Russia pounded Kyiv with ballistic missiles, killing at least nine people and injuring 28 others in the second such intense barrage in a week.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said a residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district was partially destroyed, trapping people inside. The first and second floors of the building partially collapsed.
More than a dozen explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital, sparking fires across the city and causing power outages in some areas.
The assault came just a week after a similar attack killed nine people, including six members of one family, among them children.
The latest strike came as US president Donald Trump said he was "not sure" he would allow Ukraine to build Patriot surface-to-air interceptor missiles under licence, casting doubt on Kyiv's hopes of reducing its reliance on Washington for critical air defences.
"It's a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we license to," the president told the Financial Times on Thursday, weeks after offering to share the production licence for the coveted air defence system with the war-hit nation.
Ukraine has repeatedly asked the US for Patriot missile systems to help intercept Russian missiles, drones and aerial bombs.
Key Points
- At least nine killed in Russia's latest missile barrage on Kyiv
- Trump says he is 'not sure' on Ukraine building Patriot missiles - report
- Ukraine strikes two more warehouses of Russian online retailer Wildberries
- Ukraine's envoy tells Washington 'we need the missiles'
- Romania scrambles jets as aerial targets detected near Ukraine border
Zelensky says Patriot interceptors remain top priority in call with Vance
08:00 , Shweta Sharma
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky said he held a "good" phone call with US vice president JD Vance, with air defence remaining a top priority as Russia's attacks continue.
Zelensky said the two discussed the urgent need for Patriot interceptors to defend against ballistic missiles, followed up on his recent meeting with president Donald Trump in Washington.
“As Russia's air attacks on our country continue unabated, air defence – specifically Patriot interceptors against ballistic missiles – remains a top priority,” he said.
“The Vice President and I also spoke about the consequences of Russia's war for global markets.”
He said both sides agreed to keep their teams in close contact and thanked the US for its continued support.
Pictures show aftermath of Russian strikes in Kyiv
07:26 , Shweta Sharma
Rescuers have been working to douse the flames after multiple multi-storey residential buildings caught fire in a major Russian air attack on Kyiv this morning.
Pictures from the Ukrainian capital show a huge crater near a children's clinic following an attack that included multiple Russian ballistic missiles.
Death toll rises to nine in Kyiv strikes
06:48 , Adam Withnall
Russia pounded Ukraine's capital Kyiv with ballistic missiles on Saturday, killing at least nine people and wounding 28 others, including four children, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Klitschko said a residential building in Shevchenkivskyi district was partially destroyed, trapping people inside.
The first and second floors of the damaged building had partially collapsed, he said.Some warehouses were also on fire, he said.
Russia has stepped up attacks on the capital in recent months, while Ukraine is chronically short of air defences capable of downing ballistic missiles, which travel at several times the speed of sound.
This is the second major attack on Kyiv this week.
The attack on Thursday killed nine people, including six members of one family in a village near Kryvyi Rih. In Kyiv, fires broke out across the city and power outages were reported in some areas.
Russia 'using Ceuta crisis to sow destabilisation' across Europe
06:46 , Shweta Sharma
Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out an “intensive propaganda campaign” using pictures from Ceuta to “sow destabilisation”.
Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha claimed that Ukrainian analysts have identified more than 1,500 publications on a pro-Russian network, led by Pravda and RT.
“For years, Moscow has used migration and other sensitive topics to stoke fear and destabilise European countries,” he wrote on X.
Three dead as Russia pounds Kyiv with ballistic missiles and drones
04:55 , Adam Withnall
At least three people were killed and over a dozen others injured after Russia launched an intense barrage of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Kyiv overnight into Saturday, local authorities said.
A five-story residential building in the Solomianskyi District was damaged by falling debris with people believed to be still trapped inside and a fire in the courtyard, said Kyiv mayor Vitalii Klitschko in a post on Telegram.
People were also reportedly trapped in another residential building the Shevchenkivskyi district, after a partial collapse on the first and second floors, Klitschko said.
Elsewhere in the capital, warehouse buildings were on fire in the Darnytskyi district, he said.
The attack came just two days after a large-scale Russian ballistic missile and drone attack across Ukraine killed 10 civilians and wounded more than 50 others and saw a Russian missile enter Polish airspace.
Recap: Romania briefly scrambles jets as aerial targets detected near Ukraine border
Friday 31 July 2026 23:00 , James Reynolds
Nato member Romania briefly scrambled two fighter jets as a group of aerial targets was detected near its river border with Ukraine, the Romanian Defence Ministry said on Friday.
The targets later disappeared from the radar monitoring systems without entering the national airspace, it said in a follow up post, adding that the air alert was lifted and explosions were reported on the Ukrainian territory.
Recap: Trump casts doubt on allowing Ukraine Patriot missile production
Friday 31 July 2026 22:00 , James Reynolds
US president Donald Trump said he was "not sure" he would let Ukraine build Patriot surface-to-air interceptor missiles.
"It's a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we licence to," the president said in his comments to FT yesterday. This comes weeks after offering to share the license of the coveted air defence systems with the war-hit nation.
