Ukraine War News Today - Top Stories and Breaking Updates from Kyiv Post

The Texas man is the latest in a string of Americans lured to Russia by propaganda, yet confronting a reality that is altogether different than the utopia they were sold.

Derek Huffman, an American man from Texas, moved his wife DeAnna and three children to Russia in search of “traditional values”, but the father of three is now being sent to the front lines in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine after assurances that he would have a non-combat role.

The family moved to Russia in 2025 to be a part of Tim Kirby’s “American Village” project. Kirby is an American media personality who has been living in Russia since 2006 and supports Putin.

The landmark bill has seen years of debate, with foreigners previously required to renounce their native citizenship when obtaining a Ukrainian passport and vice versa – but not anymore.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law on multiple citizenship on Tuesday, ending a decades-long rule that foreigners would need to renounce their native citizenship – or vice versa for Ukrainians – when obtaining a new nationality.

But there are caveats.

‘Trump’s message to Putin was a good one – he must stop this attack, especially against the civilian population’, Italy’s top diplomat Antonio Tajani says in Washington.

WASHINGTON, DC – Italy’s top diplomat on Tuesday reaffirmed his country’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. This includes continued backing for NATO’s military aid initiatives, such as providing air defense systems, while also actively pursuing efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace.

Antonio Tajani, Italy’s foreign minister, met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department Tuesday morning. Their discussions focused on the Russia-Ukraine war, the Middle East, and shared priorities regarding China and Latin America, according to State Department Spokesperson Tammy Buce.

US President reiterated his ultimatum for Russia: “At the end of 50 days, if we don’t have a deal, it’s going to be too bad... the tariffs are going to go on and other sanctions go on,” he said.

WASHINGTON, DC  - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday delivered a multi-faceted statement on Russia’s war in Ukraine, publicly instructing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to target Moscow and re-issuing a firm 50-day deadline reminder for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire.

The move came as Trump’s administration signaled an evolving approach to the war, including a new framework for military aid to Ukraine, drawing both welcome and sharp criticism from lawmakers. Speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn Tuesday afternoon, Trump directly dispelled recent reports from The Financial Times that he had privately encouraged Ukraine to launch deep strikes into Russian territory, even questioning Zelensky about striking Moscow.

Prominent figures from the Make America Great Again Movement have broken ranks with the president to criticize Trump’s recent moves to increase support for Kyiv and distance himself from Moscow.

Outspoken members of US President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement have expressed frustration at the President’s decision to supply Ukraine with new weapons.

Several prominent members of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) have spoken out in frustration at US President Donald Trump’s apparent U-turn on support for Kyiv. 

Ukraine has unveiled a set of financial aid to support young families and encourage childbirth as part of its broader strategy to address a deepening demographic crisis.

The Ukrainian government has approved a draft law aimed at increasing the one-time payment to women after giving birth from Hr.10,300 to Hr.50,000 (from $246 to $1,190).

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who reported the boost on his Telegram channel, said women without work experience will also receive more support after giving birth. Currently, they receive less than Hr. 1,000 per month ($23.6). The new law would raise this amount to Hr. 7,000 ($167).

In this video, Kyiv Post breaks down Trump’s “major announcement,” which gives Russia a 50-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire – or face 100% secondary tariffs.

Daily updates from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) regarding frontline developments and casualty figures amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

As of July 15, Russia has lost 1,036,290 troops after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 – including 1,230 troops over the past day, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU). 

Russian casualties in Ukraine surpassed one million on June 16.

Ukrainian cyber units hacked Russia’s top drone supplier, wiping 47TB of data and paralyzing operations, including locking factory doors, HUR sources told Kyiv Post.

Cyber specialists from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR), with support from the “Ukrainian Cyber Alliance” and the hacker group “BO Team,” have carried out a cyberattack on the network and server infrastructure of “Haskar Integration” – one of the largest drone suppliers to the Russian armed forces, HUR sources told Kyiv Post Tuesday, July 15.

