged to form under NATO’s force generation plans for the next decade.
The Leopard 2 tanks are produced by KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall, while the Boxer is made by ARTEC, a joint venture of the same companies. Leopard 2 tanks have been supplied to Ukraine and tested in combat.
Final pricing and quantities are still under negotiation, and the projected cost could fall below 25 billion euros ($29.4 billion) depending on procurement timelines and contract terms.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and top Bundeswehr officials are reviewing the plans, with legislative approval expected by the end of the year, Bloomberg reported.
Germany has faced pressure from NATO and Washington to meet its alliance commitments, including the newly adopted pledge to spend at least 5% of GDP on defense by 2035.
The initiative, endorsed on June 25 at the NATO summit, reflects concern over Russia's wartime economy, military buildup, and destabilization efforts across Europe.
Ukraine, Denmark sign deal to launch Ukrainian military production on Danish soil“This is a unique case of international cooperation for the Ukrainian defense industry,” Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin said.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
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Russia launches another horrific attack on Kyiv hours after Trump-Putin call
KYIV — Ripe cherries and apricots fill the stalls of fruit vendors, while people bustle about on a scorching July Friday.
Yet just a five-minute walk from the stand, the scene shifts dramatically: a gaping hole mars the five-story residential building where the stairwell once stood. Rescuers tirelessly sift through the rubble, and a fragment of a Russian drone lies abandoned in the middle of the road.
Overnight on July 4, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in the hope of bringing the war to an end, Russia launched 270 Russian drones and ballistic missiles at the Ukrainian capital, injuring at least 24 people and killing one.
The Russian strike damaged residential buildings, businesses, a school, a medical facility, railway lines, and other civilian infrastructure in multiple districts.
L: Debris is seen after a mass Russian drone and missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 4, 2025. (Elena Kalinichenko / The Kyiv Independent). R: People clean up debris after a mass Russian drone and missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 4, 2025. (Elena Kalinichenko / The Kyiv Independent). Kyiv, a refuge for countless Ukrainians escaping the war in the east and south, grows more perilous each day as Russia escalates its drone and missile attacks on the city. Russia has recently been unleashing nearly 500 drones each night, both decoys and explosive-laden.
“The explosions I heard here were unlike anything I heard in Pokrovsk. It’s just beyond words,” Lillia Kuzmenko, who left the embattled Donetsk Oblast with her husband and moved to the capital a month ago, told the Kyiv Independent.
Given the intensifying strikes, Kuzmenko, who is eight months pregnant, said she doesn’t know what to expect next.
“Everything is in God’s hands,” she said. “Fortunately, everything in our apartment is intact. But the windows were blown out nearby."
Across the street from Kuzmenko’s house, a school has come under attack for the second time since the start of the full-scale invasion. Almost two years since the last hit, the blast wave again blew out windows in classrooms, and left shrapnel marks on the colorful mural on its wall.
Lars Fersters, a Dobrobat volunteer, stands near a school damaged during a mass Russian drone and missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 4, 2025. (Elena Kalinichenko / The Kyiv Independent) 
People clean up debris after a mass Russian drone and missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 4, 2025. (Elena Kalinichenko / The Kyiv Independent) Volunteers from Dobrobat, a non-governmental organization that helps restore buildings destroyed by Russian attacks, were already sweeping up glass and other remnants of the strike in the schoolyard.
Dozens of people gathered in the yard of one of the neighboring houses, uncertain of what to do next, as their own apartment building had suffered significant damage. Some of the residents have lost their homes in the recent attack.
“There is no apartment — bare walls. Our kitchen, as well as our bathroom, is now destroyed. Everything was blown away,” Temuri Nazgaidze, a Georgian national who moved to Ukraine with his wife two years ago, told the Kyiv Independent.
Temuri Nazgaidze, a resident of a damaged home, sits in his yard with his dog, Alpha, after a mass Russian drone and missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 4, 2025. Nazgaidze shared that he takes Alpha to the shelter during air raid alarms. “Alpha is stressed—she jumps every time she hears an explosion. She wants to sleep, but she can’t,” he said. (Kateryna Hodunova / The Kyiv Independent) As the Russian attacks intensified over the past months, Nazgaidze’s family began heading to the shelter whenever the air raid alarm sounded. He said this time it saved their lives.