On 10 July at the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said: “We’ll give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to do it,” Trump said. “I think they can produce them pretty quickly.”
Ukraine has been requesting the US for Patriot missiles to shoot down incoming Russian missiles, drones and bombs.
First look: ‘Can I go home now?’: The heartbreaking voices of Ukraine’s stolen children
Friday 31 July 2026 21:00 , James Reynolds
Exclusive: An extraordinary new documentary gives Ukrainian children the chance to tell their own stories of war, forced deportation from their homes and survival. Their testimony lays bare the devastating human cost of Russia’s invasion, reports Mark Hollingsworth:
‘Can I go home now?’: The heartbreaking voices of Ukraine’s stolen children
Six family members killed after Putin launches ‘North Korean ballistic missile’ at Ukrainian village, Zelensky says
Friday 31 July 2026 20:00 , James Reynolds
How the wars in Iran and Ukraine are colliding on the world’s largest lake
Friday 31 July 2026 19:00 , James Reynolds
Fears have mounted over the world’s two major wars converging after Ukraine attacked an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, with Tehran vowing to respond.
Iran claimed one sailor was killed and another injured in the Ukrainian attack, as the ministry summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran to protest against what it described as a “hostile and criminal” act.
Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday the reported strike on a commercial vessel “cannot go unanswered” in a call with the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.
Here’s why it matters:
How the wars in Iran and Ukraine are colliding on the world’s largest lake
Pictured: Smoke billows near Wildberries warehouse in Volgograd
Friday 31 July 2026 18:00 , James Reynolds
A drone attack set ablaze an energy facility and warehouses in Russia's Volgograd region on Friday, injuring five, the regional governor, Andrei Bocharov, said, but stopped short of giving details of the facilities.
The region is home to a Lukoil-owned oil refinery. Five people are seeking medical help after the attacks, Bocharov added on Telegram.
Top online retailer Wildberries said in a Telegram statement that one of its logistic hubs in the city of Volgograd caught fire following the attack, but there were no injuries.
Russian e-commerce giant forced to evacuate warehouse over Ukrainian drone alert
Friday 31 July 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds
Russia's second-largest e-commerce company, Ozon, says it has been forced to evacuate its warehouse in the town of Zelenodolsk in the Tatarstan region due to a Ukrainian drone alert.
The evacuation took just a few minutes to complete and there were no casualties. The logistics centre was undamaged and has since resumed operations, the company said.
Video showed a plume of white smoke rising next to a blue-coloured Ozon warehouse. Another unverified video posted on social media showed warehouse workers hurrying out of an Ozon warehouse and watching as a drone crashed into the ground some distance away with a loud explosion.
Ukraine has attacked at least a dozen warehouses belonging to Ozon's main rival, Wildberries, since July 18 in a bid to disrupt the operations of the company, a linchpin in Russia's consumer economy.
Ozon and Wildberries warehouses are located next to each other in many locations - including Zelenodolsk - and it was not clear on Friday which of the warehouses Ukraine was targeting.
Watch: British tourist films moment air raid sirens sound during Russian strikes in Ukraine
Friday 31 July 2026 16:00 , James Reynolds
A British tourist in Poland has captured on camera the moment air raid sirens started blaring during Russian strikes in Ukraine.
In the early hours of Thursday (30 July), Ryan, who was staying in Lublin, was woken to the sounds of sirens. “As a British tourist this scared the hell out of me,” he wrote.
The alarm was triggered by Russian airstrikes in neighbouring Ukraine, which killed eight people. The sirens stopped after a few minutes.
Poland’s defence minister Wladyslav Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the country endured an “extremely tough night”, which saw sirens blare, F-16 fighter jets scrambled and a suspected Russian missile crash into a field.
First look: ‘Can I go home now?’: The tragic voices of Ukraine’s stolen children
Friday 31 July 2026 15:00 , James Reynolds
Exclusive: An extraordinary new documentary gives Ukrainian children the chance to tell their own stories of war, forced deportation from their homes and survival. Their testimony lays bare the devastating human cost of Russia’s invasion, reports Mark Hollingsworth:
‘Can I go home now?’: The heartbreaking voices of Ukraine’s stolen children
Poland summons Russian ambassador over missile incident
Friday 31 July 2026 14:06 , James Reynolds
Poland summoned the Russian ambassador in connection with a missile which fell on Polish territory on Thursday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday.
An object that came down in eastern Poland on Thursday appeared to be a Russian missile, authorities said after they found a crater and scattered debris in a field following reports of an explosion.
Russia claims to have struck 31 Ukrainian ships in the last week
Friday 31 July 2026 14:00 , James Reynolds
Russia’s ministry of defence says that its forces have struck 31 ships linked to the Ukrainian military in the past week.
They claimed that figure included 23 cargo ships, four bulk carriers, two tug boats, a support vessel and a landing craft.
The Independent could not independently verify the report.
