Newsletter 03/07/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
Emergency work completed at Poltava strike site: two killed, 59 injured
Emergency and recovery operations have been completed in Poltava following a Russian drone strike that killed two people and injured 59 others.
Explosion in Luhansk kills ex-'mayor' Pilavov – media
In Russian-occupied Luhansk, a collaborator and former "head of the city administration," Manolis Pilavov, was killed in an explosion.
Pilavov was a member of the Party of Regions and, for a time, served as president of the Luhansk football club Zorya.
In the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" (LPR), he headed the occupation "city administration" from 2014 to 2023.
Deputy commander of Russian Navy killed in Kursk region
Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy commander of the Russian Navy, was killed in the Kursk region.
According to Kozhemyako, Gudkov, the former commander of the 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, died "fulfilling his officer's duty alongside his comrades" in the Kursk region.
Gudkov's fellow marine, Nariman Shikhaliyev, also died alongside him.
Official details about the circumstances of their deaths have not been disclosed. However, Russian war correspondents reported that Gudkov, his deputy, and between 10 to 20 Russian servicemen were killed in a HIMARS strike on a command post in the village of Korenevo in the Kursk region.
According to Ukrainian military reports, the 155th Brigade took part in the capture of Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel and may have been involved in the killings of Ukrainian civilians.
Russians attack Odesa with ballistic missiles, killing two and wounding three
On July 3, two people were killed and three others were injured in Odesa by a ballistic missile strike.
“The port infrastructure was hit by a ballistic cluster missile. Two people were killed and three were injured; they are receiving medical assistance. The truck driver was killed, and the identity of the other person is currently being established,” said Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kipper.
Russia's Nebo-M radar worth around $100M hit in Crimea – social media
A Russian Nebo-M radar system worth around $100 million was struck in temporarily occupied Crimea, near the village of Maiak on the Tarkhankut Peninsula.
The Nebo-M is a mobile radar system designed to detect aerodynamic and ballistic targets at medium and high altitudes and is part of the Nebo radar family.
Ukrainian General Staff confirms strike on Energia plant in Russia
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed the strike on the Energia plant in Yelets, Russia’s Lipetsk region—an important facility in the Russian military-industrial complex.
"As part of efforts to reduce the offensive capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces, units of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine —alongside other components of the Defense Forces—conducted a precision strike overnight on July 3 against Energia JSC in Yelets, Lipetsk region. The facility is known for the serial production of batteries and accumulators used by the Russian military," the General Staff reported.
CBS: Pentagon reviewing US weapons shipments to all countries, including Ukraine
A White House official said on Wednesday the pause in shipments to Ukraine is part of a larger review that the Pentagon has been conducting of weapons shipments to all countries that receive them from the U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth began this review weeks ago at the direction of President Donald Trump. The official said the review was undertaken to ensure the Pentagon under the previous administration was "prioritizing America's needs."
Although the Ukraine pause is what leaked to the media, the White House official said some other countries have been "reclassified" as well, meaning, they have been de-prioritized for receiving weapons and munitions from the U.S. The White House official did not name those countries, or say how long the pause in some weapons shipments to Ukraine may last.
War
SBU drones hit Russian ammo depots near Khartsyzsk in Donetsk region
Drones operated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) have successfully targeted Russian ammunition depots in the village of Velyke Orikhove near Khartsyzsk, located in the temporarily occupied Donetsk region.
Russians killed six civilians in Donetsk region in past day, wounded 12 more
The Russians killed three people in Raiske, two in Pokrovsk and one in Vesele Pole. Another 12 people were wounded, five of them in Kostiantynivka.
The total number of Russian casualties in the Donetsk region (3,301 killed and 7,433 wounded) is given without taking into account Mariupol and Volnovakha, Filashkin emphasized.
Border guards destroy Russian mortar, UAV launch pad near Vovchansk
UAV reconnaissance and attack groups and mortar crews with the Scorpion unit of the border guards’ Hart Brigade engaged a drone launch site near Volchansk, along with equipment, and a mortar at a firing position, also eliminating seven Russian soldiers.
