Jul 28, 2026, 10:30 PM UTC

Russian strikes ignited fires across three Kyiv districts early Sunday, following warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russian forces prepared a massive missile barrage. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that freezing the conflict remains impossible due to Kyiv's political stance, reiterating Moscow's previous peace conditions.

In Spain, historic wildfires across Ávila, Castellón, Madrid, and Toledo forced the evacuation of over 73,000 residents, with authorities warning another 170,000 remain threatened in high-risk zones.

Separately, member states of the International Criminal Court voted by a large majority to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct involving a staff member, marking an unprecedented dismissal in the court's history.

Sources: N1, Tanjug

Diplomatic discussions between Washington and Tehran are underway following a pause in strikes, though US President Donald Trump cautioned that "a large-scale military operation" remains an option if talks falter. The lull in fighting contributed to a drop in global oil prices exceeding 5 percent.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington to advocate for continued military action, highlighting growing tactical disagreement between the allies. Concurrently, Pakistani intelligence assessments indicated that Trump might override military advice and launch a limited coastal ground offensive in Iran.

Despite Trump asserting that "we have more ammunition than anyone else," reports indicate that extended operations have placed significant strain on American weapon inventories.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Der Standard, La Stampa, ORF

Cross-border strikes between Russian and Ukrainian forces have continued to intensify. Russian authorities reported shooting down 81 Ukrainian drones directed at the Moscow region, where fallen debris damaged a residential building and ignited a fire at an industrial facility in Chekhov. Simultaneously, Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a large-scale barrage of over 130 Russian drones launched across multiple sectors. Russian aerial bombardment also targeted regional centers including Zaporizhzhia, Izium, and Sumy, leaving at least one civilian dead and several others injured.

In a related statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russian forces suffered over 220,000 casualties over the past seven months. Zelensky further alleged that Moscow is preparing to deploy approximately 30,000 North Korean troops to reinforce its positions while supplying satellite intelligence to Iran.

Sources: Moldova1, TV8, Ziarul de Gardă

Following discussions at the White House between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are considering a trip to Kyiv. A Ukrainian official indicated the prospective visit forms part of renewed diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the war with Russia.

The White House characterized meetings with both Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "positive and productive." The diplomatic sessions coincided with a memorial for the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, which both visiting foreign leaders attended. During his talks, Zelenskyy focused on bolstering Ukraine's air defenses against Russian strikes before holding additional discussions with members of the US Senate.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Tanjug

International media rights watchdogs have strongly criticized lengthy prison sentences handed down to employees of Azerbaijan's independent outlet Toplum TV. Statements issued by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the International Press Institute (IPI), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) denounced the judicial proceedings as politically motivated.

The organizations described the convictions as part of an ongoing campaign by Azerbaijani authorities to suppress independent journalism. Calling the trial unjust, the media groups demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the jailed media workers, arguing that journalists should never face imprisonment for performing their professional duties.

Sources: Meydan TV.