Russia says it took control of two more settlements in eastern Ukraine
Friday 31 July 2026 13:00 , James Reynolds
Russia’s defence minsitry says that its forces had pushed Ukrainian forces out of the settlement of Stinki in the Donetsk region and out of Virivka in Ukraine's Kharkiv region.
The Independent could not independently verify the claims.
Russian holiday economy hit with a million cancelled bookings in June
Friday 31 July 2026 12:00 , Suha Kidwai
Continued strikes in the North Sea are taking their toll on the Russian travel and leisure sector, with a million bookings to Russian-annexed Crimea cancelled in June, according to industry data.
Anton Sidorov, owner of the "Adrian" bistro in Anapa, southern Russia, said that he had remained closed in May and June because of a lack of customers.
Following the strikes this week, he has given up plans to open at all this season. "I don't see any point," he told Reuters.
Tourists in Anapa, known for its seafront promenade and long sandy beaches, have said that security considerations are now an integral part of their holiday planning.
For Kyiv, this is part of "bringing the war back home to Russia" as Ukrainian forces intensify drone strikes deep inside the country.
Russian defence giant launches new cryptocurrency despite EU sanctions
Friday 31 July 2026 11:30 , Suha Kidwai
A cryptocurrency associated with Russia's sprawling state defence corporation, Rostec has launched as the EU continues to target Russian crypto markets with further sanctions.
The token — RubX started offering swaps to the widely accepted dollar stablecoin Tether via Telegram on July 24.
Cryptocurrencies have emerged as a key conduit for Russian importers to make payments abroad, since global sanctions have effectively closed off Russian access to the international banking system.
Cut off from SWIFT and correspondent banking, some Russian companies — including those in the defence sector — have shifted to dollar-based crypto tokens to make payments for international trade contracts, including those with China.
RubX shareholder, Dmitry Shumaev, told Russian state news agency TASS that RubX had built-in technical "safeguards against sanctions risk," but did not provide any details as to what they were.
Shumaev said that RubX was preparing to launch a system for making international payments later this year.
Russia has lost over a million troops since outbreak of war, Kyiv reports
Friday 31 July 2026 11:01 , Suha Kidwai
Russia has lost around 1,446,150 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported.
The figure includes 1,340 casualties Russian forces have suffered in the past day.
According to the report, Russian losses also include 12,231 tanks, 25,056 armoured combat vehicles, 128,034 vehicles and fuel tanks, and 47,045 artillery systems.
Ukraine's General Staff has not revealed its own losses during the full-scale invasion, citing operational secrecy.
However, it is widely believed that Russian casualties significantly surpass Ukraine's losses, with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimating the ratio to be "roughly 2.5:1 or 2:1."
Wildberries removes military products from search results amid repeated Ukrainian strikes
Friday 31 July 2026 10:30 , Suha Kidwai
Wildberries has reportedly removed products from search results for the Russian-language terms "everything for the SVO" and "SVO" — an acronym for "special military operation," the Kremlin's official term for its full-scale war against Ukraine.
Wildberries accounts for nearly half of Russia's online retail market and offers a range of dual-use goods on its platform, including body armour and fibre-optic cables that can be used for first-person-view drones.
Over a dozen Wildberries facilities have been targeted by Ukrainian forces since 18 July.
One of Russia's biggest oil refineries hit in overnight Ukrainian attack
Friday 31 July 2026 10:01 , Suha Kidwai
The Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka refinery in Volgograd has been hit in overnight attacks on Friday, the Ukrainian military has confirmed.
The facility is one of Russia's largest oil refineries and produces gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, and other petroleum products.
The refinery can process around 300,000 barrels of crude per day, equivalent to roughly 5% of Russia's refining capacity.
Volgograd regional Governor Andrei Bocharov has confirmed that “fires broke out at an energy facility in the south of the city as well as warehouse premises in the Dzerzhinsky district” due to “UAV strikes,” without identifying which facilities were hit.
Russia says it hit vessel with military cargo near Ukraine's Odesa
Friday 31 July 2026 09:30 , Arpan Rai
Russian forces struck a vessel carrying military cargo near Ukraine's Odesa, the Russian defence ministry said this morning.
Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks in recent weeks on ships that they say are aiding the other side's war effort.
North Korean missile likely used in Russian strike that killed five family members
Friday 31 July 2026 09:10 , Arpan Rai
A Russian overnight assault that tragically claimed the lives of a family near the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih is believed to have involved a North Korean missile, according to two sources. This marks the first suspected use of such a weapon in the conflict for almost a year.
While Russia has previously deployed North Korean missiles against Ukrainian targets, their re-emergence after a significant hiatus suggests Moscow has replenished its arsenal. This fresh stock of weapons could enable Russia to escalate its missile campaign against its neighbour, one source indicated.
The military source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, said August 8, 2025 was the last time that Ukraine confirmed a Russian strike using a North Korean missile. Russia began firing North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles at Ukraine towards the end of 2023.
North Korean missile likely used in Russian strike that killed five family members
Ukraine strikes two more warehouses of Russian online retailer Wildberries
Friday 31 July 2026 08:50 , Arpan Rai
Ukrainian drones struck two more warehouses belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries overnight, sparking fires at both sites, the company and a regional official said.
