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Ukrainian-founded Grammarly to acquire AI email app Superhuman
Grammarly, a company with Ukrainian roots, announced its intent to acquire AI email writing app Superhuman as part of its expansion into an AI productivity platform, the company said in a press release on July 1.
Grammarly is the most valuable company with Ukrainian roots, reaching $13 billion valuation as of 2021. Grammarly was founded in 2009 in Kyiv by Oleksii Shevchenko, Maksym Lytvyn, and Dmytro Lider.
According to Grammarly’s press release, email is Grammarly’s top use case, with the platform editing over 50 million emails weekly.
Superhuman is an AI email application that the company says helps users respond to emails faster and reduces time spent on email communications.
Users are already sending and responding to 72% more emails per hour after using Superhuman compared to the previous period, according to Grammarly.
“This is the future we’ve been building toward since day one: AI that works where people work, not where companies want them to work,” said Shishir Mehrotra, Grammarly’s CEO.
The acquisition follows Grammarly’s recent purchase of Coda, a productivity tool company. The combined platforms will allow users to work with multiple AI agents for different tasks within email communications.
Grammarly says that its service is used daily by over 40 million users, generating annual revenue of more than $700 million for the company.
As Russia ramps up missile attacks, US halts promised air defense shipments to UkraineAmong the items being held back from Ukraine are Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, and drones, three sources told Politico.
The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert
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Ukraine's Deputy PM Chernyshov won't be dismissed despite corruption probe
Deputy Prime Minister and National Unity Minister Oleksii Chernyshov will keep his position after a decision from the High Anti-Corruption Court on July 2, despite an ongoing corruption investigation.
Chernyshov is a suspect in a “large-scale” illegal land grab corruption case. After a court hearing on June 27, he was banned from traveling abroad without permission and slapped with a bail set at Hr 120 million ($2.9 million) while awaiting trial.
Previously, prosecutors filed a motion for his removal from his position after he told the Kyiv Independent that he denies the allegations and will not step down from his job.
Speaking to reporters after the court dismissed the motion for his removal, Chernyshov said he will “continue to work” and is collecting funds to pay the bail as his personal accounts are blocked. His defense has filed an appeal against the bail.
“I will obediently carry out everything the court decides,” he said.Chernyshov continues to deny the accusations and said that his reputation has been dealt “a serious blow.”
According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) investigation, during his time as communities and territories minister in 2020-2022, Chernyshov and his associates undervalued land plots to benefit a developer in exchange for kickbacks.
Chernyshov and his accomplices allegedly received “significant” discounts on apartments in existing buildings, totaling over Hr 14.5 million ($346,000), from the developer. The actions cost Ukraine Hr 1 billion ($24 million), according to NABU.
The case has been high profile in Ukraine as Chernshov is the highest-ranking official in Ukrainian history to face such charges while in office. He is also considered a close ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking a major accusation against the president’s inner circle.
Chernyshov first raised eyebrows after he left the country on a business trip days before law enforcement unveiled the charges and detained two of his close associates. Despite suspicions that he had fled the country to avoid arrest, he returned to Ukraine on June 22 and was summoned to NABU the following day.
During the court hearing, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) requested that Chernyshov be suspended from office and that the court set bail of Hr 120 million ($2.9 million).The two offices also requested additional measures restricting his movements, including that he hand in his passport and wear an electronic monitoring device.
The court granted the prosecutors’ request for bail and banned him from leaving the country without permission, but did not remove him from office.
Since December last year, Chernyshov has headed the newly formed National Unity Ministry, which aims to strengthen ties with the Ukrainian diaspora and non-governmental organizations overseas.Top Russian defense official gets 13 years in graft crackdownAuthorities detained former Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov in April 2024 on bribery allegations, later adding embezzlement charges in October.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
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Ukraine says it wasn't officially informed of US weapons shipment halt
Editor’s note: The story is being updated.
Ukraine has not received any official notification from the United States about suspension or rescheduling of previously approved military aid packages, the Defense Ministry said on July 2, following media reporting that Washington had paused some weapons deliveries.
In a statement, the ministry said it is working to verify the current status of all elements in the agreed aid packages and has requested a phone call with U.S. defense officials for further clarification.
“Ukraine has not received official notices regarding the suspension or revision of the delivery schedules of agreed defense assistance,” the statement read. “We proceed based on verified facts and are reviewing each item in the supply chain."
Politico reported that the U.S. Defense Department has paused shipments of key air defense and precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns about declining U.S. stockpiles.
Among the withheld items are Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, and other munitions used by Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets.
The White House confirmed the decision, saying it was part of a broader reassessment of American military aid to foreign partners.
"(The 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.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Ginkel on July 2 to voice concern over the reported pause in weapons shipments.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa warned during the meeting that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace."
The Kremlin has welcomed the reported move, with its spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, saying that “the fewer weapons that are supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the (war)."
The move comes as Ukraine faces intensifying Russian attacks. In June, Russia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type attack drones at Ukrainian targets, the highest monthly total since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The U.S. did not approve any new military aid packages after President Donald Trump took office in January. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also signaled that future U.S. defense budgets will reduce the scale of assistance to Ukraine.
Military aid delays will ‘encourage Russia to continue war,’ Ukraine tells US envoyUkraine warned that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace.”
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
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Kremlin welcomes reported pause in US arms shipments to Ukraine, says it brings war's end closer
The United States' reported decision to suspend some arms deliveries to Ukraine could help bring Russia’s war in Ukraine to an end, the Kremlin said on July 2, according to Russian state-controlled media.
“The fewer weapons that are supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the… (Russia-Ukraine war),” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov’s comments came after Politico reported that the U.S. Defense Department has paused shipments of key air defense and precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns about declining U.S. stockpiles.
Among the withheld items are Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, and other munitions used by Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Ginkel on July 2 to voice concern over the reported pause in weapons shipments.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa warned during the meeting that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace."
According to Politico, Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby ordered the halt in June following a review of U.S. ammunition levels. The White House confirmed the decision, saying it was part of a broader reassessment of American military aid to foreign partners.
