Ukraine-Russia war latest: EU approves one of its strongest sanctions packages yet against Moscow

Zelensky appoints new security council head

Ukraine's Zelensky has appointed former Defence Minister Umerov as Secretary of National Security and Defence Council.

Steffie Banatvala18 July 2025 08:15

EU agrees its 'strongest yet' 18th sanctions package against Russia

The European Union reached an agreement on an 18th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine, with a raft of measures aimed at dealing further blows to Russia's oil and energy industry.

Its latest sanctions package on Russia will lower the G7's price cap for crude oil to $47.6 per barrel, diplomats told Reuters today.

"The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions package against Russia to date," said the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on X.

"We will keep raising the costs, so stopping the aggression becomes the only path forward for Moscow," Ms Kallas said.

Arpan Rai18 July 2025 07:43

Russian troops advance on frontline and take control of three Ukrainian villages

Russia’s defence ministry has said its troops have taken control of three villages in three different parts of the frontline running through Ukraine.

Official Ukrainian reports of activity along the 1,000km (600 mile) front disputed part of the Russian account, particularly concerning a key village in the southeast.

The Russian defence ministry report named the three captured settlements as Kamianske in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Dehtiarne in northeastern Kharkiv region, and Popiv Yar in Donetsk region, the main theatre of Russian operations.

Russian forces are engaged in a slow advance westward, mainly through Donetsk region, and Moscow announces the capture of new villages almost every day.

Ukrainian military spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn told the liga.net media outlet that holding Kamianske, southeast of the region's main town of Zaporizhzhia, was important to keep that city safe from attack.

But Kamianske had been all but flattened by long periods of fighting, he said. Ukrainian forces had moved out of it and successfully attacked Russian troops whenever small groups periodically ventured into it.

"The Russians cannot go into the village and hold it," Mr Voloshyn was quoted as saying. "There is not a single dwelling left intact, not a single wall left standing, nothing to hold, nothing to enable you to take cover."

There was no acknowledgement from Ukraine that Popiv Yar had changed hands - the village lies northeast of Pokrovsk, for months a focal point of Russian attacks in Donetsk region.

For at least a week, it has remained in the "grey zone" of uncertain control as reported by DeepState, a Ukrainian military blog based on open source accounts of the fighting. There was no news from Ukrainian officials of the situation at Dehtiarne.

Arpan Rai18 July 2025 07:36

What are Patriot missiles and why does Ukraine need them?

"Preparations are underway, we are working very closely with the Germans on the Patriot transfer", General Grynkewich told a conference in the German city of Wiesbaden.

"The guidance that I have been given has been to move out as quickly as possible."

Arpan Rai18 July 2025 07:20

How Ukraine’s drone-infested front is slowing Russia’s advance

The transformed nature of modern warfare is starkly evident to a weary Ukrainian platoon commander, medically evacuated from the front lines.

The skies above Ukraine now swarm with kamikaze, surveillance, bomber, and anti-drone UAVs.

These numerous, cheap, and deadly machines are considered by Kyiv to be a primary reason Ukraine can withstand advancing Russian forces this year and beyond, a view shared by a dozen Ukrainian commanders, officials, and arms manufacturers.

So pervasive are these remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicles that Ukrainian soldiers refer to the roughly 10-kilometre corridor on either side of the contact line as the "kill zone," where targets are swiftly spotted and neutralised by both sides.

Arpan Rai18 July 2025 07:13

Ukraine's new prime minister announces full audit of public spending

Ukraine's newly appointed prime minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has said that her government would be launching a full audit of public finances to achieve "real savings" and that large-scale privatisations should be accelerated.

Ms Svyrydenko, who was voted in by parliament earlier in the day, said on X that her priorities in the role would be to ensure reliable supplies to the army and to expand domestic weapons production.

“War leaves no room for delay. We must act swiftly and decisively. Our priorities for the first six months are clear: reliable supply for the army, expansion of domestic weapons production, and boosting the technological strength of our defence forces,” she said in a post on X.

Arpan Rai18 July 2025 07:07

Russia says it downed 73 Ukrainian drones, including 3 flying to Moscow

Russian air defences destroyed 73 Ukrainian drones overnight, including three heading for Moscow, Russia's defence ministry said this morning.

Most of the drones were downed over Russia's southwestern regions, including 31 over the Bryansk region that borders Ukraine, the ministry said on its Telegram channel.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin made no mention of casualties or damage, but said emergency services were examining the area where drone fragments fell to the ground.

The federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, briefly ordered the suspension of operations at two airports near the capital, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, but services were later resumed.

Operations were halted well after midnight at a third Moscow airport, Vnukovo before being reinstated by the morning.

Arpan Rai18 July 2025 06:41

ICYMI: Russia launches mass drone attack on Ukraine overnight

Arpan Rai18 July 2025 06:35

Medvedev threatens preemptive strikes on Nato

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has said that Russia had no plans to attack Nato or Europe but it should respond and, if necessary, launch preemptive strikes if it believed the West was escalating what he cast as its full-scale war against Russia.

"We need to act accordingly. To respond in full. And if necessary, launch preemptive strikes," Mr Medvedev was quoted as saying.

The remarks by Mr Medvedev, reported in full by the TASS state news agency, indicate that Moscow sees the confrontation with the West over Ukraine escalating after Donald Trump's latest decisions.

"What is happening today is a proxy war, but in essence it is a full-scale war (launches of Western missiles, satellite intelligence, etc.), sanctions packages, loud statements about the militarisation of Europe," the Russian official said, according to TASS.

Arpan Rai18 July 2025 06:13

Who are the key ministers in Ukraine's new government?

Yulia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister

Economist who rose from deputy minister to economy minister and first deputy PM since 2019. Led talks with the US on minerals and reconstruction investment. Tasked with driving economic potential and ramping up arms production.

Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy PM

In charge of digital transformation, innovation, science and technology. Helped develop military tech through state-backed private sector projects.

Denys Shmyhal, Defence Minister

Former PM since 2020, now overseeing the merged defence and strategic industries ministry. Controls around 36 per cent of GDP spent on defence, with responsibility for weapon production and international arms cooperation.

Taras Kachka, Deputy PM for EU Integration

Former trade representative involved in talks with the U.S. on minerals and with the EU on agriculture trade.

Oleksii Sobolev, Minister for Economy, Environment and Agriculture

Heads a newly merged ministry vital to Ukraine’s export-led economy. Focused on new markets and recovery opportunities.

Svitlana Hrynchuk, Energy Minister

Previously ecology minister and deputy energy minister, with a background in energy policy and climate change.

Arpan Rai18 July 2025 05:51