“The explosion was deafening. It was very scary that the building where the shelter was located would collapse. People were screaming loudly. I thought someone had died,” Nazgaidze said.
The resident recalled this night when the drones relentlessly attacked the city like never before, and with every passing week, the fear and dread only deepened. Despite this, Nazgaidze does not want to leave Ukraine.
“This is a war between good and evil. Yes, I am Georgian, but I am with you. And I will always be with you because I love this country, and I love these people,” he said.
Note from the author:
Hello, this is Kateryna Hodunova, the author of this story. Like all the residents of Kyiv mentioned in the story, I spent the night sleepless, listening to the terrifying sounds of ballistic missiles being intercepted and drones swarming toward the capital. Each attack is more than just the number of the injured, the killed, or the damage done. It is a personal tragedy for every family affected, and I feel that pain.
If you’d like to support our work reporting on those attacks, please consider becoming our member.
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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Ukraine, Denmark sign deal to launch Ukrainian military production on Danish soil
Kyiv and Copenhagen signed a landmark agreement on July 4 that allows Ukrainian defense companies to open production facilities in Denmark, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin announced.
“This is a unique case of international cooperation for the Ukrainian defense industry,” Smetanin wrote on Facebook, following the signing ceremony in Copenhagen alongside Danish Industry Minister Morten Bodskov.
The deal marks the first time Ukrainian defense technologies will be exported abroad specifically for supply to Ukraine’s own Armed Forces, he said.
A year ago, Denmark became the first country to fund weapons production by Ukrainian manufacturers. Now, it has become the first to host Ukrainian arms production lines on its territory, Smetanin added.
“Today, it has become the first country to which Ukraine exports its own defense technologies for production, scaling, and supply to the Ukrainian army,” he said.
The agreement is part of Ukraine’s broader effort to internationalize its defense production. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 21 that Kyiv would soon begin exporting defense technologies and opening weapons production lines in partner countries.
To scale up domestic and international production, Zelensky has called on foreign partners to finance new projects and match Ukraine’s rapidly growing manufacturing capacity.
Denmark has been a key backer of Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. In February 2024, Copenhagen signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement with Kyiv, pledging long-term defense cooperation until Ukraine secures NATO membership.
‘Nothing but terror and murder’ — Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 1 dead, 23 injuredFires broke out across the city as Russia attacked the capital overnight on July 4. At least 23 people have been injured, with 14 of the victims hospitalized.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
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Ukraine's artillery braces for shell shortage as US halts aid
The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko spent a day with an artillery crew from the 28th Mechanized Brigade in the front-line city of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, in early July. As Russia’s summer offensive heats up, the brigade’s sector has become one of the hottest parts of the front line.
Following the recent decision by the U.S. Department of Defense to halt shipments of certain weapons to Ukraine — including 155mm artillery rounds — a looming shell shortage is once again on the horizon for Ukrainian forces. The halted shipment also reportedly included dozens of Patriot interceptors, Hellfire missiles, guided missile systems (GMLRS), Stinger and AIM air-to-air missiles, and grenade launchers.
While some argue that drones in Ukraine have taken over many of the roles traditionally filled by artillery, the work of this unit underscores the continued and critical importance of artillery in this war. -
Russia damages Chinese consulate in Odesa as Chinese drone parts found in Kyiv following similar attack
A Russian missile and drone strike on Odesa on July 3 damaged the building of the Chinese Consulate General, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on July 4.
“Following tonight’s massive Russian air attack on Ukraine, we discovered in Kyiv a component of a Russian-Iranian Shahed-136/Geran-2 combat drone, which was made in China and supplied just recently,” Sybiha wrote on X.
“And right on the eve, the Chinese Consulate General’s building in Odesa suffered minor damage."
The July 3 assault on Odesa killed two people and injured six others. China has not publicly acknowledged the incident or reported any damage to its diplomatic premises in the city.
The Shahed-136 drone, a loitering munition used by Russia in its attacks on Ukrainian cities, has been assembled in large numbers in Russia with components sourced globally.
Ukraine has previously documented that Chinese companies have contributed electronics and materials used in the production of these drones.