"(The 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.
The move comes as Ukraine faces intensifying Russian attacks. In June, Russia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type attack drones at Ukrainian targets, the highest monthly total since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The U.S. has not approved any new military aid packages after U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also signaled that future U.S. defense budgets will reduce the scale of assistance to Ukraine.
At a NATO summit in The Hague in late June, Trump said Washington was considering whether it could help provide more Patriot missiles to Kyiv but emphasized that U.S. and Israeli needs take precedence.
“They are very hard to get. We need them too,” Trump said after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Kremlin has long argued that Western arms shipments to Ukraine only prolong the conflict and raise the risk of escalation, while continuing to attack Ukrainian cities and advance on the battlefield.
Smashing previous monthly record, Russia launches 5,337 kamikaze drones against Ukraine during JuneRussia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine in June, according to data from the Ukrainian Air Force and Dragon Capital, smashing the previous record of 4,198 set in March. Russia’s bombardments, a fact of life after three years of full-scale war, have intensified dramatically in May
The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk
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Armenian parliament speaker urges ban on Russian TV broadcasting
Armenian authorities should “seriously” consider banning the broadcast of Russian television channels in Armenia, Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan said on July 1, citing concerns over interference and deteriorating ties.
“We must very seriously discuss the suspension of the Russian television channel broadcast in the territory of Armenia,” Simonyan told reporters, according to Armenpress. He criticized recent content aired by Russian state broadcasters, which the Armenian government has denounced as harmful to bilateral ties.
The remarks come as Armenia continues to pivot away from Moscow’s sphere of influence and seeks to bolster ties with the West.
Simonyan suggested that individuals connected to Armenian-Russian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan may be financing efforts to meddle in Armenia’s internal matters.
“If there are channels that allow themselves to interfere in Armenia’s domestic affairs, perhaps we ought to respond likewise, by at least banning their entry into the homes of our society,” he said.
Tensions between Armenia and Russia have mounted since Moscow’s failure to intervene during Azerbaijan’s military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, which resulted in the mass displacement of ethnic Armenians.
In April, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan signed a law initiating the country’s formal accession process to the European Union.
Though symbolic, the legislation marks a significant political shift, embedding European integration into Armenian law. The bill, passed by parliament in March, was backed by 64 lawmakers and opposed by seven.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that EU membership would require a referendum, while the Kremlin warned that joining both the EU and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is “simply impossible.” The EAEU, established in 2015, includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.
Why Norway is investing billions in Ukraine’s victoryThe Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sat down with Eivind Vad Petersson, state secretary to the Norwegian foreign minister and co-chair of the joint Norwegian-Ukrainian Working Group on Nuclear Safety and Security.
The Kyiv IndependentOleksiy Sorokin
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Military aid delays would 'encourage Russia to continue war,' Ukraine tells US envoy
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry told U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Ginkel that delays in U.S. military aid would only prolong the war, the Foreign Ministry said on July 2 after the Pentagon reportedly paused some weapons shipments.
Ginkel met Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa at the request of Ukraine’s chief diplomat, Andrii Sybiha.
During the meeting, the Ukrainian side warned that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace."
The meeting came against the backdrop of the U.S. media reporting that the U.S. Defense Department had paused some of the previously allocated shipments of air defense ammunition and other weapons to Kyiv amid a review.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly later confirmed the move, saying that the decision “was made to put America’s interests first following a (Defense Department) review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe."
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s readout, Betsa underscored Ukraine’s gratitude for U.S. aid and stressed the critical importance of continued deliveries, namely air defenses.
The Ukrainian diplomat also noted that Russia continues to reject a U.S.-proposed ceasefire that Kyiv agreed to during talks in Jeddah on March 11 and only intensifies its aerial attacks and ground offensives against Ukraine.
“Ukraine supports peace efforts and supports the U.S. calls for an immediate end to the killings and the war, stressing the need to compel Russia to seek peace,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Under these circumstances, strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and ramping up coordinated transatlantic pressure on Russia are critically important."
The aid pause comes in a critical moment as Russia is ramping up its aerial strikes across Ukraine and intensifying offensive operations along the front line.
The Trump administration has yet to approve any new major aid package for Ukraine and revealed plans to reduce military assistance in next year’s budget. The pause comes despite U.S. President Donald Trump recently signaling support for further Patriot supplies to Kyiv.
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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Ukrainian Migrants: Spending, Employment, and Impact on Host Country Economies
Because of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, millions of Ukrainians are living abroad. They are gradually finding employment, and their spending via payment cards of Ukrainian banks is decreasing. Via payment of taxes, insurance contributions, and significant consumer demand, our citizens are supporting the economies of recipient countries, primarily Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia. In this article, we talk about the latest trends in migration: from the motivation behind choosing a country of residence to the contribution migrants make to the economies of partner countries.
Number of Ukrainian Migrants
Chart 1. Number of Migrants Since the Start of the Full-Scale Invasion, million people
Source: UNHCR, Eurostat
Note. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UN has been publishing statistics on the number of Ukrainians who were forced to leave the country because of the war. From February 2022 to May 2023, the estimate was based on statistics of border crossings by migrants. In June 2023, the UN revised its approach: since then the estimate is based on the number of migrants holding temporary protection status (or a similar status) according to reports from recipient countries. Although the net number of border crossings was 8.9 million, the UN’s estimate of the total number of migrants decreased from 8.2 million to 6.3 million—mainly due to a reduction in the number of migrants in Russia and Belarus from 2.9 million to 1.3 million. The UN did not apply the updated approach to previously published data, which makes it impossible to compare the new data with the old one. In May 2025, the UN revised its methodology a second time—excluding data on 1.2 million Ukrainians located in Russia. These include Ukrainians who are in Russia under statuses other than refugee or temporary protection. The Russian government had reported them as refugees from Ukraine (this number may also include individuals forcibly deported to Russia) and had not updated the data since June 2023. The change in the UN’s approach in May 2025 again led to a significant decrease in the total number of refugees. According to the latest UN data, only 7,000 individuals currently hold temporary protection status in Russia.
