Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered the position of Prime Minister to Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi, who accepted. The move is part of a broader government reshuffle, with current Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko stepping down. Svyrydenko was considered one of the few uncorrupt officials in Zelenskyy's team. The reshuffle was kept secret even from close presidential aides, surprising the political establishment. Zelenskyy outlined priorities for the new government, including winter preparation, energy infrastructure protection, economic stabilization, and international aid management. Other candidates considered include Denys Shmyhal, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, who declined the offer. The reshuffle aims to strengthen government autonomy and operational efficiency amid ongoing war and energy challenges, and comes amid Kyiv's mounting frustration that Western weapons pledges turn into deliveries far slower than Russia's missiles keep arriving. The President also promised changes among the heads of law enforcement agencies.

Background: An analysis warned that Europe must urgently scale up drone production to counter Russia's massive drone arsenal. Today, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto proposed a continental defense architecture extending beyond EU borders to include Ukraine, Britain, Norway, Switzerland, Moldova, the Western Balkans, and Türkiye. He argued that European governments must shorten capability development timelines due to the rapidly changing security environment and prepare for a gradual US military drawdown from Europe. The proposal follows a NATO summit in Ankara that pledged €140 billion in military aid to Ukraine for 2026-2027. Crosetto cited an Italian Defense Ministry strategic document prioritizing satellite communications, undersea infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and countering hybrid warfare. The article notes that Ukraine produced 4 million drones in 2025, exceeding all NATO members combined, and has signed drone agreements with Estonia, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

On July 13, 2026, Ukraine launched drone strikes targeting Russia's Moscow, Belgorod, and Stavropol regions, killing at least four people and wounding seven. In the Moscow region, three people were killed and three wounded in the settlement of Pionersky, with two additional wounded elsewhere. Russian air defenses shot down 81 drones over the Moscow region. In Belgorod, a woman was killed in Berezovka and two men wounded in Krinichnoye. In Stavropol, drones sparked a fire in an industrial zone in Vyazniki, with no casualties reported. The attacks come as Ukraine escalates retaliation for Russian barrages, and as allies meet in Paris to pressure Russia to end the war.

In a joint statement after the EU Foreign Affairs Council, the European Union and Ukraine condemned Russia's systematic violations of international humanitarian law, including arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, and unlawful deportation of Ukrainian civilians. They called for the immediate and unconditional return of all detainees, including children, and demanded ICRC access to all detention sites. The statement also reaffirmed commitment to establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression and an International Claims Commission for Ukraine.

Russian-installed authorities in occupied Crimea and Sevastopol declared a regional state of emergency on June 26, 2026, due to fuel shortages and power outages from Ukrainian strikes. Now, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia is developing a new fuel supply system for Crimea that he claims will be 'very difficult for the enemy to reach'. The statement was made during the All for Victory! forum, where Putin inspected an exhibition of new developments for Russian troops. This comes as Ukrainian strikes on the Kuban-Crimea energy bridge and 11 energy nodes on 12-13 July 2026 have worsened the energy crisis, and a fuel crisis has spread to mainland Russia following attacks on oil refineries.

Background: Russia has been using Japan as a base for technology procurement and espionage in its war against Ukraine, with Russian spies operating under diplomatic cover in Tokyo. A New York Times investigation reveals that the GRU's 20th Directorate runs the operation, with key figure Maksim Vladimirovich Filchenkov, a 49-year-old GRU veteran who arrived in Tokyo in February 2024 under Aeroflot cover. The network uses logistics companies like Proco Air to route sensitive goods through third countries. Ukraine reports Japanese parts in 90% of Russian missiles and drones. Ukraine's presidential sanctions commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk has named 13 Japanese companies whose products were found in Russian weapons, and Kyiv is pressing Tokyo to tighten export controls on dual-use goods.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 70 combat engagements as of 16:00 on July 13, 2026, with the most intense fighting in the Pokrovsk sector (21 attacks) and Sloviansk sector (17 attacks). Russian forces shelled border areas in Sumy and Chernihiv regions and conducted airstrikes in Sumy region. Ukrainian forces repelled most attacks, with ongoing engagements in the Southern Slobozhanshchyna, Lyman, Oleksandrivka, and Pokrovsk sectors. No significant changes were reported in other sectors.