Beijing remains one of Russia’s key wartime partners, helping Moscow evade Western sanctions and emerging as the leading supplier of dual-use goods used by the Russian defense industry.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on July 3 that Beijing cannot afford for Russia to lose the war in Ukraine, according to the South China Morning Post, which cited unnamed sources familiar with the conversation.
The reported statement adds to growing concerns in Kyiv over China’s expanding role in supporting Russia’s war effort. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly accused China of siding with Moscow.
As Russian-Chinese relations deepen, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China in September for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where he is scheduled to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Zelensky, Trump discuss air defense, joint drone production amid Russian strikes“Today we discussed the situation: Russian air strikes and, more broadly, the situation on the front lines. President Trump is very well informed,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
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Outsourced War
There’s an old saying that all roads lead to Rome. These days, for a young Cuban with limited options and a taste for risk, many of those roads lead to Tula, the hometown of Russia’s 106th Guards Airborne Division. There, recruits trade island heat for assault trooper life, and ruble-denominated contracts. They’re not alone: from Havana to Kathmandu to Accra, foreigners are enlisting in the Russian military, often with little understanding of the language - or the war they’re about to enter.
In 2023, a massive data leak facilitated by Ukrainian cyber activists exposed hundreds of Cuban mercenaries who had joined Russian forces. The revelations were first examined in detail by Inform Napalm, an open-source intelligence group from Ukraine. After obtaining access to the leak through the platform called “Dallas-Park”, which contains breached Russian emails and internal documents, we reviewed recruitment records, contracts, and personal data related to Cuban fighters and others. Using these materials, along with additional sources and open investigations, our team set out to answer a broader question: how many foreign nationals are serving in the Russian military and what do we know about them. The answers are not always precise, but the overall picture is beginning to emerge
Table of ContentsIntro
I. The Island Soldiers
i) Tracked and Mapped
II. Signed and Sealed
III. Recruits without BordersI. The Island Soldiers
The story begins in 2023, not in warm and sunlit Cuba, but in the colder and less sunny Tula region, a few hundred kilometers south of Moscow. Inside a typical Soviet-era building, Major Anton Perevozchikov of the Russian Armed Forces, chief of the Contract Military Recruitment Office in Tula, was reviewing translated Cuban passports and studying the latest recruits hoping to serve in Russia’s military. While it is tempting to speculate about what drew these Cubans to a distant war, perhaps even inspiration from Tolstoy’s War and Peace, the contracts and addenda written in Spanish-language suggested a different story. The generous payments pointed at far more practical motives.
Major’s Personnel File Unbeknown to the major, Ukrainian hacktivists had infiltrated his network and accessed sensitive materials, including passports, contracts, and personal information of the mercenaries. They quietly copied the data and correspondence. Using details from the leak, Frontelligence Insight was able to identify and track several of the mercenaries through their digital footprint, including activity on social media.
After manually reviewing over 199 Cuban mercenaries, we compiled a brief demographic profile. Our dataset analysis was based on 176 verified records. This group likely represents at least a third of all Cubans fighting alongside Russian forces, making it a highly representative sample.
As we expected, the largest share of Cuban mercenaries came from Havana, Cuba’s capital and most populous city. The largest age group was 30 to 39, followed by those aged 40 to 49. This was somewhat unexpected, as our team had anticipated a younger overall profile among the recruits.
The youngest recruit was 18 years old, while the oldest was over 60. We cannot confirm whether the oldest individual passed all required examinations, and we were unable to track him in Russia. However, we did identify several recruits over the age of 40 who were taken into the Russian armed forces.
This was not the last group of Cubans to arrive in Russia, and recruitment operations were likely coordinated with the Cuban government. Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, co-founder of the U.S.-based Cuban Democratic Directorate, an NGO that advocates for democratic change in communist Cuba, told Ukrainian investigators from Schemes: “We can estimate that around 5,000 Cuban soldiers are fighting for Russia. This network could not function without the Cuban regime’s approval.”While our team concurs with that assessment of the regime’s involvement, we remain somewhat skeptical about the estimated number of Cuban fighters. More on that shortly.
i) Tracked and Mapped
With their full names in hand, it was not difficult to trace their locations and identify their digital footprints on Russian social media platforms.
