Key Takeaways from the ISW:
- Russian forces conducted the largest combined drone and missile strike against Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion on the night of July 3 to 4, primarily targeting Kyiv City. Russian forces have conducted 10 of the largest strikes in the war since January 2025.
- US Patriot air defense systems remain critical to Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes.
- US President Donald Trump acknowledged Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unwillingness to end the war in Ukraine on July 3 as Kremlin officials continue to demonstrate a critical lack of interest in good-faith negotiations with Ukraine.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump discussed diplomatic efforts and joint work supporting Ukraine’s defense industrial base (DIB) during a phone call on July 4.
- Ukraine and Russia conducted the eighth prisoner of war (POW) exchange since Ukrainian and Russian officials met in Istanbul and agreed to a series of exchanges on June 2.
- Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Kupyansk. Russian forces recently advanced in northern Sumy Oblast and near Chasiv Yar and Velyka Novosilka.
Authors: Anna Harvey, Daria Novikov, Jessica Sobieski, Olivia Gibson, Nate Trotter, Angelica Evans, Jennie Olmsted, and Karolina Hird.
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