Newsletter 08/07/2026
Trump: U.S. may grant Ukraine license to manufacture Patriot missiles. Unmanned Systems Forces strike nine more tankers. Budanov: Poland preparing ‘escalatory steps’ ahead of Volhynia anniversary.
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Trump: U.S. may grant Ukraine license to manufacture Patriot missiles
The U.S. administration is preparing to transfer licensing rights for the production of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine.
Trump said that a little birdie had told him that they were going to transfer the rights to manufacture Patriots to the Ukrainians. He added that they would show them how to do it. He also said that it was actually very complicated, but that they would figure it out quickly.
He added that the Ukrainians would not be able to complain that they were not being given enough missiles because they would be making them themselves.
According to Trump, the licensing issue will be discussed in detail during his meeting with Zelensky. “I like that we’re talking about a defensive situation, not an offensive one,” the U.S. president noted.
It is worth noting that on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump promised that the U.S. would consider granting Ukraine a license to manufacture American anti-ballistic missiles.
Earlier, Zelensy stated that if Ukraine received a license from the U.S. to produce Patriot missiles, “our production would be sufficient both to defend Ukraine and to assist partners who need it.”
Zelensky on his trip to Moscow: It’s dangerous there now—there are too many Ukrainian drones
Video: Clash report
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, responding to a question from U.S. President Donald Trump about whether he would travel to Moscow for talks, joked that there were too many Ukrainian drones there.
Responding to a question from U.S. President Donald Trump about whether he would travel to Moscow for talks, Zelensky said, “It’s dangerous there right now; there are too many Ukrainian drones.”
Trump: U.S. interested in purchasing Ukrainian drones
“We would buy Ukrainian drones,” Trump said, responding to a question about the status of the drone deal between Ukraine and the U.S.
He added that Ukraine was capable of manufacturing drones in huge quantities.
The White House chief said that it was impressive that they were doing that amid a war, manufacturing drones even in basements.
Unmanned Systems Forces strike nine more tankers belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet in Sea of Azov
On the night of July 8, Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck nine more tankers belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov.
Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, reported this on Facebook.
He said that 21 vessels were struck over the course of 72 hours; these include 19 tankers from Russia’s shadow fleet, one dry cargo ship, and one ferry in Kerch.
Pilots from the 9th Kairos Battalion of the 414th Separate Brigade, Magyar Birds, fighters from the 413th Unmanned Systems Regiment Raid, and the 1st Separate Center of Unmanned Systems were involved in the operation.
Overnight, deep within the operational zone of the Russian invaders in the temporarily occupied Crimea and in the southern part of the seized territories of Ukraine, the USF struck 53 military targets.
Budanov: Poland preparing ‘escalatory steps’ ahead of Volhynia anniversary
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov has said that Poland is preparing “a number of immature escalatory steps” ahead of the anniversary of the Volhynia events that could further strain relations between Kyiv and Warsaw.
“The peak is definitely still ahead. That’s no secret. We have just under a week left until July 11, the anniversary of the Volhynia tragedy. Based on the information available to me, they are preparing a whole series of what I consider immature escalatory steps. So, obviously, all of this will continue,” Budanov said.
He stressed that Ukraine would not accept ultimatums “from anyone in the world” and urged against conducting dialogue in an ultimatum format.
“Ukraine will not accept ultimatums from anyone in the world. The last country that tried to issue us an ultimatum was the Russian Federation. No offense to Poland, but Russia is somewhat more powerful than Poland. And we still did not accept its ultimatum. Yes, it’s difficult, it’s bad, there’s a lot of bloodshed. But even their ultimatum was rejected. So why does anyone think we would accept something similar from anyone else? You should not speak to us in the language of ultimatums,” he said.
The Head of the Presidential Office added that Ukraine would respond to any steps taken by its neighbors.
War
Defense Forces strike Borisoglebsk Airfield in Voronezh region
Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Borisoglebsk Military Airfield in the Voronezh region and road bridges in the Urazovo and Shelayevo districts of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation.
Enemy redeploys brigade terrorizing Kherson region to Zaporizhzhia sector, says Fedorov
Russian forces have significantly intensified their shelling of Zaporizhzhia. To terrorize the civilian population, the Russians have redeployed a brigade—which had been terrorizing the Kherson region—to this sector of the front.
Power substation supplying North Crimean Canal is on fire on Kerch Peninsula
In temporarily occupied Crimea, on the Kerch Peninsula, a fire has been reported at a major power substation supplying the North Crimean Canal.
War update: 271 clashes on front lines, mostly in Pokrovsk and Sloviansk sectors
ADF neutralizes 139 drones launched by Russia in overnight attack on Ukraine
Russia loses another 1,260 troops, 61 artillery systems in war against Ukraine over past day
Shellings
Number of people injured in Russian drone attack on Kyiv rises to eight
In Kyiv, the number of people injured in the Russian drone attack on the afternoon of July 8 has risen to eight.
Drone strikes high-rise building in Kyiv’s Desnianskyi district
A high-rise building in Kyiv’s Desnianskyi District has been damaged as a result of an attack by Russian UAVs.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Kychko reported on Telegram that, according to preliminary information, a drone struck a 25-story residential building in the Desnianskyi district on the 16th floor.
Russian strike on building in Kharkiv: Two dead, injury toll climbs to 34
In Kherson, Russian forces attack minibus with drone: One person killed, and others wounded
Russian drones attack two enterprises in Chernihiv region, causing fires
Defense
JATEC outlines companies already operating in Ukraine’s air defense sector
Solutions developed by three companies—including two foreign ones—for intercepting enemy UAVs, with the support of the NATO-Ukraine Center, are already successfully operating in Ukraine.
Politics
Ukrainian and Hungarian FMs to discuss preparations for Zelensky–Magyar meeting
The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Hungary, Andrii Sybiha and Anita Orbán, will discuss preparations for the meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
FM Sybiha: Putin can avoid collapse by accepting proposals from Ukraine and its allies
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Ukraine’s proposals, supported by its allies, give Putin the opportunity to end the war and avoid the collapse toward which continued escalation is leading Russia.
Office of President confirms that Zelensky and Nawrocki had brief conversation in Ankara
The Office of the President confirmed that yesterday, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, the presidents of Ukraine and Poland, Volodymyr Zelensky and Karol Nawrocki, had a brief conversation.
D may grant license for Ukraine to make Patriots?? That would be nice but....did you forget who his ally is???? He just says that to keep ukraine/NATO Off balance & guessing. D will NEVER allow that if it'll hurt his BFs chances vs. Ukraine 🇺🇦.