One individual, Enriquez Linares Livan Michel, born in 1999, proved particularly helpful. His social media profile included not only photographs but also geolocation data, which revealed his whereabouts.
Screenshot from the Livan’s VK profile Although the location on his photo was labeled “Krym”, the Russian word for Crimea, it was not in Crimea at all, but near Tula - the same city where recruitment was taking place. When clicked, the VK platform redirects to Yandex Maps, showing not only the specific location but also other uploaded photos from the surrounding area. The frequent appearance of Russian paratroopers in distinctive striped shirts and blue berets, along with parachutes visible in images spanning from the early 2010s to the present, suggests that the facility remains actively used by Russian airborne forces.
This location was not unfamiliar to our team. It is a training area used by the 106th Guards Airborne Division, near a parachute landing zone known as Slobodka, which is famous for hosting the first manned airborne vehicle landing tests in the Soviet Union.
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To verify our findings, we tracked another identified Cuban recruit who posted photos on VK under the name Luis Darien and geolocated him directly within the training grounds, specifically on territory officially used by the 1060th Separate Logistics Support Battalion of the 106th Airborne Division. These findings corroborate information published earlier this year by Schemes (We recommend reading their investigations for more details).
Visual geolocation prepared for Frontelligence Insight by x.com/neonhandrail As of June 2025, the Slobodka training grounds remain actively in use. Although we cannot definitively determine whether they are used exclusively by Russian forces or also by Cuban recruits, imagery posted by Cubans themselves confirms they underwent training there at least in 2024.
As seen on the medium-resolution satellite imagery, dated May 2025, both the shooting range and the vehicle training area, typically used by BMDs here, show visible vehicle tracks and signs of grass fires, a typical pattern observed during live-fire training exercises.
Across the road from the main base, a tent camp is clearly visible - likely set up for recruits of the 106th Airborne Division.
Cubans, however, are not the only foreign recruits to have trained there. In 2023 and 2024, we also documented isolated cases of Serbian nationals being processed through Tula and the facilities of the 106th Airborne Division. Some of them ended up serving in 119th airborne regiment of the 106th division.
II. Signed and Sealed
According to the contract in Spanish, which matches standard agreements issued in 2023, the mercenaries from Cuba were offered the following terms:
A one-time signing bonus of 195,000 rubles (approximately $2,500 as of July 2025) for agreeing to serve for one year or more.
Monthly pay starting at 204,000 rubles (roughly $2,600 as of July 2025) while deployed in the so-called "special military operation zone."
Compensation for injuries sustained during deployment included:
1,000,000 rubles for severe injuries
500,000 rubles for moderate injuries
200,000 rubles for minor injuries
In the event of death or being declared missing in action, the contract promised a payout of 2,000,000 rubles, to be divided equally among the recruit’s family members.
By the standards of many developing countries, these are very lucrative salaries. It’s also worth noting that the contracts explicitly mention service in the special military operation zone, along with provisions for injury and death compensation. This indicates that while Russian recruiters may deceive some foreigners by downplaying or misrepresenting their potential involvement in combat, they do not completely omit references to the special military operation.
Depending on the case, individuals arrive in Russia through different channels. Some purchase tickets independently and travel on their own to Moscow, while others receive direct logistical support from the Russian side. In such cases, their arrival is organized in groups under the guise of construction workers or similar labor-related projects. In a few anecdotal instances, we documented direct government-level cooperation, where mercenaries were transported on regular commercial flights without any additional cover.
There are also numerous reported accounts of Russia using deceptive tactics, such as inviting foreigners for non-military jobs and then pressuring them to join the armed forces. These efforts often exploit the recruits’ limited knowledge of the Russian language and legal system. However, we have not been able to independently verify these claims.
III. Recruits Without BordersEven as our team cautiously estimates that slightly more than 500 Cubans and a similar number of Serbs have either travelled to Russia or attempted to enlist, determining exact figures for each nationality remains difficult. That being said, based on two primary data points, we are able to offer a realistic range.
