A Russian Shahed drone struck a Palau-flagged civilian grain carrier twice as it departed a port in Odesa Oblast, Ukraine, carrying 2,800 tons of corn. The second strike caused a large fire. Two sailors are missing, and eight crew members and a pilot were rescued. Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister condemned the attack as part of a deliberate Russian campaign targeting civilian shipping and port infrastructure to disrupt Ukraine's grain exports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia's deliberate strikes on Ukrainian ports and agricultural facilities risk triggering a new global food crisis, echoing the 2022 disruption that hit import-dependent nations in the Middle East and North Africa. He made the remarks after a Russian double drone strike set fire to a grain ship carrying corn departing Odesa, leaving two sailors missing. Zelensky said Ukraine will respond and coordinate with partners to protect normal life and food supplies.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 202 combat engagements on July 25, 2026, with Russian forces conducting one missile strike (two missiles), 56 airstrikes (165 guided bombs), 6,490 kamikaze drone attacks, and 2,302 shelling incidents. Ukrainian forces repelled assaults across multiple sectors, including Lyman, Sloviansk, Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk, and Huliaipole, inflicting casualties and destroying equipment. In the Pokrovsk sector alone, Ukrainian forces eliminated 52 Russian troops and destroyed an ammunition depot, two artillery systems, and two vehicles.

Romanian F-16 fighter jets shot down two drones violating Romanian airspace near the Ukrainian border on July 24-25, 2026, marking the first known combat interceptions by Romania since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. The first drone, suspected to be a Shahed-type used by Russia, was destroyed over Buzău County in a joint NATO operation involving Italian Eurofighter Typhoons. The second was shot down near Sfântu Gheorghe the following day by the same pilot. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu called the incursions a pattern, and European Council President António Costa commended Romania's response. The incidents highlight ongoing spillover from the war in Ukraine into NATO territory.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian forces lost 1,440 troops, 9 tanks, 8 armored combat vehicles, 70 artillery systems, 1 multiple-launch rocket system, 8 ground robotic systems, 1,450 operational-tactical UAVs, 1 cruise missile, 453 vehicles and fuel tankers, and 3 units of special equipment in the past 24 hours, bringing total estimated Russian combat losses since February 24, 2022, to approximately 1,438,990 personnel. The update reflects ongoing attritional warfare across the front line.

Background: Romania shot down a drone for the first time, China retaliated against EU sanctions, and Ukraine struck a Wildberries warehouse in St. Petersburg and an Avitek factory in Kirov. Today: Ukrainian forces struck at least 10 Wildberries warehouses across Russia and occupied Ukraine in the past week, potentially straining Russian air defenses. The Russian Central Bank lowered its key interest rate for the fifth time in 2026. Romanian aircraft shot down a drone in its airspace, and an explosion damaged a cargo vessel bound for Ukraine off the Romanian coast. Ukrainian long-range strikes continued against Russian energy and logistics assets.

During the 22nd Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum in Omsk, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the war in Ukraine should be frozen and that negotiations should resume under the 'Istanbul 2.0' framework, arguing the conflict benefits Russia's opponents. Hours earlier, Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Siberia's Tyumen region and disrupted an athletics competition in Yekaterinburg. Russian-installed authorities in occupied Ukraine reported 12 killed in a Ukrainian strike on a tourist camp in Kyrylivka. The war continues with mutual strikes and stalled peace talks.

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) detained a Russian agent in Dnipro who organized a scheme to illegally verify and activate over 1,000 Starlink satellite terminals for Russian forces. The suspect, a native of Luhansk region recruited via Telegram, used fake identities to register the systems at postal service branches. All illegally registered Starlink stations have been blocked. The suspect faces up to 12 years in prison for aiding an aggressor state.

Russian forces struck four gas stations and a fire station in Ukraine's Poltava region early Saturday as part of a massive drone and missile barrage involving 157 drones and two missiles. No casualties were reported in Poltava. Separately, a jet-powered drone struck a post office in Sumy, killing two men, and one man was injured in Zaporizhzhia. The attacks follow a deadly ballistic missile strike on a defense industry event in the Kyiv region on Friday that killed at least 10 and injured nearly 100. President Zelensky warned that intelligence indicates Russia has prepared missiles for another massive attack within 48 hours.

Moscow-installed officials in occupied Zaporizhzhia reported that Ukrainian strikes on holiday camps killed eight people, including two children. Ukraine's Sumy region reported three killed in a Russian drone attack on a civilian facility. Romania's military shot down a drone that breached its airspace near the Ukrainian border. The attacks follow a major Russian assault near Kyiv that killed at least 10 people.