According to the report, the operation gained access to over 47 terabytes (TB) of technical data related to the production of Russian drones after which all of the data on the manufacturer’s servers was wiped, including 10 TB of backup files.

While US imports from Russia totaled just $3 billion in 2024 – a drop in the bucket globally – the real impact of Trump’s tariff plan depends on how it’s enforced.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced his new ultimatum for Russia – a ceasefire in 50 days, or face crushing 100% secondary tariffs.

Which raises the question – how much does the US import from Russia? And from that, how might the proposed tariffs hit Russia?

While Ukrainians can already use roaming inside the EU on a preferential basis since Moscow’s 2022 invasion, the latest decision marks Ukraine’s official entry into the EU’s single roaming zone.

Ukraine will officially become a part of the EU’s “roam like at home” (RLAH) single roaming zone starting Jan. 1, 2026, according to the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

While Ukrainians, using a Ukrainian SIM card, can already access roaming services inside the EU with no additional costs under a preferential deal following Moscow’s 2022 invasion, the decision marked Ukraine’s official entry into the zone, making it the first country outside of the EU and the European Economic Area to do so.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has resigned after five years in office. He thanked the military, the president, and his team. Zelensky has offered him the post of defense minister.

On Tuesday, July 15, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced his resignation after five years in office.

He shared a photo of his resignation letter on his Telegram channel, thanking Ukraine’s defense forces for their protection, the president for his trust, and his team for their work together.

Four out of five spotted locations are in or near Europe – including Belarus, Kaliningrad, and Russia’s Arctic coast – and one is near the Pacific Ocean, close to Alaska.

New satellite images show that Russia has been quietly expanding several key nuclear weapons sites in recent years – adding new buildings, fences, roads, and security measures, especially in areas close to Europe.

The images, taken by US satellite company Planet Labs in May and June and reviewed by Business Insider, reveal major construction at five military locations. Four of them are in or near Europe – including Belarus, Kaliningrad, and Russia’s Arctic coast – and one is near the Pacific Ocean, close to Alaska.

The Kremlin’s attack dog, Dmitry Medvedev, responded to President Trump’s threat of 100% tariffs with derision and said that Moscow was still awaiting the next round of peace talks.

Moscow has responded negatively to US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum threatening tough sanctions on Russia if no peace agreement is reached within 50 days.

Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev dismissed Trump’s comments, calling them a so-called “theatrical ultimatum” directed at the Kremlin.

Trump announced on Monday that if an agreement to end the war is not reached within 50 days, Washington will impose punitive tariffs of up to 100 percent on Russia and its trading partners.

US President Donald Trump has adopted a harsher tone vis-à-vis Russia. He announced on Monday that Ukraine is to be equipped with Nato-financed US weapons, including Patriot missiles, and that if an agreement to end the war wasn’t reached within 50 days, Washington will impose punitive tariffs of up to 100 percent on Russia and its trading partners. Europe’s press takes a look at the potential impact of this new rhetoric.

Back to the common front

Strength and resilience are not innate. In Ukrainians’ case, these qualities come from an array of historical and cultural conditions, allowing them not just to fight back, but to support one another.

With drone and missile attacks by Russia on Ukrainian cities and Ukrainian civilian casualties at their highest levels since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, it should be asked: How much more can Ukrainians endure?

Put another way, will they be able to cope with nearly ceaseless night-time bombings of their homes, or will they fold to the mass-scale psychological terror that Putin is attempting to exert on them? Will they fight or flight?

The call from UN rights chief Volker Turk came the day after US President Donald Trump told Moscow to end the war within 50 days or face massive new economic sanctions.

The United Nations insisted on Tuesday that any peace talks on Russia’s war in Ukraine must include full accountability for the conflict’s litany of violations, following the deadliest month for civilians since May 2022.