Ukraine has attacked about a dozen Wildberries sites since 18 July in a bid to disrupt the operations of the company, a linchpin of the consumer economy that is often described as Russia's answer to Amazon.
Oleg Melnichenko, governor of the Penza region in western Russia, said one person was injured and around 200 people were evacuated from the Wildberries site there.
Wildberries said a fire had also broken out at its logistics facility in Sarapul in Russia's Udmurtia region after a Ukrainian drone attack.
The company said staff had been evacuated in advance, that there were no preliminary reports of casualties, and that deliveries were being rerouted through other facilities.
Several Russian news outlets reported a third attack on a Wildberries site in the Urals region of Perm, but the company said its sorting centre there was operating normally.
Trump says he is 'not sure' on Ukraine building Patriot missiles - report
Friday 31 July 2026 08:30 , Arpan Rai
US president Donald Trump said he was "not sure" he would let Ukraine build Patriot missiles, The Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing a phone call with him.
Trump also said his envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would visit Ukraine for the first time in the coming days, the Financial Times said.
"It's a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we licence to," the president said in his comments to FT.
Ukraine's envoy tells Washington 'we need the missiles'
Friday 31 July 2026 08:10 , Arpan Rai
Ukraine hopes a new push for ceasefire talks with Russia could halt the war before a potentially brutal winter, but needs new anti-ballistic missiles now to defend against strikes by Moscow, the country's envoy to Washington said.
Olha Stefanishyna told reporters that Ukraine was in discussions with the Pentagon about a license to produce Patriot PAC-3 missiles itself, but that process could take 12 months to five years.
“The devastating effect of every overnight attack right now is unbelievable,” Stefanishyna said.
“Last night and the night before, it was 30 to 40 ballistic missiles.”
While Ukraine was able to defend against Iranian and Russian-built drones, it had not yet developed an effective way to defend against ballistic missiles, whose production is being rapidly increased by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
“He has an intention to destroy Ukraine, and that's why, you know, we're looking for different capabilities. We have been successful in everything, but so far, for this winter, we need the missiles.”
Discussions were also underway about Ukraine agreeing to a long-term purchase of PAC-3 missiles, and then swapping positions in the production line with another buyer.
Romania scrambles jets as aerial targets detected near Ukraine border
Friday 31 July 2026 07:50 , Arpan Rai
Romania, a member of European Union and Nato, briefly scrambled two fighter jets as a group of aerial targets was detected near its river border with Ukraine, the Romanian defence ministry said on social media website X.
The targets later disappeared from the radar monitoring systems without entering the national airspace, it said in a follow up post, adding that the air alert was lifted and explosions were reported on the Ukrainian territory.
Drone attack sparks fire at energy plant in Russia's Volgograd
Friday 31 July 2026 07:26 , Arpan Rai
A drone attack sparked a fire at an energy facility and warehouses in Russia's Volgograd region this morning, injuring five, the regional governor, Andrei Bocharov, said, but stopped short of giving details of the facility.
The region is home to a Lukoil-owned oil refinery.
At least five people are seeking medical help after the attacks, Bocharov added on Telegram.
In the neighbouring southern region of Rostov, a woman was injured after a drone attack in the town of Gukovo, regional governor Yuri Slyusar said on the messaging app.
Ukraine has recently stepped up attacks on Russian logistics hubs, such as those of top online retailer Wildberries, as it keeps up strikes on energy facilities that have triggered a supply crisis across most of Russia.
Wildberries, with a few of its warehouses hit as recently as Thursday, said on Telegram it had paid a second tranche of financial support to nearly 100,000 sellers whose goods were damaged.
Nato chief says Russian missile in Polish airspace 'reckless'
Friday 31 July 2026 07:04 , Arpan Rai
Nato officials said they have noted that Russian missile entered Polish airspace during the onslaught and landed in a rural area.
It caused no injuries or damage but could deepen tensions between the military alliance and Moscow, as wary European countries fear the 4-year-old war could spill into their territory.
Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte called it “yet another reckless act by Russia and a dangerous consequence of its war against Ukraine.”
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said it was “a very serious incident,” but added: “There are absolutely no reasons to believe that Poland was the target.”
‘Scared’ British tourist in Poland films moment air raid sirens sound during Russian strikes in Ukraine
Friday 31 July 2026 06:45 , Arpan Rai
A British tourist in Poland has captured on camera the moment air raid sirens started blaring during Russian strikes in Ukraine.
In the early hours of Thursday, Ryan, who was staying in Lublin, was woken to the sounds of sirens.
“As a British tourist this scared the hell out of me,” he wrote.
The alarm was triggered by Russian airstrikes in neighbouring Ukraine, which killed eight people. The sirens stopped after a few minutes.
Poland’s defence minister Wladyslav Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the country endured an “extremely tough night”, which saw sirens blare, F-16 fighter jets scrambled and a suspected Russian missile crash into a field.