Background: Ukrainian drone strikes in May 2026 forced six major Russian refineries to halt operations, including Syzran, which was hit on May 21. On July 12, a Ukrainian drone strike caused extensive damage to the Syzran Oil Refinery in Samara region. Satellite imagery analyzed by OSINT analysts confirms severe damage to the ELOU-AVT-5 and ELOU-AVT-6 primary refining units, which provide 30% and 70% of the plant's total primary processing capacity, respectively. The attack also damaged the LCh-35/11-600 catalytic reforming unit and the PGI-DIG/280 low-temperature isomerisation unit, and caused an oil spill near a damaged rack. Three repair cranes were observed near the impact site.

On the night of July 12-13, Russia launched 134 Shahed-type drones and decoys, along with three Kh-59/69 guided missiles, targeting northern, southern, and eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted 123 drones and all three missiles. Six drones struck five locations, and debris caused damage in four areas. A second strike hit Odesa, damaging a transport company and injuring three people.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly commented on the abduction and murder of two civilian brothers, Maksym and Roman Moseychuk, in the village of Kalynivka, Kyiv region. Ten suspects have been detained, including former 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade commander Stanislav Luchanov, who is charged with kidnapping and murder. The crime, possibly motivated by a dispute over motorcycle noise, has sparked public outrage and raised concerns about accountability within the military. Zelensky stated that all responsible, including military personnel, will face justice.

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has approved 413 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for use by its defence forces since the beginning of 2026, surpassing the totals for both 2025 and 2024. Almost all are domestically produced. The codified systems include reconnaissance drones, loitering munitions, FPV drones, bomber UAS, interceptors, relay drones, fiber-optic systems, and front-strike and deep-strike drones. Multirotor strike drones and fiber-optic UAS account for the largest share. This milestone reflects Ukraine's rapid scaling of drone production and integration into military operations.

Ukrainian investigators suspect former 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade commander Stanislav Luchanov of ordering the abduction and murder of two civilian brothers, Maksym and Roman Moseichuk, in Kyiv Oblast in late June 2026. The brothers were taken from their home in Kalynivka, driven to Poltava or Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and killed. Nine soldiers have been detained, and Luchanov was arrested in Kyiv on 13 July after going absent without leave. The case tests Ukraine's promise of accountability regardless of rank, following a recent scandal involving non-combat deaths at the 425th Separate Assault Regiment Skelia.

A Russian strike on a bus depot in Odesa destroyed 15 buses, damaged 11 additional buses and six passenger cars, and injured two drivers, one seriously. The attack also damaged a sanatorium building and a civilian cargo vessel unloading fertilizer at the port. The resulting fire forced the cancellation of some intercity and international bus services. Subsequent reports updated the casualty count to four injured: two at the depot and two at the health resort. Six buses caught fire, and the health resort building was also hit. Oleh Kiper reported the incident on Telegram, noting that all relevant services are working at the sites.

Background: Russia has deployed additional Pantsir air defense systems near the Kerch Bridge and other strategic sites, while Ukraine has struck oil facilities and air defense targets in Crimea and Russia. On July 13, satellite imagery detected fires near a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system deployment site in Kerch, Crimea. Explosions and gunfire were heard overnight. Two fires also broke out on the highway from the Crimean side of the Chonhar Bridge, likely involving fuel tankers and trucks. In Sevastopol, a strike possibly hit near a railway bridge, and a fire at sea was reported in the Kerch Strait near an unidentified vessel. Ukrainian drones struck more than 360 Russian fuel tankers and trucks en route to Crimea over the course of a week.

On July 13, Russian shelling targeted civilian energy infrastructure in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions, causing new power outages. Emergency repairs are underway where security permits. Adverse weather also caused outages in 29 settlements in Sumy and Chernihiv regions. Electricity consumption dropped 2.4% due to cooler temperatures. Ukrenergo urged consumers to shift usage to peak solar hours (11:00-15:00). No scheduled rolling blackouts are planned for July 13.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys called on EU member states to ramp up energy assistance to Ukraine before winter, as Russia continues to target Ukraine's critical infrastructure. Speaking at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, he emphasized that providing transformers, power generators, and other equipment is a collective duty. Lithuania is already contributing. The appeal highlights the urgency of protecting Ukraine's energy grid amid ongoing attacks. Separately, Lithuania urged EU states not to host sporting events involving Russian and Belarusian athletes.