The call from UN rights chief Volker Turk came the day after US President Donald Trump told Moscow to end the war within 50 days or face massive new economic sanctions.

The Washington Post reported that the possibility was discussed ahead of Monday’s $10 billion arms package announcement, and although they were excluded are still apparently on the table.

US President Donald Trump discussed providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles with his staff in the White House on July 11, just days ahead of the announced $10 billion European-financed arms package that is said to include as many as 17 Patriot air defense missiles, artillery, and other missile systems. The weapons would be sold to NATO countries, which would then transfer them to Ukraine.

Although Tomahawks weren’t included, sources cited by David Ignatius of the Washington Post said Trump saw them as a way to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin if he does not come to the negotiating table.

Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine on Monday and threatened sanctions on buyers of Russian exports, with a 50-day grace period, unless Russia agreed to a peace deal.

US President Donald Trump said he was “not done” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a BBC interview published on Tuesday, hours after he said he was disappointed in Putin and threatened Moscow with sanctions.

Trump told the BBC he thought a Ukraine deal was on the cards with Russia four different times.

Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s Lipetsk and Voronezh regions overnight, with one likely target being the Energia plant in Yelets, the source of batteries for Russian aerial weapons.

Overnight on July 14 / 15, explosions were reported in Russia’s Lipetsk and Voronezh regions following Ukrainian drone attacks. Russian Telegram channels said one likely target was once again the Energia plant in the city of Yelets, which produces batteries for aerial bombs and missiles used by the Russian army. Astra reported that a fire broke out near the facility after the strike, and thick smoke was observed over the plant.

The Lipetsk region is approximately 250 kilometers (about 155 miles) from the nearest border with Ukraine.

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference, its economic representatives signed a memorandum with EBRD to create capital markets infrastructure to support the country’s recovery process.

Ukrainian authorities have signed a memorandum of understanding to create capital markets infrastructure in Ukraine – to include a new stock exchange, and reform of key financial institutions – that took place at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, on July 11. 

The signatories from Ukrainian side included the Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s central bank, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) governor Andriy Pyshny, Acting Chair of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine Yaroslav Shliakhov, and the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Odile Renaud-Basso.

The stalled bill calls for 500% tariffs on imports from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas or uranium – including China, India and Brazil.

The US Senate has delayed moving forward with a major sanctions bill against Russia and its trading partners after President Donald Trump said he is ready to take action on his own.

Senate Republican leader John Thune told Politico that Trump appears willing to handle part of the effort without Congress.

With his announcement Monday of new arms for Ukraine via Europe and tariff threats on Russia, Trump’s bromance with Putin has hit a new low -- but it may not have run its course.

Ever since his political rise a decade ago, Donald Trump has sung the praises of Vladimir Putin -- the Russian president was a “strong leader” who, perhaps more important, would often say “very good things” about him.

With his announcement Monday of new arms for Ukraine via Europe and tariff threats on Russia, Trump’s bromance with Putin has hit a new low -- but it may not have run its course.

Trump said this week he would impose 100% tariffs on Russia’s main trading partners if Putin does not agree to negotiations within 50 days.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said US President Donald Trump should have given Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline to begin peace talks over the war in Ukraine.

Trump said on Monday he would impose 100% tariffs on Russia’s main trading partners if Putin does not agree to negotiations within 50 days.

The Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation has launched proceedings against Vitaliy Shabunin, the head of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre and one of the country’s civil society activists.

The Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has launched proceedings against Vitaliy Shabunin, the head of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre and one of the country’s best-known civil society activists. Because he also serves as a volunteer in the army, he is now accused of evading military service and using an army vehicle for private purposes. The media sound the alarm.

Don’t become like Russia

The Russian foreign minister arrived in China following a visit to North Korea, where he received assurances of support in its conflict with Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russia’s top diplomat on Tuesday that their countries should “strengthen mutual support”, state media said, as foreign ministers gathered in Beijing for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation talks.