‘Scared’ British tourist in Poland woken by air raid sirens during Ukraine strikes
Russia says it hit vessel with military cargo near Ukraine's Odesa
Friday 31 July 2026 06:31 , Arpan Rai
Russian forces struck a vessel carrying military cargo near Ukraine's Odesa, the Russian defence ministry said this morning.
Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks in recent weeks on ships that they say are aiding the other side's war effort.
Russia extends diesel and gasoline export bans until end of January 2027
Friday 31 July 2026 06:15 , Arpan Rai
The Russian government extended its bans on the export of diesel and gasoline until 31 January, 2027, it said in a statement on Thursday.
Russia initially introduced the ban on diesel from 8 July to 31 July as part of a broader package of measures to support the domestic fuel market after repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries triggered fuel shortages and price spikes.
Moscow had already imposed restrictions on exports of gasoline and jet fuel.
North Korean missile likely used in Russian strike that killed five family members
Friday 31 July 2026 06:00 , Arpan Rai
A Russian overnight assault that tragically claimed the lives of a family near the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih is believed to have involved a North Korean missile, according to two sources. This marks the first suspected use of such a weapon in the conflict for almost a year.
While Russia has previously deployed North Korean missiles against Ukrainian targets, their re-emergence after a significant hiatus suggests Moscow has replenished its arsenal. This fresh stock of weapons could enable Russia to escalate its missile campaign against its neighbour, one source indicated.
The military source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, said August 8, 2025 was the last time that Ukraine confirmed a Russian strike using a North Korean missile. Russia began firing North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles at Ukraine towards the end of 2023.
North Korean missile likely used in Russian strike that killed five family members
Watch: Six family members killed after Putin launches ‘North Korean ballistic missile’ at Ukrainian village, Zelensky says
Friday 31 July 2026 05:46 , Arpan Rai
Ukraine strikes two more warehouses of Russian online retailer Wildberries
Friday 31 July 2026 05:07 , Arpan Rai
Ukrainian drones struck two more warehouses belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries overnight, sparking fires at both sites, the company and a regional official said.
Ukraine has attacked about a dozen Wildberries sites since 18 July in a bid to disrupt the operations of the company, a linchpin of the consumer economy that is often described as Russia's answer to Amazon.
Oleg Melnichenko, governor of the Penza region in western Russia, said one person was injured and around 200 people were evacuated from the Wildberries site there.
Wildberries said a fire had also broken out at its logistics facility in Sarapul in Russia's Udmurtia region after a Ukrainian drone attack.
The company said staff had been evacuated in advance, that there were no preliminary reports of casualties, and that deliveries were being rerouted through other facilities.
Several Russian news outlets reported a third attack on a Wildberries site in the Urals region of Perm, but the company said its sorting centre there was operating normally.
Moscow adds Telegram founder to list of extremists and terrorists
Friday 31 July 2026 05:02 , Arpan Rai
Russia's financial monitoring agency, Rosfinmonitoring, added Telegram founder Pavel Durov to its list of extremists and terrorists, according to a designation on the agency's website posted on Thursday.
Moscow charged Durov on Wednesday with facilitating terrorist activity, alleging that Ukrainian spies were using his popular messaging app to organise attacks inside Russia.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said Durov, who lives in Dubai, is being placed on an international wanted list, but it did not specify what mechanism Russia would use to do this.
The action against Durov is part of a broader crackdown on Telegram by the Russian government, which has effectively throttled the app as it seeks to promote state-backed services and tighten control over what Russians can see and do online.
Trump says he is 'not sure' on Ukraine building Patriot missiles - report
Friday 31 July 2026 04:29 , Arpan Rai
US president Donald Trump said he was "not sure" he would let Ukraine build Patriot missiles, The Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing a phone call with him.
Trump also said his envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would visit Ukraine for the first time in the coming days, the Financial Times said.
"It's a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we licence to," the president said in his comments to FT.
Ukraine's envoy tells Washington 'we need the missiles'
Friday 31 July 2026 04:18 , Arpan Rai
Ukraine hopes a new push for ceasefire talks with Russia could halt the war before a potentially brutal winter, but needs new anti-ballistic missiles now to defend against strikes by Moscow, the country's envoy to Washington said.
Olha Stefanishyna told reporters that Ukraine was in discussions with the Pentagon about a license to produce Patriot PAC-3 missiles itself, but that process could take 12 months to five years.
“The devastating effect of every overnight attack right now is unbelievable,” Stefanishyna said.
“Last night and the night before, it was 30 to 40 ballistic missiles.”
While Ukraine was able to defend against Iranian and Russian-built drones, it had not yet developed an effective way to defend against ballistic missiles, whose production is being rapidly increased by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
“He has an intention to destroy Ukraine, and that's why, you know, we're looking for different capabilities. We have been successful in everything, but so far, for this winter, we need the missiles.”
Discussions were also underway about Ukraine agreeing to a long-term purchase of PAC-3 missiles, and then swapping positions in the production line with another buyer.