One key reference comes from an investigation by iStories, a Russian investigative outlet known for its credible and high-quality reporting. In April 2025, using data from a hacked Unified Medical Information and Analytical System (EMIAS) database, iStories analyzed the number of foreigners processed through the Moscow recruitment center for contract military service, including a breakdown by nationality. We regard this as a reliable source, which we will discuss further below.
A second source consists of internal personnel documents from several Russian brigades and divisions, including lists of foreign fighters. While these records provide only a partial picture, since we do not know how many foreign recruits are assigned to each unit across Russia or how evenly they are distributed, they help us approximate the overall scale.
Thanks to the iStories investigation, we know that at least 603 Nepalese citizens visited the recruitment center in Moscow. The first Nepalese appeared in the Russian military no later than May 2023. After this becoming public in 2023, Nepalese government has taken steps to curb the flow of its citizens enlisting in Russia, but iStories notes that four Nepalese recruits still passed the selection process for contract service in January and February 2024. Yet, this number is significantly lower than in 2023, and the trend to its decrease likely has remained in 2024 and 2025.iStories also reported that eight Cuban and eight Serbian citizens visited the Moscow recruitment center over the course of the year. While this figure is much lower than our estimates and the number of confirmed cases, it is likely explained by the fact that many Cubans were processed through the recruitment center in Tula rather than in Moscow.
Estimating the number of recruits from Sub-Saharan African countries is more difficult. The sources of these recruits vary significantly. Some arrived in Russia on temporary visas or as students and later chose to enlist. Others requested Wagner Group or the African Corps assist them while still in their home countries. In some cases, individuals were lured with misleading job offers unrelated to military service. While we were unable to fully systematize this data, we assess that the total number of Sub-Saharan African mercenaries remains relatively small and is unlikely to exceed a battalion.
Upon reviewing Russian military documents related to enlisted soldiers in various brigades and regiments, we found relatively few foreign personnel - sometimes fewer than a single platoon, and in other cases around two platoons. This suggests that the overall number of foreign fighters is likely much smaller than some media reports imply. For instance, if there were truly 5,000 Cubans or 15,000 Nepalese involved, as reported by CNN, we would expect to see a much more substantial presence across these units - not just a few sections or platoons of mercenary soldiers in total. Another indicator is the number of prisoner-of-war (POW) videos. When comparing interviews with captured soldiers, foreigners represent a tiny fraction -disproportionately smaller than the number of regular Russian citizens.
Based on this, our team estimates the total number of foreign mercenaries to be between 4,660 and 8,000. Taking into account desertions, casualties, and injuries, the actual number of foreign fighters consistently present on the front lines is likely even lower. The figure may appear significantly lower than media reports from the past few years suggest. Yet, after examining the total number of brigades and regiments, multiplying by the average number of foreign fighters per unit, factoring in higher concentrations within airborne divisions, and subtracting those who have ended their contracts or been killed since 2023, we believe our estimate offers a more realistic and accurate range.Thank you for taking the time to read. We’re excited to announce that we are expanding our efforts to deliver exclusive articles and content to our paid subscribers. We invite you to join as a monthly subscriber to help support our work in producing deeper, more rigorous investigations. Honest reporting and meaningful dialogue depend on independence - a commitment made possible only through the support of subscribers like you.
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Zelensky, Trump hold phone call after Putin's pledge to continue war in Ukraine
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation on July 4, Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s President’s Office, announced.
“A very important and meaningful conversation between the presidents. All details will be available very soon,” Yermak wrote on Telegram.
According to Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, the call lasted about 40 minutes. The presidents talked about the intensified Russian strikes on Ukraine and the air defense supplies, he added.
This comes a day after a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, during which the Kremlin said Putin reaffirmed that “Russia will continue to pursue its goals” in its war against Ukraine despite U.S. calls for a ceasefire.
On July 3, after the phone call with Putin, the U.S. president said he was “very disappointed.”
“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin,” Trump told journalists. “Because I don’t think he’s there. And I’m very disappointed. I don’t think he’s looking to stop this fighting."
‘Deliberately massive and cynical’ — Russian attack on Ukraine began as Trump and Putin spoke, Zelensky says“Patriots and their missiles are real defenders of life,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “It is very important to maintain the support of partners in ballistic missile defense.”
The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir
