Russia now controls more than two-thirds of Ukraine’s Donetsk region — the main theater of the ground war. Russian forces have carved out a 10-mile-deep pocket around the Ukrainian troops defending the crucial city of Kostiantynivka, partly surrounding them from the east, south and west.

In June, Russia's Defense Ministry reported downing a total of 2,368 Ukrainian drones, with an average of almost 79 drones per day across the month. Thus far in July, the Defense Ministry said it has downed 1,516 Ukrainian drones, with a daily average of 89 drones.

Russia has launched a massive overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine, killing at least one person in Odesa.

Ukraine’s capacity to strike Russia’s major cities has come under the spotlight since President Trump asked if Kyiv could do so.

Russian air defenses destroyed 73 Ukrainian drones overnight, including three heading for Moscow, Russia's defence ministry said on Friday.

At least 56 Ukrainians, mostly prisoners who completed their sentences and were subsequently ordered to leave Russia, were being held in a basement facility near the Russian-Georgian border, according to aid group Volunteers Tbilisi.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday predicted the Russian economy would withstand the European Union's latest sanctions package and said Moscow would intensify its strikes against Ukraine.

A group of Ukrainian teenagers, particularly several 17-year-old boys who survived Russian interrogations and searches, has been brought back to Ukraine from the occupied territory. Source: Bring Kids Back to Ukraine initiative Details: They are now in territory controlled by Ukraine.

The US and Ukraine are discussing a “mega deal” for Washington to purchase battle-tested drones from eastern Europe in exchange for American heavy weaponry.

Since Russia's invasion began, more than 100 religious leaders and activists have faced persecution for opposing the war.