Romania scrambles jets as aerial targets detected near Ukraine border
Friday 31 July 2026 04:06 , Arpan Rai
Romania, a member of European Union and Nato, briefly scrambled two fighter jets as a group of aerial targets was detected near its river border with Ukraine, the Romanian defence ministry said on social media website X.
The targets later disappeared from the radar monitoring systems without entering the national airspace, it said in a follow up post, adding that the air alert was lifted and explosions were reported on the Ukrainian territory.
Drone attack sparks fire at energy plant in Russia's Volgograd
Friday 31 July 2026 03:56 , Arpan Rai
A drone attack touched off a fire at an energy facility and warehouses in Russia's Volgograd region this morning, injuring five, the regional governor, Andrei Bocharov, said, but stopped short of giving details of the facility.
The region is home to a Lukoil-owned oil refinery.
At least five people are seeking medical help after the attacks, Bocharov added on Telegram.
In the neighbouring southern region of Rostov, a woman was injured after a drone attack in the town of Gukovo, regional governor Yuri Slyusar said on the messaging app.
Ukraine has recently stepped up attacks on Russian logistics hubs, such as those of top online retailer Wildberries, as it keeps up strikes on energy facilities that have triggered a supply crisis across most of Russia.
Wildberries, with a few of its warehouses hit as recently as Thursday, said on Telegram it had paid a second tranche of financial support to nearly 100,000 sellers whose goods were damaged.
Russia and Belarus to remain excluded from major international ice hockey tournaments
Friday 31 July 2026 03:00 , Alex Croft
Russia and Belarus will remain excluded from most major international ice hockey tournaments next season, the sport's world governing body said on Thursday, citing "ongoing safety, security and sporting integrity concerns".
The decision means Russia's teams will not compete in IIHF events during the 2026-27 season, including the men's World Championship, World Junior Championship and the men's and women's Under-18 World Championships.
Belarus also remain barred from the World Junior Championship, although the IIHF had previously announced plans to reintegrate the country in some lower-level competitions, including the men's and women's under-18 events and Women's Division IV World Championship.
"In line with the event-by-event approach established, the eligibility of Russia at the IIHF Women's World Championship 2027 will be reviewed separately by the IIHF Council in November 2026, taking into account the circumstances and risk assessment applicable at that time," the governing body said in a statement.
Russia and Belarus have been excluded from IIHF competitions since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Belarus sanctioned for its support of Moscow's war effort.
The IIHF in May said it would assess Russia's participation in the 2026-27 season on an event-by-event basis.
Moscow adds Telegram founder to list of extremists and terrorists
Friday 31 July 2026 01:30 , Alex Croft
Russia's financial monitoring agency, Rosfinmonitoring, added Telegram founder Pavel Durov to its list of extremists and terrorists, according to a designation on the agency's website posted on Thursday.
Moscow charged Durov on Wednesday with facilitating terrorist activity, alleging that Ukrainian spies were using his popular messaging app to organise attacks inside Russia.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said Durov, who lives in Dubai, is being placed on an international wanted list, but it did not specify what mechanism Russia would use to do this.
The action against Durov is part of a broader crackdown on Telegram by the Russian government, which has effectively throttled the app as it seeks to promote state-backed services and tighten control over what Russians can see and do online.
Polish foreign minister calls Russian missile an 'unacceptable threat' to be met 'further diplomatic steps'
Friday 31 July 2026 00:01 , Suha Kidwai
Following the crash and explosion of a Russian missile in Poland on Thursday morning, the Polish ministry for foreign affairs has emphasised the consequences of unchecked Russian aggression.
In a statement on X, the ministry said: “This incident is a direct consequence of the brutal attacks by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Russia’s military actions pose an unacceptable threat to our citizens.
“The ministry for foreign affairs remains in contact with the Armed Forces and relevant institutions. We are analysing the course of the incident together with our NATO allies.
“Further diplomatic steps will be taken once the technical details have been established by the services responsible.”
Export ban on diesel and gas extended to next year as Ukrainian attacks hit Russian economy
Thursday 30 July 2026 23:00 , Suha Kidwai
The Russian government has extended its bans on export of diesel and gasoline until January 31, 2027, it said in a statement on Thursday.
Russia initially introduced the ban on diesel from July 8 to July 31 as part of a broader package of measures to support the domestic fuel market after repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries triggered fuel shortages and price spikes.
Moscow had already previously imposed restrictions on exports of gasoline and jet fuel.
The Russian government has said it is temporarily banning the export of gasoline, diesel, marine fuel and gas oils in order to maintain stability on the domestic market.
From September 1, however, producers' exports will be exempt from the restrictions on diesel, marine fuel and gas oils.
Some fuel exports will still take place under intergovernmental agreements and in the form of humanitarian aid, the statement said.
Zelensky condemns Russian missile that left 'fragments of bodies'
Thursday 30 July 2026 22:00 , Suha Kidwai
The Ukrainian president has named the family who were killed in Kryvyi Rih in Russian strikes on Thursday morning.
In a post on X, he said that the Russian missile "struck with such force that almost nothing was left of the house".
