Exclusives
Military
Fires erupt at three Russian oil depots after Ukraine targets fuel supply chain overnight in Stavropol Krai. Ukraine confirmed strikes on Russian fuel infrastructure after drone attacks caused fires at oil depots in Russia’s Stavropol Krai.
Ukrainian drones slash Kerch ferry crossing capacity by 75%, as daily strikes continue on Russian vessels and occupation energy infrastructure. Ukraine’s drone forces reported strikes against Russian logistics and energy infrastructure, including the Kerch ferry crossing, Black Sea vessels, and power substations in occupied Crimea and eastern and southern Ukraine.
Russia launches record ballistic missile barrage on Kyiv, firing over 40 missiles in under an hour. Russia’s overnight assault on Kyiv killed at least one person and injured at least 16.
Ukraine’s Skelia Regiment says it pushed Russia out of Kostiantynivka — city Moscow claimed to have taken on 3 July. Ukraine’s 425th Skelia Assault Regiment says it cleared Kostiantynivka and the city is under Ukrainian control.
Ukraine has netted over 1,000 kilometers of road. That’s how completely drones reshaped front. Ukraine has built 1,066 km of anti-drone defenses along front lines.
“When karma works”: Ukraine torched 188,000-square-meter warehouse of Russia’s biggest online retailer after years of strikes on leading logistics company. A separate strike hit an oil depot at Noginsk.
Ukraine can now service its Polish Rosomak APCs without sending them out of country. Ukrainian repair troops completed Rosomak maintenance training in Poland.
Ukraine says it struck Russia’s Svetlyak-class warship in Kerch. Ukraine’s General Staff says its forces hit a Svetlyak-class patrol ship at Kerch, two tankers, and the Slavneft-YANOS refinery in Yaroslavl over 16-17 July.
Intelligence and technology
Ukraine says Russia may mobilize half million people this fall. Some of the mobilized may be thrown into battle within the first weeks.
Russia may have built flying jammer to hunt Ukraine’s long-range drones, OSINT analysts say. Russia has built a new complex on an Mi-8 helicopter probably meant to jam the satellite navigation of Ukraine’s long-range strike drones, Militarnyi says.
Ukraine’s newest drone hunter doesn’t chase its prey. It climbs above it. Ukraine codified the Tsyklop interceptor drone, which can climb higher than Russia’s strike and reconnaissance UAVs. One variant has downed over 100 air targets.
When you can’t get swarm through, you send one drone low and hand-flown. That’s Russia’s newest Shahed tactic. Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov says Russia is shifting from mass Shahed attacks to single, complex, manually-controlled strikes.
Ukraine gives its heavy bombers precision without single Western guidance kit. Ukraine codified FireFly, a domestic terminal-guidance module that lets heavy bomber drones drop munitions with 0.5-to-2-meter accuracy.
Ukraine contracted $8 billion in drones this year. In-stock ones reach units in nine days. It is twice the same period last year, with FPVs the largest share.
International
After France, Ukrainian troops will join parade in Brussels, home of NATO and EU, for first time. Ukrainian soldiers will take part in Belgium’s National Day military parade in Brussels on 21 July, a week after marching in France’s Bastille Day parade.
Vatican’s top diplomat visits Russian strike site in Kyiv. Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See’s foreign minister, visited the site of a Russian missile strike in Kyiv that destroyed homes and killed civilians.
Pickup that can be replaced when lost is what hunted Ukrainian border regions need. Germany just sent 12. Kharkiv Oblast received 12 pickup trucks and two road rollers from Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief for emergency response, evacuation, and road repair.
Humanitarian and social impact
Russian missile kills 16-year-old boy at Odesa recreation park. Two-year-old is among wounded. Russia struck Odesa Oblast on the evening of 18 July, killing a 16-year-old boy and wounding at least seven others.
“Hardest summer yet”: Russia double-tapped Zaporizhzhia passenger train. Rail workers evacuated everyone in time, and no one was hurt.
Political and legal developments
As rumors swirl over Syrskyi’s future, Zelenskyy meets commanders and top general warns against political infighting. Zelenskyy held another round of talks with senior commanders as speculation over Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi continued, while Air Assault Forces Commander Oleh Apostol urged the military to stay out of politics.
ZN: Zelenskyy may bring former defense minister back as “miltech czar” amid nationwide protests. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy reportedly reconsiders replacing army chief Syrskyi.
Russia leveled 13 hectares of homes in Vyshneve. It fired missiles, but Ukraine says depot shouldn’t have been there, and made its first arrest. A Kyiv court is deciding pre-trial detention for Ruslan Kuchynskyi, an enterprise head suspected over the improper ammunition storage that killed people in Vyshneve.
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