Jul 28, 2026, 07:30 AM UTC

Ukraine has expanded its long-range aerial campaign, launching hundreds of drones deep into Russian territory. Targets included oil facilities in Yaroslavl and Udmurtia, an export terminal in Rostov, and logistics hubs belonging to Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, which analysts estimated suffered up to $1.3 billion in damage. Regional authorities reported five fatalities in the Rostov region, while unconfirmed reports indicated a steel plant near Moscow was also hit. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated air defenses intercepted over 390 drones targeting the capital.

Concurrently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Moscow plans to deploy 30,000 North Korean military personnel to the Voronezh region. According to Zelenskyy, Pyongyang is additionally providing new ballistic missile launchers to bolster Russian forces.

Sources: Hartpunkt, ORF, Sweden Herald

Unprecedented wildfires continue to sweep through southwestern France and Spain, pushing flames toward the outskirts of Bordeaux. Over 42,000 hectares have burned in France's Gironde region, where authorities suspended regional rail links and opened arson investigations following multiple simultaneous ignitions in the Var department.

Extensive evacuations are underway across both nations, though reported figures vary. BBC News and France24 report over 250,000 people displaced, while Helsingin Sanomat, citing AFP, puts the figure above 325,000. French emergency services report that a rare pyrocumulonimbus cloud generated localized winds and lightning, complicating containment efforts. French President Emmanuel Macron has called a crisis meeting as officials confirm two firefighter fatalities and acknowledge emergency personnel "are far from having the fire under control."

Sources: BBC News, Der Standard, France24, Helsingin Sanomat, Le Figaro

Wildfires across central Spain and southwestern France have displaced hundreds of thousands of residents as emergency services prepare for an incoming heatwave. In the Madrid region, more than 190,000 people remain evacuated or isolated due to active blazes. Regional movement restrictions remain enforced, with local leadership warning that strong winds and rising temperatures threaten to exacerbate fire lines.

While fire progression west of Madrid slowed overnight and blazes near Bordeaux have stabilized, authorities urge residents to exercise extreme caution. Meanwhile, climate scientists warn that increasingly long and intense fire seasons could eventually expose northern nations, including Norway, to heightened wildfire risks. Researchers point to recent patterns in Mediterranean regions as evidence of an evolving, continent-wide climate threat.

Sources: TV 2 Nyheter

The United States has formally initiated a review of its military force posture across Europe. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously informed NATO counterparts in June that Washington planned to undertake the assessment. Deputy Defense Secretary Elbridge Colby stated that the review aims to ensure the transatlantic alliance adapts efficiently to current security demands.

Separately, police in the Czech Republic launched checks across roughly 400 public offices, shopping centers, and commercial facilities following a widespread bomb threat received on Monday morning. Czech authorities indicated that initial assessments rated the credibility of the threats as low, allowing inspections to proceed without evacuating the targeted premises.

Sources: Respect.

An online video attributed to circles close to the Iranian regime has surfaced on social media platforms, making explicit threats against United States First Lady Melania Trump and her son, Barron Trump. Titled "How to kill Melania Trump," the footage incites violence against the First Lady before turning its focus toward her 20-year-old son.

The video concludes with a direct warning aimed at Donald Trump, stating, "This is only the beginning. Donald Trump, wait for us." The dissemination of the footage underscores ongoing security concerns regarding online threats originating from Iranian-aligned networks aimed at prominent political figures and their family members.

Sources: Il Messaggero