"Fragments of human bodies were found under the rubble, and only forensic examinations can establish which members of the family they belong to."
While the deaths of five of the family have been confirmed, Zelensky has said the fates of five others are still unknown.
Today, the Russians used their ballistic missile to destroy an ordinary house belonging to an ordinary family in Radushne, near Kryvyi Rih, in our Dnipro region. It was the Voronov family: mother Olena, father Artem, seven children – Mark, Dominika, Zakharii, Azarii Ilai,… pic.twitter.com/91Nz9sdPil
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 30, 2026
In pictures: the devastating impacts of Russian strikes on Ukraine
Thursday 30 July 2026 21:00 , Suha Kidwai
Rescuers pull people from destroyed building in Ukraine
Thursday 30 July 2026 20:00 , Suha Kidwai
In Lviv, a Russian missile hit a residential apartment building but did not explode, according to the city's mayor.
Emergency services have worked to pull people out of the building, which suffered damage to its roof and upper floors.
"I was terrified watching the rescuers go beneath those concrete slabs," resident Marko told Reuters as rescuers pulled a boy from the damaged building.
"I'm proud that we have rescuers who aren't afraid to go into situations where those slabs could collapse on them."
Russia launched more than 70 missiles and about 280 drones in Thursday’s overnight attack, President Zelensky has said.
In pictures: Devastation in Radushne after Russia strikes 'with North Korean missile'
Thursday 30 July 2026 19:00 , Alex Croft
Six killed after Russia strikes Ukraine with North Korean missile, claims Zelensky
Thursday 30 July 2026 18:24 , Alex Croft
Russia launched a North Korean ballistic missile at a Ukrainian village, Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed.
The Ukrainian president said that, according to preliminary data, Russia deployed a North Korean missile in an attack on the Ukrainian village of Radushne that killed six people.
"In Radushne, the Russians used a missile from North Korea for the first time in a long time – that is what preliminary data shows," Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
"The alliance of Moscow bastards with the mad regime in North Korea – for missiles, for the North Korean contingent here in Europe, on our borders, and for the killing of our Ukrainian children."
Watch: British tourist films moment air raid sirens sound during Russian strikes in Ukraine
Thursday 30 July 2026 18:00 , Daniel Keane
Polish PM thanks EU and NATO for their support amid Russian missile incident
Thursday 30 July 2026 17:00 , Suha Kidwai
Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk has expressed his gratitude for the support the country has received following a now-confirmed Russian missile crash in Lublin.
In a post on X, he wrote: “I would like to thank all EU and NATO leaders for their solidarity and readiness to help.”
Melania Trump helps reunite Ukrainian and Russian families torn apart by war, says White House
Thursday 30 July 2026 16:30 , Suha Kidwai
First lady Melania Trump has helped reunite a fifth group of Ukrainian and Russian families torn apart by the conflict, according to a statement issued by the White House.
A total of five children were reunited with their families on Thursday.
The first lady said: “While diplomacy and peace-building are important to this effort, they are surpassed by our collective ability to place children above international disputes.
“Every reunion is a reminder that compassion, dignity, and family can transcend even the darkest of times: war.
“My representative and I continue working with the governments of Russia and Ukraine to safely return children to their families and communities.”
Merz says incident in Poland shows Russia's recklessness
Thursday 30 July 2026 16:00 , Daniel Keane
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday that an incident in eastern Poland showed Moscow's recklessness and willingness to escalate tensions amid the Ukraine war.
"We stand unwaveringly by our partners," said Merz on X.
Polish prime minister confirms source of explosion to be Russian missile
Thursday 30 July 2026 15:30 , Suha Kidwai
Prime minister Donald Tusk has confirmed that the explosion on Thursday morning was caused by a Kh-101 cruise missile.
In a post on X, the leader wrote: “Last night, during the massive missile attack on Ukraine, one of the cruise missiles Kh-101 violated the Polish airspace and fell 50 km away from the town of Lublin.
“The missile was armed. In all probability it was Russian.”
This comes after investigators found fragments at the explosion site which allowed them to determine the missile model, Polish news agency PAP has reported.
Poland's prime minister has stressed that the incident underscores the need for continued support for Ukraine so that it can intercept missiles, rockets and drones while they are still over Ukrainian territory.
More than 20 aerial objects had approached Polish airspace on Thursday morning, the national defence minister has shared.
Polish prime minister says 'no reasons to believe that Poland was the target' as probes into Russian missile continue
Thursday 30 July 2026 15:15 , Suha Kidwai
Addressing the media, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called the explosion — which created a 10-metre crater, “a very serious incident,” but added: “There are absolutely no reasons to believe that Poland was the target.”
The attack comes two days after Ukrainian President Zelensky met with Donald Trump to secure a license for the domestic production of Patriot air defence systems to stop Russia’s ballistic missiles.
Read more about Ukraine’s Patriot deal here:
Trump meets Netanyahu and Zelensky at White House as wars drag on
Ukraine attacks on Wildberries defended as 'long-range sanctions' on Russia
Thursday 30 July 2026 15:00 , Suha Kidwai
Ukraine has described its long-range strikes on Wildberries facilities as “long-range sanctions,” according to Reuters.