Chart 2. Number of Ukrainian Migrants in Selected EU Countries with Temporary Protection Status at End of Period, thousand people
Source: Eurostat
According to the UN, as of the end of May 2025, 5.62 million Ukrainian migrants were residing abroad due to the war (excluding those located in Russia). Of these, as of May 2025, 4.2 million held temporary protection status in the EU, according to the latest available Eurostat data. According to Eurostat, the largest numbers of such statuses were granted by Germany (nearly 1.2 million people), Poland (987,000 people),
Czechia (371,000 people), and Spain (236,000). More than 100,000 Ukrainians are registered in each of the following countries: Romania, Italy, Slovakia, the Netherlands, and Ireland. A REACH survey conducted in 2022 at the Polish border showed that the main factors influencing the choice of destination country were: family or friends at the country of destination (39%), proximity to Ukraine (31%), and advice received at reception centers (17%).
However, over time, macroeconomic conditions, labor market conditions, and the volume of social support in recipient countries began to play a more important role in migrants’ choice of host countries. In particular, higher social support was the reason for relocation of some migrants from Poland to Germany.
According to a UNHCR survey conducted at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 87% of migrants were women with children, and 65% of those women were of working age (18-59 years old). About 70% of surveyed migrants have higher education.
At the same time, according to the Centre for Economic Strategy, the number of men among migrants has been increasing recently, and some of the migrants are quasi-labor migrants who left the country not only because of the war, but also for work. As a result, more and more migrants are becoming employed, with their incomes recovering nearly to the level of before the full-scale invasion.
Migrants are placing less and less strain on the social protection systems of recipient countries, while their role in these countries’ economies is growing—both due to active participation in local labor markets and because of high volumes of consumer spending.
Using Ukrainian Payment Cards Abroad and Results of the Third Wave of the Banks’ Survey
As the employment rate of Ukrainian migrants increases, their spending abroad using Ukrainian cards continues to decline. In the first quarter of 2025, the average monthly volume of transactions at retail outlets amounted to USD 485 million (USD 550 million during 2024 and USD 157 million in 2021). Since March 2023, the decline in the volume of cash withdrawals abroad has slowed. In the first quarter of 2025, the average monthly volume of cash withdrawals amounted to about USD 130 million (USD 155 million during 2024 and USD 40 million in 2021) — see Chart 3.
Chart 3. Selected Transactions with Ukrainian Banking Cards Abroad, USD million
Source: NBU
In April 2025, the NBU conducted another round of surveys with six Ukrainian banks (PrivatBank, Universal Bank, PUMB, Raiffeisen Bank, Oschadbank, and Ukrsibbank) regarding the use of Ukrainian payment cards abroad (Chart 5). The current survey results cover the period from March 2022 to March 2025. The coverage rate of the third wave is 82% for cash withdrawals and 80% for transactions at retail outlets.
The results of the third wave of the survey showed the following:
- The largest volumes of transactions using Ukrainian payment cards abroad, as before, were recorded in Poland and Germany. At the same time, spending by Ukrainians in a given host country is not proportional to their numbers there, which may be explained by the availability and amount of social benefits, as well as the employment level among Ukrainian migrants. In particular, about 20% of Ukrainian migrants reside in Germany, while in the first quarter of 2025, only 10% of the total value of card transactions was recorded there (see Chart 4).
Chart 4. Geographic Breakdown of Migrants and Their Spending at Retail Outlets, % (Top 13 Countries = 100)
Source: UNHCR, NBU survey
- Despite a certain decline, overall migrant spending at retail outlets abroad remains high. The geographic structure of spending has remained relatively stable since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. About 20% of total spending takes place in Poland, 10% in Germany, and 8% in Spain (see Chart 6).
Chart 5. Transactions with Ukrainian Banking Cards Abroad (Based on Data from Six Banks), USD million
Source: NBU survey
Chart 6. Geographic Breakdown of Migrant Spending at Retail Outlets, % (Top 10 Countries = 100%)
Source: NBU survey
- Due to enhanced effectiveness of financial monitoring measures and foreign exchange supervision, as well as a narrowing of the gap between the official and cash exchange rates, the volume of cash withdrawals abroad declined significantly in 2023 and has remained stable since July 2023. Compared to 2021, this level is still significantly higher: in 2021, the average monthly volume of cash withdrawals was USD 40 million, whereas in the first quarter of 2025 it reached USD 130 million (see Chart 3).
Chart 7. Structure of Cash Withdrawals Abroad, % (Top 10 Countries = 100%)
Source: NBU survey
Employment of Ukrainian Migrants Abroad
Ukrainians are increasingly finding employment abroad. According to the SEIS survey, in 2024 the employment rate of Ukrainian migrants rose significantly compared to 2023 in most countries and increased by 9 percentage points at the regional [1] level — to 64%. This figure is now only 7 percentage points lower than the equivalent weighted average for the population of host countries (71%). Taking into account the decrease in overall unemployment, the labor force participation rate among migrants in 2024 was 70%.
At the same time, employment levels vary across countries. In 2024, the employment rate of Ukrainian forced migrants in Poland ranged from 53% to 71%, according to various estimates; in Czechia, it was around 60% (approximately 30% of Ukrainian migrants there have more than one job); and in Romania, it was at 43%. High employment rates are observed in countries that have so far focused on providing temporary shelter rather than long-term integration of migrants. In these countries, migrants are quickly employed without substantial qualification requirements. As a result, a large share of Ukrainian migrants find themselves in low-skilled jobs, often below their level of education and qualifications.
The occupational structure of employment has remained largely unchanged: most individuals with temporary protection still work in low-skilled positions such as laborers in construction or manufacturing.