On July 25, 2026, Russian forces struck the southern city of Zaporizhzhia with three guided aerial bombs, hitting a water purification facility, killing one woman and injuring 11 others, including three children. The attack followed a massive overnight drone and missile barrage across multiple Ukrainian regions and a separate deadly artillery strike on Kherson. This incident marked a continuation of intensified Russian aerial bombardments on the city. On July 26, Russian forces continued their aerial assault on Zaporizhzhia, using guided aerial bombs and drones. A guided bomb destroyed a private house, killing a 67-year-old man, and a drone strike on an apartment building injured a 53-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man. Additional drone strikes wounded two men, aged 38 and 25, one critically. The attacks also damaged a gas station, warehouse facilities, a vehicle, a multi-story residential building, and an educational institution. The Zaporizhzhia Regional Prosecutor's Office opened a pre-trial investigation for war crimes resulting in death.

Background: Kazakhstan halted oil flows to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal near Novorossiysk after four drone strikes on tankers in four days, suspending loading. In a new development, the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk suspended tanker loading from July 21 due to increased Ukrainian drone attacks, with no crude oil loaded since that morning. The nearby CPC terminal also faced disruptions from elevated drone activity. Ukraine's Armed Forces struck a Russian tanker in the Black Sea and other targets, part of a broader campaign that has hit 172 vessels during a 13-day operation. The Sheskharis terminal has shipped an average of 650,000 barrels per day since the start of the year, and any extended stoppage risks pressuring global energy markets already strained by Middle East tensions.

On July 25, 2026, Russian forces shelled the central and Korabelny districts of Kherson, killing a 47-year-old man and severely injuring two others. The artillery fire damaged multiple residential buildings, an educational institution, and a vehicle. The attack followed a massive overnight drone and missile barrage across Ukraine, in which Russian forces launched 157 drones and two missiles, with 127 drones intercepted. Strikes also hit fuel infrastructure in Poltava and a post office in Sumy, killing three.

Russia's central bank, led by Elvira Nabiullina, has slashed its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 0.0-1.0% and raised its inflation forecast to 6-7%, citing a fuel crisis driven by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. The bank attributes the supply shock to reduced refining capacity, which is expected to gradually recover by year-end. The downgrade reflects slowing demand and persistent inflation expectations among households and businesses.

Newly appointed UK Defense Secretary Wes Streeting and Ukraine's Acting Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara, both appointed five days ago, held their first conversation. They discussed strengthening Ukraine's air defense, countering Russian jet-powered Banderol drones, and procuring Ukrainian-made unmanned systems via the ERA Loan mechanism financed by frozen Russian assets. Ukraine seeks British support for Gripen fighter jets and Meteor missiles to push Russian aircraft away from its borders, and emphasized the need for continued ammunition for F-16s and protection of the grain corridor.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned that Russia may employ 'fake diplomacy'—staged phone calls and bad-faith meetings—to derail upcoming US sanctions legislation. The warning comes as a bipartisan US Senate bill with over 60 co-sponsors, including Iran sanctions, is set for a vote. Sybiha urged vigilance to maintain pressure on Moscow.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has offered former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov an advisory position in Rome, citing his contributions to military innovation. Fedorov was dismissed by President Zelenskyy on July 15 after a prolonged conflict with then-Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky, sparking nationwide protests. Fedorov later rejected a deputy prime minister role, insisting on reinstatement as defense minister. The dismissal also triggered political upheaval, leading to the replacement of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky with Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapaty. The offer from Italy highlights international recognition of Fedorov's work in modernizing Ukraine's military and regaining battlefield initiative through technology.

Electronic warfare operators from Ukraine's 413th 'Raid' Regiment suppressed 696 Russian UAVs over 19 days, including 646 FPV and 50 Molniya drones, using non-kinetic methods. This highlights the growing role of EW in countering Russian drone threats, particularly low-observable Molniya systems, and protecting Ukrainian units. The Russian military has upgraded Molniya drones into low-cost reconnaissance and surveillance platforms that are increasingly replacing traditional strike roles. Drone warfare expert Serhii 'Flash' Beskrestnov noted that Molniya drones' low radar visibility and low-altitude flight make them harder to intercept, requiring continuous improvement of Ukrainian EW capabilities. The 413th Regiment stated that Russia is increasingly losing the ability to effectively employ its UAVs due to daily EW operations. The ability to neutralize FPV drones via EW is particularly important as it deprives Russian operators of real-time targeting capability against civilians; Ukraine has documented over 11,000 Russian FPV drone attacks on civilians, including double-tap strikes. In May 2025, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine concluded that FPV drone attacks in Kherson Oblast constituted crimes against humanity.