The term is frequently used by President Zelensky to describe attacks intended to weaken Russia’s ability to wage war.
Three Wildberries facilities have been attacked as of Thursday.
Several of the attacks on Wildberries have caused massive damage to warehouses, disrupting the company's distribution chain and threatening heavy losses for tens of thousands of small businesses who use it as their main marketplace.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, said on Thursday that around 1,500 sellers had seen goods destroyed or damaged following a Ukrainian strike on a Wildberries warehouse there last week.
Russia likely used North Korean missile in deadly Ukraine strike, sources say
Thursday 30 July 2026 14:35 , Suha Kidwai
A Russian overnight attack that killed a family near the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih likely used a North Korean missile, two sources have told Reuters.
If confirmed, the strike would be the first Russian use of North Korean missiles against Ukraine in nearly a year.
Russia has fired North Korean missiles at Ukrainian targets before, but their deployment after a lengthy gap points to a fresh stock of weapons Moscow can draw on as it intensifies missile attacks on its neighbour, one of the sources added.
One of the sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, said August 8, 2025 was the last time that Ukraine confirmed a Russian strike using a North Korean missile.
NATO commander pledges to take all 'necessary measures' to defend NATO territory amid Russian missile probe
Thursday 30 July 2026 14:30 , Suha Kidwai
NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe has discussed the suspected Russian missile crash in Poland with the country’s chief of defence.
The commander emphasised that the organisation will continue to take all “necessary measures” to defend NATO territory, a ‘SHAPE’ spokesperson has said.
The organisation continues to be in close contact with the Polish authorities over the incident.
Russian missile in Poland 'unacceptable,' says EU Commission president
Thursday 30 July 2026 14:00 , Suha Kidwai
The suspected Russian missile that crashed in Poland is another "unacceptable violation" of the EU's airspace, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.
"To put an end to this, we are helping Ukraine win this war in every way we can. And we are building a robust European security architecture on land, at sea and in the air," the president wrote on X.
Ukrainian drone attacks in Black Sea shut Kazakhstan oil gateway again
Thursday 30 July 2026 13:30 , Suha Kidwai
Kazakhstan's main oil export terminal in the Black Sea has closed for the third time this month after Ukrainian drones hit two vessels at and near Russia's Novorossiysk port.
The closure suspends crude tanker loadings, causing severe disruption to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which owns the pipeline that carries Kazakh oil across Russia to the Black Sea.
Repeated disruption to CPC infrastructure, which accounts for 80 per cent of Kazakh oil exports, highlights the increasing threat to the country's economic interests from Russia's war in Ukraine, as well as to those of U.S. oil majors Chevron and Exxon, which have major investments in Kazakhstan.
Previous export loading suspensions have forced the Central Asian state, which is among the world's 10 largest oil exporters in OPEC+, to reduce output temporarily because it has no easy alternative route to ship crude to world markets.
Kazakhstan has condemned previous attacks affecting CPC facilities.
Meanwhile, Kyiv has defended them as part of its campaign against infrastructure supporting Russia's war effort, saying its actions are not directed at Kazakhstan, whose oil the CPC primarily carries.
At a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last weekend, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly suggested that Putin “freeze" the Ukraine war and pursue peace talks, a proposal that has since been rejected by the Kremlin.
Russian retailer Wildberries says they are 'operating normally' following Ukrainian strike
Thursday 30 July 2026 13:15 , Suha Kidwai
Wildberries, Russia's largest online marketplace has responded to reports of another Ukrainian drone attack on a facility in Perm.
In a statement, the retail giant said that their sorting centre is “operating normally.”
With facilities in the Penza region and Udmurtia facing similar attacks, the Perm strike marks the third attack Wildberries warehouses have faced on Thursday morning alone.
At least nine other Wildberries facilities have been targeted in the past two weeks, after Kyiv accused the firm of helping to bolster Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
EU disburses €3.47 billion to Ukraine to boost country's defence systems
Thursday 30 July 2026 12:45 , Suha Kidwai
The European Union has disbursed €3.47 billion ($4 billion) to Ukraine to finance more drones, missiles, air defence and Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets, the European Commission said on Thursday.
The disbursement forms part of a €90 billion loan approved by the EU earlier this year.
The Commission paid a first €3.2 billion instalment to Ukraine on June 25 to help the country's government financing, before transferring sums of €3.9 billion and €1.1 billion for drones and other military purposes, respectively.
Together, this brings total disbursements for Ukrainian defence purposes to €8.5 billion, a Commission spokesperson told reporters on Thursday.
The EU expects to transfer €28 billion for defence by the end of this year.
U.S. 'interested' in joining investigation into suspected 'Russian missile' crash in Poland
Thursday 30 July 2026 12:15 , Suha Kidwai
Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk has shared that the United States has expressed interest in taking part in the country’s investigation into what is now believed to be a Russian missile crash on Thursday.