The lowest employment rates are observed in countries that provide high levels of social benefits. For example, Germany has one of the lowest employment rates of Ukrainians — around 25% — which can be attributed to its social insurance system, considered the most generous among all the countries hosting Ukrainian refugees. A Ukrainian in Germany can receive approximately EUR 950 per month (Bürgergeld plus housing support). A single mother with one child likely receives about EUR 1,300 per month, or roughly EUR 15,000 per year. By comparison, in Austria an individual receives about EUR 420 per month, while in Italy and France the amount ranges from EUR 300 to 400 per month—or about EUR 4,000–5,000 per year.
Language barriers and qualification mismatches further complicate integration of Ukrainians into European labor markets. Respondents with an intermediate level of local language proficiency reported nearly twice the employment rate compared to those with no language skills (9% of respondents). Even Ukrainians with only basic language skills (28% of the sample) show a noticeable increase in employment compared to those with no knowledge of the local language at all.
At the same time, education level does not seem to be a decisive factor in employment, as employment rates among Ukrainian migrants are nearly the same across all levels of education. This can be explained by obstacles to the recognition of foreign qualifications (including Ukrainian ones) by host countries, as well as other barriers that limit access to highly skilled employment — such as language proficiency and mismatches between qualifications and local labor market demand.
Data from Slovakia’s government Institute for Financial Policy shows that a significant share of Ukrainian migrants are employed in positions that do not require higher education, representing untapped potential in this labor force. Specifically, up to 7.8% of emigrants and 4.2% of labor migrants with higher education were working as auxiliary or unskilled workers. In addition, 13.7% of labor migrants and 5.9% of emigrants with higher education were employed as machine operators. Thus, the relatively high employment rate of Ukrainian migrants in certain European countries—around 50% in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Lithuania in the fourth quarter of 2022—comes at a cost: many highly qualified Ukrainians are forced to accept low-skilled, unstable, and usually low-paid jobs.
As a result, the average wage level of refugees remains significantly lower than that of the local population. Despite a 28% increase in the regional weighted average wage of migrants in 2024, it is still 30% lower than the average wage of locals. In Poland, for example, wages for Ukrainians grew faster than those for Poles (51% compared to 46% over 2019–2023), yet they remain noticeably lower — by 15% in 2023.
The 2024 SEIS survey (Socio-Economic Insights Survey published on March 17, 2025, based on responses from 8,723 households representing 19,803 individuals) shows that, despite a reduction in the financial vulnerability of Ukrainian forced migrants, one in five still has an income below the poverty line. The situation becomes even worse if we take into account very high housing costs. Due to high homeownership rates among local residents — and hence the tight rental market — migrants spend a significant share of their income on accommodation. When housing costs are accounted for, their poverty rate [2] rises to 40%—more than three times higher than that of host communities.
Impact of Ukrainian Migrants on Host Country Economies
Analysis and a review of research show that the presence of a significant number of migrants from Ukraine has a positive impact on the GDP and budgets of host countries. For example, according to a study by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), Ukrainians contribute more to Poland’s state budget in taxes than they receive in social assistance.
In 2024, Ukrainians, who accounted for about 5% of all workers in Poland, contributed approximately PLN 15.1 billion (EUR 3.6 billion) to the Polish state budget through taxes and social insurance contributions. At the same time, following a significant reduction in direct cash assistance to Ukrainian migrants as of July 1, 2024, a large share of support—around PLN 2.8 billion (approximately EUR 0.7 billion)—was provided to them through Poland’s primary child benefit program.
Ukrainians contribute to Poland’s GDP by increasing consumption and boosting trade with Ukraine. At the same time, they also send remittances back to Ukraine, though at a relatively modest scale. According to various estimates, Ukrainians account for between 0.5 and 2.4 percentage points of Poland’s annual GDP growth. A study by the National Bank of Poland found that their contribution to GDP growth rose from 0.5 percentage points during 2013–2018 to 0.7–1.1 percentage points in 2023. A Deloitte study for UNHCR states that the Polish economy quickly adapted and integrated a large number of Ukrainian migrants into its labor market, which in turn supported productivity growth. These factors helped offset any negative effects of increased labor market competition. As a result, in 2024, value added generated by Ukrainian migrants accounted for 2.7% of Poland’s GDP.
Thanks to the strong participation of migrants in the Czech Republic’s domestic labor market, the overall revenue–spending balance for the Czech economy is positive: in the long term, individuals with temporary protection are expected to contribute more than they receive. Government spending on support of Ukrainian refugees includes, among other things, humanitarian aid, which since September 1, 2024, has also covered rental assistance due to the expiration of the free accommodation period. In addition, as of February 2025, the benefit for persons with disabilities was increased. Expenditures also include support for healthcare and education.
In their turn, migrants contribute to the state budget through social insurance contributions, value-added tax (VAT), excise duties, and other revenue streams. Czech experts expect that in the near future, revenues generated by Ukrainian migrants will continue to grow, while expenditures on their support will gradually decline. This forecast is based on trends observed in previous years.
For example, in 2022, expenditures on Ukrainian migrants amounted to CZK 25 billion (over EUR 1 billion), while their contributions to the budget totaled CZK 12.6 billion (approximately EUR 0.5 billion). By 2023, the balance between expenditures and revenues had nearly leveled up: expenditures stood at CZK 21.6 billion (around EUR 0.9 billion), and revenues at CZK 21 billion (EUR 0.8 billion). In the first half of 2024, the Czech Republic recorded a net gain of CZK 4.4 billion (EUR 0.2 billion) from taxes and social insurance contributions paid by Ukrainian forced migrants, after accounting for expenditures: support-related spending amounted to CZK 7.3 billion (EUR 0.3 billion), while revenues reached CZK 11.7 billion (EUR 0.5 billion).
According to estimates by Slovakia’s governmental Institute for Financial Policy, Ukrainian forced migrants have paid more in taxes and contributions than Slovakia has spent on supporting them. Between 2022 and 2024, Slovakia’s gross public spending on assistance to Ukrainian migrants exceeded EUR 590 million, of which more than 65% was reimbursed through EU funds. These expenditures primarily covered initial integration support, housing subsidies (EUR 118 million), and costs related to integrating Ukrainian minors into the education system (EUR 75 million). In addition, the Slovak Republic provided humanitarian aid directly to Ukraine during the first year of the full-scale invasion. By September 2024, total spending on assistance to Ukrainian migrants and education for their children had reached 0.41% of GDP, of which 0.35% of GDP was refinanced through EU funds.
