Newsletter 09/07/2026
Ukraine Strike 12 Russian tankers. Ukraine’s involvement in sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines remains not established. EU plans to open Cluster 6 in Ukraine’s accession negotiations.
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Ukrainian Defense Forces Strike 12 Russian tankers, tugboat, and dry cargo ship in Sea of Azov
Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck 12 Russian tankers, one tugboat, and one dry cargo ship in the waters of the Sea of Azov, as well as an oil loading terminal in the Rostov region.
the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Facebook.
“On the night of July 9, as part of efforts to reduce the military and economic potential of the Russian aggressor, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck several important military and military-economic targets of the enemy. Specifically, 12 tankers, one tugboat, and one dry cargo ship belonging to the Russian Federation were struck in the waters of the Sea of Azov,” the statement reads.
The extent of the damage and the results of the strikes are being assessed.
The struck vessels were used, in particular, to supply fuel and lubricants to Russian military formations and to transport oil and petroleum products in circumvention of international sanctions. They facilitate the export of energy resources, which is one of the main sources of funding for the war against Ukraine.
The Defense Forces also struck the Yug Rusi oil terminal in Bataysk, Rostov region. A fire was reported in the area of the facility. The extent of the damage and the results of the strike are being determined.
“This facility handles the transshipment of petroleum products for export and is used to supply fuel and lubricants to Russian military units in the southern sector, as well as to generate foreign currency revenues that are allocated to finance the armed aggression against Ukraine.”
A Russian army ammunition depot in the Sorokyne area of the Luhansk region was also struck.
EU plans to open Cluster 6 in Ukraine’s accession negotiations on July 14
The European Union plans to hold intergovernmental conferences in Brussels next week with several candidate countries, including Ukraine, as part of the EU enlargement process.
Ukraine’s involvement in sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines remains not established — Prosecutor General’s Office
The Prosecutor General’s Office stated that Ukraine’s involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines has not been established.
Government to allocate UAH 3.04B for Vyshneve
The Ukrainian government will allocate UAH 3.04 billion from its reserve fund to help eliminate the consequences of the Russian attack on the town of Vyshneve in the Kyiv region.
“The government has instructed the relevant ministries to urgently prepare a decision to allocate UAH 3.04 billion from the reserve fund to support the community of Vyshneve in the Kyiv region in dealing with the aftermath of the enemy attack on July 6,” the statement said.
The funds will be used to provide compensation for destroyed or damaged homes, rebuild housing that was destroyed, carry out major repairs to apartment buildings, and restore utility infrastructure.
According to the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, the Russian strike damaged 280 residential buildings in Vyshneve, including 253 private houses and 27 apartment buildings.
War
Fire reported at Russian air defense positions in Crimea
In temporarily occupied Crimea, a fire has been reported at Russian air defense positions north of Kerch.
War update: 268 clashes on front lines; fiercest fighting in Pokrovsk and Huliaipole sectors
Russian army loses another 1,310 troops and one aircraft in war against Ukraine over past 24 hours
Shellings
Russian strike on Kyiv leaves publishing house Mamyne Sonechko office destroyed
In Kyiv, as a result of the Russian attack on July 8, the office of the publishing house “Mamyne Sonechko,” where children’s books and magazines were stored, was destroyed.
Russian drones damage apartment buildings in Sumy, one person injured
Russian forces attack emergency responders in Donetsk region
Russian drone strikes passenger minibus in central Kherson, leaving eight injured
Russians attack transport infrastructure in Mykolaiv; one person injured
In Kherson, Russians strike car with drone, killing two people
Russian drone strikes gas station in Zaporizhzhia, one person injured
Russian forces strike civilian car in Zolochiv, four people injured
Defense
Poland to cooperate with Ukraine on production and maintenance of Patriot missiles
Poland will cooperate with Ukraine in the production and maintenance of PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defense systems after signing a multilateral agreement with the United States and several NATO countries to establish a European maintenance center for these missiles.
Slovenia allocates additional $50M to PURL Initiative
Slovenia has announced an additional $50 million in funding for the PURL initiative, which supplies U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine.
Number of logistics and evacuation missions using ground robotic systems increases at front — Fedorov
In June, units of the Defense Forces carried out more than 16,600 logistics and evacuation missions using ground robotic systems.
Politics
Debate erupts in Czechia over support for Ukraine through PURL program
A decision to redirect part of the funding originally allocated to other forms of assistance for Ukraine to the PURL program, announced by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš during the NATO Summit in Ankara, has sparked debate within the country’s ruling coalition.
NATO summit sends Russia signal of support for Ukraine, but does not answer key challenges — former ambassador Chalyi
Former Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Valerii Chalyi believes that the NATO summit in Ankara sent Moscow a signal of continued support for Ukraine, but did not provide answers to three key questions about the Alliance’s future.
Geopolotics
European Commission considers ban on imports from illegal settlements in Israel
The European Commission is proposing tough measures to reduce imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Security
SSU detains deputy chairman of Odesa Regional Council on bribery charges
The Security Service of Ukraine has detained one of the deputy chairs of the Odesa Regional Council, who, along with his accomplices, is suspected of extorting 50,000 U.S. dollars from a local businessman in exchange for permission to build a cottage community.
We must all stand firm in the defense of Ukraine against Russia's attacks. To target civilians is a crime against humanity for which the Russians must be held accountable, if necessary, by similar responses.