Despite a lack of resources, the Ukrainian front is holding, while Russia is increasing pressure in the east. Ukraine is responding with targeted drone strikes to destroy the enemy's strategic infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is once again talking about "peace," accusing the West of refusing dialogue. Putin has even canceled a military parade for fear of new attacks. In response to fruitless negotiations, the U.S. is increasing economic pressure.
Fierce fighting in Dnipropetrovsk region: Russians are approaching villages, civilians are fleeing
Russian troops are advancing deeper into the region, particularly toward the village of Maliivka. According to Valentin Velykyi, a local resident, the fighting has come close to his home. Explosions could be heard around the clock, and rockets flew over his house. The village has been almost completely destroyed, and its civilians have fled. The last resident was evacuated only after a rocket hit his house. Fierce fighting continues in the region, and the military describes the situation on the front line as "dynamic."
The Ukrainian military admits to shortages of drones, ammunition, and infantry but says it is holding its positions. According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia is using "meat grinder" tactics, sending waves of soldiers to locate Ukrainian firing points. Russian shelling of frontline cities in the Dnipropetrovsk region has significantly intensified. Local volunteers are evacuating people, but many still refuse to leave their homes.
Ukraine attacks deep into Russia with drones, in response – massive strikes on cities
Ukraine carried out a series of drone strikes on military and infrastructure facilities in Russia. In particular, the Signal plant in Stavropol, which manufactures equipment for electronic warfare, was damaged. The attacks also affected the railway power grid in the Volgograd region and caused the closure of the airport in that region. There are reports of strikes on targets in the Penza, Rostov, and Moscow regions. Two people were killed in Rostov as a result of the attack.
In turn, Russia launched massive strikes on the Ukrainian cities of Dnipro, Sumy, and Kharkiv. At least two people were killed in Dnipro, and rescuers came under a "double attack" in Kharkiv. Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted most of the more than 200 drones and 27 missiles, yet some Russian targets were still hit. According to the Kremlin, meanwhile, enemy troops advanced in the villages of Zelenyi Hai and Maliivka. President Zelensky noted that Pokrovsk remains a hot spot and that Ukrainian drones are a "response" to the shelling of peaceful cities.
The Kremlin declared its readiness for peace and accused the West of refusing
Moscow was stated it was ready for a diplomatic solution to the war but accused Kyiv and the West of refusing dialogue. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, "All proposals for dialogue have been rejected by both Ukraine and Western countries." At the same time, Russia continues its "military operation."
The Kremlin presents this position without any evidence, in the usual vein of information warfare. Peskov repeats the narrative that Russia wants to end the conflict through political means. This directly contradicts Moscow's aggressive actions on the front lines and attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Putin canceled the Navy Day parade due to fears of attacks; drones were shot down over St. Petersburg
Due to the threat of drone attacks, Russia canceled the traditional celebrations of Navy Day, including ship parades in St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, and Vladivostok. Despite Vladimir Putin's arrival in St. Petersburg, the parade did not take place. Kremlin spokesman Peskov explained this as “security considerations.” At the same time, several Ukrainian drones were shot down over the city, and a woman was injured by debris from one of them.
St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport was forced to suspend dozens of flights. Despite the canceled parades, Putin was briefed on the large-scale, four-day "July Storm" exercises, in which 150 ships traveled from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 99 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight, but this information has not been confirmed by independent sources.
Trump is losing patience: the US continues to pressure the Kremlin over tariffs and the failure of dialogue
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that President Donald Trump is losing patience in negotiations with Putin. Despite "very good interaction," the phone calls have yielded no results, Rubio said in an interview with Fox News. Rubio noted that Trump is trying to end the war he "inherited" from Joe Biden.
Rubio said that Trump no longer wants to waste time on "endless talks" and is taking action. In particular, he is imposing a 100% tariff on imports from Russia. According to the Secretary of State, Trump does not intend to wait for concessions from the Kremlin and is prepared to apply economic pressure to stop Russia's aggression.
Author: Danylo Pievchev