According to the Institute for Financial Policy, financial assistance to Ukrainian migrants decreased significantly in 2024—from EUR 231 million to EUR 98 million—primarily due to reduced housing support. At the same time, Ukrainian migrants continue to increase Slovakia’s annual tax revenues by 0.1–0.2% of GDP. The largest share of these revenues comes from labor market-related taxes, which are projected to reach EUR 165 million in 2025. Consumption tax revenues are also expected to rise, reaching EUR 78 million. Total tax revenues related to Ukrainian migrants are forecast to grow to EUR 231 million in 2025.
A Significant Number of Ukrainians Abroad Have Become Part of a New Reality
Ukraine’s future depends on how effectively key migration trends are taken into account.
The impact of migration on the Ukrainian economy and the prospects for the return of Ukrainians were among the central topics at the 9th NBU–NBP Annual Research Conference, held in Kyiv on June 19–20, 2025.
The event brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the opportunities and challenges of economic and financial integration during wartime and the postwar recovery period.
[1] The SEIS study includes Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
[2] The poverty rate is defined as the share of the population with an income below the poverty line. For the purposes of this analysis, the poverty line is set at 50% of the median equivalised monthly income in the host country. This approach is consistent with Eurostat’s at-risk-of-poverty (AROP) methodology.
Photo: depositphotos.com/ua
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USAID officially ends operation, remaining programs moved under State Department
USAID officially stopped implementing foreign assistance as of July 1, as the Trump administration seeks to realign international aid with its policies, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced.
“Foreign assistance programs that align with administration policies — and which advance American interests — will be administered by the State Department,” Rubio said in a statement on Substack.
The Trump administration has set its sights on the U.S.’s chief foreign aid agency, accusing it — despite little evidence — of fraud and of promoting a “liberal” or “leftist” agenda. Roughly 83% of USAID’s programs, or around 5,200 contracts, were terminated in March, and thousands of workers were laid off.
Founded in 1961, USAID has played a crucial role in humanitarian relief worldwide and has overseen thousands of programs supporting democracy-building, human rights, and economic development.
“USAID had decades and a near-infinite taxpayer budget to advance American influence, promote economic development worldwide, and allow billions to stand on their own two feet,” Rubio said.
“Beyond creating a globe-spanning NGO industrial complex at taxpayer expense, USAID has little to show since the end of the Cold War."
Contradicting Rubio’s comments, experts and former U.S. officials have criticized the decision and pointed to potentially devastating humanitarian consequences. Research by The Lancet estimated that USAID funding cuts could result in 14 million deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million children younger than 5.
“We will not apologize for recognizing America’s longstanding commitment to life-saving humanitarian aid and promotion of economic development abroad must be in furtherance of an America First foreign policy,” Rubio said.
The chief U.S. diplomat presented the step as part of President Donald Trump’s broader policies aimed at requiring international allies and partners to pay a greater share for projects around the world.
“Americans should not pay taxes to fund failed governments in faraway lands. Moving forward, our assistance will be targeted and time limited. We will favor those nations that have demonstrated both the ability and willingness to help themselves,” Rubio said.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, USAID has provided $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as well as $5 billion in development assistance and more than $30 billion in direct budget support to Kyiv.
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 for
The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell
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Russia cannot launch 500 drones every day, Ukraine's intel chief says
Russia has the capacity to launch as many as 500 Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones at Ukraine in a single attack, but doing so on a daily basis is not possible, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on July 2, according to Suspilne.
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its drone assaults on Ukrainian cities, often launching hundreds in a single day. The largest aerial attack since the start of the full-scale invasion occurred overnight on June 29, when Moscow launched 477 drones and 60 missiles across Ukraine.
“Launching 450–500 Shaheds every day — it’s just not realistic,” said Budanov during a ceremony recognizing five Ukrainian intelligence achievements in the national record book, according to public broadcaster Suspilne.
“But unfortunately, they do have the ability to do it periodically. They can realistically launch up to 500 in one strike,” Budanov added.
Budanov also said Russia is upgrading the capabilities of the Shahed-type drones by improving their CRPA (Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna) systems, which protect the drones from GPS jamming. He noted that Russian engineers are now producing 16-channel CRPA antennas, which are harder to counter electronically.
Russian drones launched against Ukraine by month (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent) “These antennas are currently produced in Russia, but the engineer who developed this CRPA antenna was here in Ukraine,” Budanov said.
“Back in the early 2000s, no one here needed it, so the engineer moved to Russia. One (of the two engineers involved in the development) has already died under unclear circumstances. The other is still alive, though probably not for long."
Russia has used thousands of Shahed-type drones throughout its full-scale invasion to strike Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, often in large overnight waves. Ukrainian air defenses have adapted over time but face growing challenges as Moscow improves drone resilience and electronic warfare capabilities.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Moscow has launched 28,743 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Budanov also said Russia has made unsuccessful attempts to develop its own naval drones. The last known effort came in early June, when experimental models detonated before reaching Ukrainian territorial waters, he said.
“They didn’t achieve results. Based on our information, they were heading toward the city of Yuzhne, searching for targets,” he said.
Ukraine has been using domestically developed Magura naval drones to target Russian military assets in the Black Sea, keeping much of Russia’s fleet pinned in port.
Despite their small size, the unmanned surface vessels have proven effective, including in a May 2 operation when Ukraine’s military intelligence used Magura-7 drones armed with air-to-air missiles to shoot down two Russian Su-30 fighter jets near Novorossiysk. It was the first recorded instance of fighter jets being downed by naval drones.
Ukraine shows its latest ‘ship-killer’ Magura drone series to the public for the first timeThe Magura drones, as well as the Sea Baby drones of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), were pivotal in turning the tide of the war in the Black Sea, destroying or damaging Russian ships and other assets.