Unconfirmed reports from Ukrainian partisan sources and local Telegram channels indicate explosions and gunfire in occupied Melitopol, Donetsk, and Crimea, with drones spotted over Feodosiia. No official confirmation has been provided.

Ukraine's military received 10 experimental 'Predator' evacuation buggies, partly built from salvaged Russian equipment, to evacuate wounded soldiers from hard-to-reach front-line areas. The buggies, a volunteer project, are praised for their speed and cross-country ability, outperforming Western serial-production analogs in price and quality.

Ukrainian satellite communications company Stetman is advancing a $1.1 billion plan to deploy a 360-satellite constellation by 2030, aiming to reduce dependence on SpaceX's Starlink. The system, developed with Danish firm GomSpace, will serve state and military users initially. First 120 satellites are planned for launch with SpaceX in 2027. The project parallels Russian efforts to develop its own satellite internet service, Rassvet.

Ukraine's national grid operator Ukrenergo announced no planned electricity consumption restrictions for Sunday, July 26, while urging consumers to use power responsibly and shift high-power appliance use to between 10:00 and 16:00. The Ministry of Energy has delivered high-capacity electricity storage systems to the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Kyiv regions, indicating ongoing efforts to stabilize the energy grid amid war-related damage.

The Ukrainian resistance movement Yellow Ribbon reported that Russian operator Russky Mir is offering free satellite TV connections and equipment in occupied parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions to expand Russian propaganda broadcasts and squeeze out alternative information sources. This follows a ban on satellite equipment capable of receiving non-Russian channels in occupied Luhansk.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Koretskyi met with EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso to discuss financial support projects, focusing on energy, transport, and critical infrastructure restoration. The EBRD has invested over EUR 1.4 billion in Ukraine this year. Talks also covered corporate governance and privatization of state-owned banks.

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the UN Development Program in Ukraine, with Dutch financial support, launched a study in Kyiv to assess how mine action affects economic recovery, public safety, community development, environmental rehabilitation, and progress toward Sustainable Development Goals in Ukraine, the world's most mine-contaminated country since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The study will analyze contamination profiles, new mine types, and clearance technologies, with implications for global demining practices amid ongoing conflict. It will combine existing data, field research, and consultations with state and international partners, with Ukraine's Defense Ministry shaping methodology. Colonel Oleh Shuvarskyi, head of the mine-action directorate, urged the research to account for contamination profiles across territories and Russia's use of new mines, munitions, disguised explosive objects, and improvised explosive devices. The study is distinctive because it draws on operational and technical data from an active conflict where mines are still being laid.

Georgia has extended its financial aid and healthcare program for Ukrainian refugees who arrived between February 2022 and October 2026. The extension includes monthly housing assistance of 300 Georgian lari and a 45 lari cash payment per recipient, as well as continued healthcare coverage. Payments are suspended if recipients leave the country. The decision was signed by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Ukrainian Lieutenant Colonel Serhii Mahlovanyi has been awarded the Thales Prize as Best International Student at the UK Defense Academy's Advanced Command and Staff Course, a first for a Ukrainian in the program's 30-year history. He also earned the course's highest military award for operational planning. Selected from 252 officers from nearly 50 countries, Mahlovanyi graduated in the top 10% with an overall Grade A, and his written assignments and presentations earned the highest possible marks of A+. Beyond academics, he organized meetings between British course participants and Ukrainian commanders, co-authored a leadership and command handbook, supported Ukraine's defense attaché in the UK and the Ukrainian community in London, and contributed to Operation INTERFLEX training. He also completed a master's degree at King's College London while pursuing a second master's at a Ukrainian institution. His achievement underscores Ukraine's integration into NATO's professional military education and European security architecture.

Activists in countries like Iran, Russia, and Myanmar are increasingly adopting LoRa mesh networks to bypass state-imposed internet shutdowns. These networks use small, low-power radio modules to transmit encrypted text messages over several kilometers without centralized infrastructure, making them resistant to censorship and surveillance. While limited to short messages and vulnerable to physical tracking, the technology has been successfully deployed in Ukraine. Platforms like Meshtastic and MeshCore provide free, open-source software to build these networks, offering a viable alternative for secure communication under authoritarian regimes.