Russians shell Bilozerka, injure 78-year-old woman
Russians strike Dnipropetrovsk community with guided bomb, kill man
Russian drone strike targets Kherson medical facility
Ukrainian air defense downs 40 of 52 Russian drones overnight
Defense
Ukraine signs agreement on joint production of drones with American company – Zelensky
In Denmark, in the presence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a memorandum was signed with the American company Swift Beat on the joint production of drones, particularly interceptors.
"In Denmark, in the presence of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Defense Minister of Ukraine Rustem Umerov and CEO of Swift Beat, LLC Eric Schmidt signed a memorandum of long-term strategic partnership. The document provides for the expansion of the company's production capacity, and modern drones will be supplied to Ukraine as a priority, on special terms and at cost," the statement on the website of the President of Ukraine said.
Sweden to provide over USD 150M in aid to Ukraine, including gun barrels, long-range and underwater vehicles
Sweden will allocate 1.5 billion Swedish kronor (over USD 150 million) for new military capabilities for Ukraine, including barrels for Archer self-propelled guns and other equipment.
Politics
Zelensky, King Frederik X discuss support for affected Ukrainian regions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with King Frederik X of Denmark about Denmark's patronage over Ukraine's affected regions, cooperation in military medicine, and projects supporting veterans.
Zelensky says he will discuss US weapons supply with Trump in coming days
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he will discuss the issue of weapons supply from the United States with U.S. President Donald Trump tomorrow or in the coming days.
Denmark vows 'maximum pressure' on Hungary to lift veto on Ukraine's EU membership talks
Denmark aims to use its six-month presidency of the EU Council to put "maximum pressure" on Hungary to lift its unyielding veto on Ukraine's EU membership negotiations, which has triggered visible exasperation in Kyiv and Brussels.
Economy
EU to provide Ukraine with EUR 76M to build European-gauge railway to Polish border
The Coordination Committee of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has approved a project for the construction of a 1,435 mm gauge railway section between Sknyliv and Mostyska II. The project will receive EUR 76 million in grant funding.
Society
Kyiv bids farewell to fallen F-16 pilot Maksym Ustymenko
In Kyiv, a farewell ceremony was held for F-16 pilot Maksym Ustymenko, a Hero of Ukraine, who was killed while defending the country during a large-scale Russian air attack on the night of June 29.
Zelensky presents 'Future of Ukraine' award to 11-year-old volunteer from Denmark
While in Denmark, President Volodymyr Zelensky presented the "Future of Ukraine" award to 11-year-old volunteer Jens Fogh Thomsen.
"In Denmark, I presented a special award – the 'Future of Ukraine' distinction – to 11-year-old volunteer Jens Fogh Thomsen. Since last year, he has been handcrafting Easter decorations and, through their sale, has raised over 34,000 Danish kroner to purchase school backpacks and supplies for Ukrainian children affected by the war," the president wrote on Telegram.
Injury toll from explosions near Zhytomyr rises to 82
The number of people injured in explosions near the village of Berezyna, Zhytomyr region, has risen to 82, with 38 currently hospitalized, including a citizen of Japan.
Around 100 households were affected, with a quarter of them completely destroyed.
Crime
Air Force major exposed as Russian agent in western Ukraine
In the Lviv region, Ukraine's military counterintelligence, in coordination with the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has detained a mole working for Russia's FSB — a major of the Ukrainian Air Force who was spying on Ukraine's military aviation.
The mole's actions were allegedly coordinated by Alexander Belodedov, a career officer from the FSB's elite Alpha special operations unit.
The agent's main task was to gather intelligence on Ukrainian military aviation, including the locations of operational airfields, logistics hubs, and aircraft maintenance centers. The enemy intended to use this data to launch missile and drone strikes on those sites.
Battalion command suspected of embezzling nearly UAH 100M arrested in Odesa region
Military counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), together with the National Police and in coordination with the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has dismantled three corruption schemes in the Odesa region involving defense funds and arrested members of a battalion's command.