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
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A brutal shelling of Kherson: Hospital under Russian attack #shorts
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Russia plans gas extraction in Sea of Azov, Ukrainian officials warn
Russian authorities are planning to begin gas extraction from the Sea of Azov, citing Soviet-era geological data and identifying 22 potential offshore fields, including several located near the occupied Ukrainian city of Berdiansk, Ukrainian officials told Suspilne on July 1.
According to the Berdiansk Municipal Military Administration, Russia’s Federal Subsoil Resources Agency (Rosnedra) has announced plans to explore and possibly develop gas fields such as the Morske, Pivnichno-Kazantypske, and Skhidno-Kazantypske deposits.
"(Russia) has declared commercial reserves of gas in the Sea of Azov, referring to Soviet archives listing 22 oil and gas structures," Ksenia Kleshchenko, acting head of communications for the Berdiansk administration, told Suspilne.
“These include the Morske field, discovered in 1977 (and still under conservation). It is necessary to conduct further exploration and pilot operation."
Kleshchenko noted that the Pivnichno-Kazantypske and Skhidno-Kazantypske fields were discovered in the late 1990s and early 2000s during Ukraine’s independence, but have not been developed. Ukrainian company Chornomornaftogaz had conducted surveys at the Pivnichno-Kazantypske and Strilkove sites before Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and seized Ukrainian offshore assets.
Ukrainian authorities say the Kremlin’s interest in mineral resources may have partially motivated the occupation of southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, including Berdiansk.
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent) “All of the (Russia’s) ‘plans’ are focused on enriching themselves and the Russian Federation, but not on the welfare of the citizens of the occupied territories,” the Berdiansk administration said in a statement. “While residents of Berdiansk face constant water and electricity outages, (Russian authorities) are laying grand schemes to exploit the region’s resources."
The administration also warned of potential environmental consequences. Due to the shallow average depth of the Sea of Azov, around 14 meters (about 46 feet), any extraction could cause serious ecological damage. The exploratory work is reportedly planned for 2026–2030.
Russia’s interest in resource-rich territories extends beyond the Sea of Azov. In June, Russian forces took control of a major lithium deposit near the village of Shevchenko in Donetsk Oblast, one of Ukraine’s most valuable sites for the mineral used in electric vehicle batteries.
Ukraine has now lost two of its four known lithium deposits to Russian occupation, including the Kruta Balka deposit in Zaporizhzhia. According to the Kyiv School of Economics, Ukraine holds about one-third of the European Union’s lithium reserves.
Russia seizes Ukraine’s most valuable lithium deposits, but US minerals deal not at risk, investor saysRussian troops have taken over the site of one of Ukraine’s most valuable lithium deposits near the village of Shevchenko, Donetsk Oblast, as Russia ramps up its summer offensive. While Ukrainian troops control territories near the site, the deposit is now under Russian occupation, Roman Pohorilyi, founder of open-source
The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell
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Russia killed at least 273 Ukrainian POWs during full-scale war, prosecutors say
Ukrainian prosecutors have documented cases of Russian forces summarily executing 273 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), the Liga.net news outlet reported, citing a statement from the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Kyiv and the U.N. have raised alarm over the rising number of such cases, saying they point to a systematic policy by Russia to murder Ukrainian captives. Half of the document cases were recorded this year alone.
Seventy-seven criminal cases have been launched in connection with the killings of POWs, while only two people were convicted, and a trial against a third person is ongoing. The statement did not clarify whether the convictions were issued in absentia.
A total of 188 people have been convicted of various war crimes, including 18 captured Russian soldiers and one civilian, who were convicted in person. The rest were convicted in absentia.
Earlier this week, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported a case of the likely murder of a Ukrainian POW who was apparently tied to a motorcycle by Russian soldiers and dragged along the road.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) said in May that it alone had documented more than 150 cases of Ukrainian soldiers being executed after surrendering to Russian forces. Multiple intelligence reports suggest that Russian soldiers have received explicit orders to kill prisoners of war.
The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine confirmed in March growing numbers of incidents in which Russian forces killed or maimed surrendering Ukrainian troops.
A separate Ukrainian investigation is also underway into the killing of around 50 Ukrainian POWs in the Russian-run Olenivka prison in 2022. Kyiv blamed the killings on Russia, saying Moscow’s forces deliberately put Azov fighters in a separate building that was later destroyed.
Russia denied responsibility, claiming the explosion was caused by a Ukrainian HIMARS strike—a version U.N. investigators have rejected.
Although Moscow blocked an independent investigation by denying U.N. monitors access, Lubinets recently said that an internal U.N. analysis concluded Russia was to blame.
China unveils its new ‘graphite bomb’ — here’s how they workChina’s state TV broadcaster has revealed details of a new “graphite bomb” that can cause a “complete loss of electricity” across an area of 10,000 square meters, or knock out entire power stations, the South China Morning Post reported on June 29. An animated video released by China’s CCTV showed a missile being launched from a ground-based launcher and then flying to a target where it releases 90 small submunitions. They then bounce on the ground before exploding amid a mock-up of an electri
The Kyiv IndependentChris York
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At least 2 killed, 33 injured across Ukraine in Russian attacks over past day
At least two civilians were killed and 33 were injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past 24 hours, according to local governors.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 114 Shahed-type and decoy drones overnight from multiple directions, as well as four S-300 missiles. Air defenses shot down 40 drones, while 39 disappeared from radars or were intercepted by electronic warfare.
In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces shelled a hospital in Kherson city late on July 1, injuring eight people, including patients and medical staff, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
Two other people were injured elsewhere in the region over the past day. Attacks damaged residential buildings, a farm, a business, and vehicles across more than 30 settlements.
In Kharkiv Oblast, four people were injured in attacks on Kharkiv city and six other communities, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Russian forces used guided aerial bombs, various drones, and artillery. Civilian infrastructure, including houses, a transport stop, an emergency medical facility, and businesses, was damaged or destroyed.