Beijing has long sought to present the SCO as a counterweight to Western-led power blocs such as NATO and has pushed for greater collaboration between its 10 members.

Despite severe spring frost that damaged crops and Russian drones targeting workers in the fields, farmers in Kherson managed to harvest tons of watermelons, grain, legumes, and vegetables.

Farmers in Ukraine’s Kherson region have harvested the third batch of watermelons since parts of the region were liberated from Russian occupation. The first 500 tons were collected this season despite continued Russian shelling and drone attacks, the Kherson Regional Administration reported in a Telegram post on June 13.

“Our farmers continue to fight for every sprout of wheat under the scorching sun, Russian artillery fire, and drone attacks,” Dmytro Butriy the first deputy head of the Kherson Regional Administration said. “They have shown the whole world the resilience and loyalty to their native land”.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• US President Donald Trump announced largescale and rapid military aid supplies to Ukraine via NATO and possible future secondary tariffs against Russia.
• Trump is acting upon the reality that successful US efforts to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table require that economic instruments be coupled with Western military support to allow Ukraine to increase pressure on Russia on the battlefield.
• Trump noted that Russia has been delaying negotiations to end the war and that the recent intensification of Russia’s overnight drone and missile strikes demonstrates that Russia is not interested in peace – in line with ISW’s longstanding assessment of Kremlin intentions.
• Trump said that European security benefits US interests and noted that Europe is committed to helping Ukraine defend itself.
• Additional US military aid to Ukrainian forces will arrive at a dynamic, not static, frontline characterized by ongoing Russian offensive operations aimed at achieving slow maneuver and by Ukrainian counterattacks in key frontline areas.
• Russian forces’ ability to advance deep enough into Ukraine’s defenses to establish these salients indicates that the Russian military command has improved its ability to seize on opportunities to advance, but the rate of Russian advances has not increased beyond foot pace.
• Russian forces recently advanced in eastern Zaporizhia Oblast near Hulyaipole – the first tactically significant activity in this area of the frontline since the Summer 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.
• The Russian military command likely intends to seize on recent advances in western Donetsk Oblast in order to advance westward into Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia oblasts.
• Russian forces may leverage advances in western Donetsk Oblast to launch an offensive operation toward Pokrovske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, in pursuit of Russia’s long-standing desire to seize Zaporizhzhia City.
• Ukrainian forces are counterattacking in key areas of the front to slow Russian advances and are inflicting significant costs on the Russian military, however.
• Forcing Putin to abandon his current theory of victory and agree to end the war on reasonable terms requires Ukrainian forces to stop Russian advances and begin to retake operationally significant areas. Western aid provided in support of this effort is essential to hastening an end to the war.
• Timely and reliable Western military assistance to Ukraine coupled with increased economic pressure is necessary to bring about an end of the war on terms satisfactory for the United States, Europe, and Ukraine.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Lyman and Novopavlivka and in western Zaporizhia Oblast. Russian forces recently advanced in Sumy and Zaporizhia oblasts and near Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Hulyaipole.

“Only in this way will pressure on Moscow grow to finally negotiate peace. Ultimately, we are showing that we are acting in unison as security partners,” he said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday said Germany would play a “decisive role” in a new deal struck between NATO and the United States to supply Ukraine with weapons to fight Russia’s invasion.

US President Donald Trump has “taken an important step today,” Merz said in a statement from his office. 

Policy advocate doubts tariffs will significantly impact Russia’s war effort, urging Congress to use Trump’s 50-day window to act. Democrat lawmakers say Congress “should not wait even one more day.”

WASHINGTON DC – US President Donald Trump’s “major Russia announcement” on Monday has ignited a flurry of reactions across Washington and other capitals, prompting varied responses from allies, adversaries, and policy analysts.

At the heart of the new strategy are two major warnings: a 50-day deadline for a ceasefire, coupled with the threat of 100 percent tariffs on Russia as well as secondary tariffs on countries trading with Russia if no agreement is reached.