In Donetsk Oblast, two civilians were killed and 10 others injured by Russian attacks on July 1, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. In the city of Sloviansk, a mail terminal operated by Nova Poshta, Ukraine’s largest postal service, was destroyed. No employees were injured, according to an official statement.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, five people were injured, four of whom were hospitalized, after a drone strike on Nikopol, Governor Serhii Lysak said.
Russian attacks damaged a private enterprise in Kryvyi Rih and a farm in the Samar district. Fires were reported in both locations. Drone and artillery strikes also hit residential and infrastructure targets in Nikopol and Pokrovske communities.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, four civilians were injured in Russian attacks on Vasylivka and Polohy districts, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported. Over the day, Russian forces launched 376 strikes across 14 settlements, using aircraft, drones, multiple rocket launchers, and artillery.
Why Norway is investing billions in Ukraine’s victoryThe Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sat down with Eivind Vad Petersson, state secretary to the Norwegian foreign minister and co-chair of the joint Norwegian-Ukrainian Working Group on Nuclear Safety and Security.
The Kyiv IndependentOleksiy Sorokin
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Russian officer admits to downing Azerbaijani airliner in reported leak
A person claiming to be a Russian officer said he had received an order to open fire at an aerial target last December that turned out to be an Azerbaijani airliner, Azerbaijani news outlet Minval reported on July 1, citing audio and a written statement it had received.
An Embraer 190AR plane operated by Azarbaijan Airlines crashed in Kazakhstan on Dec. 25, 2024, after coming under fire over Grozny, Chechnya. Thirty-eight people were killed.
Azerbaijani authorities laid blame on Russia, with an investigation pointing to a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system accidentally targeting the plane amid a reported Ukrainian drone attack.
Minval wrote it had received three audio recordings, an anonymous letter, and an explanatory note by a man signed as Captain Dmitry Paladichuk, a Russian air defense crew captain who claims to have relayed the order to shoot down the plane.
In the purported explanatory note, Paladichuk said he had no reliable means of communication with the Russian military command other than a cell connection. A radar detected a target at 8:11 a.m. local time, after which Paladichuk was reportedly ordered to destroy the aircraft — which was not visible due to thick fog — over the phone.
The captain claimed that after the first projectile missed the target, he had given the order to fire again. Paladichuk did not explicitly name the Azerbaijani flight in his explanatory letter.
Minval wrote that it could not confirm the authenticity of the written statement but could do so for the three leaked voice messages, which also confirmed the command to shoot down the plane and the subsequent damage.
Russian independent news outlets Agentstvo and the Insider confirmed Paladichuk’s identity as an air defense officer who served in various units, including the 14th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense in Novosibirsk.
The Insider also wrote that the note appears to be authentic, and pointed out that the speed of the plane, revealed in the leaked materials, shows that the Russian command must have known the target is not a drone.
The incident led to a public spat between Azerbaijan and Russia, otherwise close political and economic partners. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Moscow of suppressing evidence and criticized his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for not openly admitting guilt.
Putin offered condolences for the incident happening in the Russian airspace, but stopped short of admitting Russian responsibility.
New details of the case emerge just as Russian-Azerbaijani relations sour yet again. Over 50 Azerbaijanis were detained as part of a murder investigation in Yekaterinburg on June 27, two of whom died in custody.
Baku called their killings “ethnically motivated” and “unlawful” actions, and Azerbaijani authorities raided an office of the Russian propaganda outlet Sputnik in Baku, detaining alleged Russian spies.
Iran summons Ukraine’s envoy, warns of ‘consequences’ over comments on Israeli, US strikesHighlighting Iran’s support for Russian aggression against Ukraine, Kyiv has previously called for the dismantling of the Iranian nuclear program to prevent it from threatening the Middle East or the wider world.
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
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'Tied to a motorcycle and dragged' — Russia likely executed another Ukrainian POW, ombudsman says
Russian forces likely executed another Ukrainian prisoner of war (POW), Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on July 1, referring to a recent video that appears to show the captive tied to a motorcycle and dragged along a road.
The alleged execution adds to growing evidence that Russian forces are systematically violating the Geneva Conventions by killing Ukrainian captives.
“A video is circulating on social media showing a man being tied to a motorcycle and dragged along the road,” Lubinets said in a statement.
“It is a clear act of demonstrative cruelty and yet another war crime by the Russian Federation."
Lubinets said he has sent official letters regarding the suspected war crime to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
“Russia is acting as a terrorist state. And it must be held fairly accountable for every crime,” he added.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) alone reported in May that it had documented more than 150 cases of Ukrainian soldiers being executed after surrendering to Russian forces. Officials noted that these were only the confirmed incidents, and the real number is likely higher.
HUR and other agencies say such executions are not isolated but part of a broader, deliberate policy directed by Russia’s military leadership. Multiple intelligence reports suggest that Russian soldiers have received explicit orders to kill prisoners of war.
The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine confirmed in March growing numbers of incidents in which Russian forces killed or maimed surrendering Ukrainian troops.
The commission cited testimony from Russian deserters who said they were instructed not to take prisoners but to shoot them on sight.
Earlier this year, the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported a sharp increase in POW executions, documenting 79 killings across 24 incidents since August 2024. In many cases, the victims were unarmed or wounded, and some were killed in groups.
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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General Staff: Russia has lost 1,022,090 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost 1,022,090 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 2.
The number includes 1,110 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,985 tanks, 22,931 armored fighting vehicles, 53,786 vehicles and fuel tanks, 29,794 artillery systems, 1,427 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,191 air defense systems, 420 airplanes, 340 helicopters, 43,013 drones, 3,436 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
Ukraine to exit mine ban treaty, citing war demands, realities on the groundUkraine 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
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima
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'Oreshnik will be on Belarusian soil,' Lukashenko says of Russian missile deployment by year-end
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko announced on July 1 that the Russian-made Oreshnik missile system will be deployed in Belarus by the end of 2025. Speaking at a ceremony marking Independence Day, Lukashenko said the decision was made in coordination with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Volgograd.
“The first Oreshnik positions will be in Belarus. You’ve seen how Oreshnik works: the same missiles, the same strikes — but without nuclear warheads, without radioactive contamination of the land and air. This weapon will be stationed in Belarus by the end of the year,” Lukashenko said.
Lukashenko, who has ruled since 1994 and claimed victory in a seventh consecutive presidential election in January, argued that hosting such weaponry would not make Belarus a target, adding that such concerns are being “imposed from outside.” He claimed that countries possessing nuclear weapons have historically avoided military aggression and said the presence of such systems in Belarus is intended solely as a deterrent.
He also said he had delivered a warning to U.S. officials, stating that while nuclear weapons in Belarus are securely stored in accordance with international standards, any unauthorized incursion into Belarusian territory would trigger a “swift and forceful response."
The Belarusian leader emphasized that any use of the Oreshnik system would not involve nuclear warheads and that maintaining modern military capabilities is critical for national defense.
Russia first launched the experimental Oreshnik missile during a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Nov. 21. Putin claimed the attack was in retaliation for Ukraine’s use of U.S. and British long-range missiles against Russian territory.
Although little is publicly known about the missile, defense experts believe Oreshnik is not a wholly new development but likely an upgraded version of Russia’s RS-26 missile, also known as the Rubezh, which was first produced in 2011.
Lukashenko reportedly thanked Moscow for supporting the deployment of advanced weapons systems to Belarus and said the introduction of Oreshnik would serve as a tool for domestic stability. “I’m confident that even those of our supporters who don’t yet understand this will come to realize it — without a war. That’s why Oreshnik will be on Belarusian soil. To prevent uprisings,” he said.
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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Mikhail Gudkov
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy - Major General
Gudkov was the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, and was in command of all Naval Infantry (the Russian Marine Corps) and all Coastal Missile and Artillery Troops. It is reported that he also maintained de-facto command of the 155th Brigade.
Unit: 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, Pacific Fleet, Eastern Military District, Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD)
Cargo ID: #2000
English Name: Mikhail Evgenievich Gudkov
Russian Name: Гудков Михаил Евгеньевич
Education: Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School, Combined Arms Academy of the Russian Armed Forces
Date of Birth: January 11, 1983 (age: 42 years)
Place of Birth: Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia
Date of Death: July 2, 2025
Place of Death: Korenevo, Kursk Oblast, Russia
Previously Deployed: Syria
Awards:
Hero of the Russian Federation,
Hero of Primorye,
Order of Courage,
Medal of Zhukov,
Medal “For Distinction in Combat”,
Medal “For Military Valor” 1st Class,
Medal “For Military Valor” 2nd Class,
Medal “For Strengthening Military Cooperation”,
Medal “For Distinction in Military Service” 1st Class,
Medal “For Distinction in Military Service” 2nd Class,
Medal “For Distinction in Military Service” 3rd Class,
Medal “Participant of the Military Operation in Syria”,
Badge “Officer Master Class”,
Badge “Graduation from a Higher Education Institution”
On February 27, 2024 in Elenovka, Lieutenant Colonel Roman Nikolaevich Kozhukhov [Cargo ID #1172], Major Alexander Abilov [Cargo ID #1149], Captain Nail Shakhmanov and 16 other soldiers from the 155th Marine Brigade were killed.
Gudkov was injured in this strike but recovered.
Roman KozhukhovDeputy Commander - Lieutenant Colonel Unit: 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, Pacific Fleet Cargo ID: #1172 English Name: Kozhukhov Roman Nikolaevich Russian Name: Кожухов Роман Николаевич Place of Birth: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka Territory, Russia Date of Death: February 27, 2024 (via HIMARS) Place of Death: Olenivka Training ground, Donetsk Oblast,
TopCargo200TC200 Staff
Alexander AbilovBattalion Head - Major Unit: 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, Pacific Fleet “Brigade Deputy Commander for Electronic Warfare” (OKIS) Cargo ID: #1149 English Name: Alexander Vadimovich Abilov Russian Name: Абилов Александр Вадимович Lived in: Ussuriysk, Primorsky Territory, Russia Place of Death: Olenivka Training ground, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine (HIMARS) “On
TopCargo200TC200 Staff
Official announcement from the Russian MOD
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Germany still weighing Taurus missile supply to Ukraine, Merz says
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on July 1 that the decision to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine remains under consideration but stressed that Germany will not become a party to the war.
“It has always been clear that if we supply the Taurus, this weapon will be used not by German soldiers, but by Ukrainians,” Merz told Tagesschau. “By the way, the same applies to other cruise missiles supplied by the United Kingdom or France."
The Taurus is a powerful cruise missile capable of striking targets at a distance of 500 kilometers (300 miles) — a greater range than the long-range weapons Ukraine has received from other partners.
Speaking to the outlet, Merz highlighted the complexity of the Taurus system, noting that it requires extensive training before Ukrainian forces can operate it. In terms of range, speed, and payload, the Taurus missile is similar to the Storm Shadow, which is produced by MBDA’s French division. The key difference lies in the warhead design — Taurus can be programmed to detonate after penetrating fortified targets, such as bunkers or reinforced facilities.
Possible targets for Taurus missiles. (Nizar al-Rifal/The Kyiv Independent) “The problem for us is that this system is extremely complex, and training soldiers on it takes at least six months. Are they already being trained? We haven’t agreed on that yet,” he said. “I discussed this with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, and I also raised it within the coalition. We haven’t started yet. It is and remains an option.”
The chancellor also added that Germany would no longer publicly disclose details about its military support to Ukraine in order to prevent Moscow from assessing the full scope of Western assistance.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has provided Kyiv with approximately 47.8 billion euros (about $51.8 billion) in total bilateral support, making it Ukraine’s second-largest country donor. This aid includes military equipment, humanitarian assistance, support for refugees, infrastructure repair, and financial aid for energy and winter relief, with military support alone totaling around 28 billion euros ($30 billion).
Ukraine to exit mine ban treaty, citing war demands, realities on the groundUkraine 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
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima
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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
