Jul 29, 2026, 03:00 AM UTC

Ukrainian long-range drones targeted Russian energy and export infrastructure, hitting facilities in Rostov, Yaroslavl, and Udmurtia regions. Russian officials reported that air defense systems intercepted 12 drones near Moscow, briefly disrupting airport operations.

Meanwhile, Russian forces conducted over 50 drone and artillery attacks across Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing three people and injuring six, according to local officials. A separate strike on a commercial venue in Zaporizhzhia injured four people, including two children.

At a UN Security Council briefing, UN official Kayoko Gotoh reported a sharp surge in Ukrainian civilian casualties during July, noting that Russian attacks on infrastructure and residential areas killed at least 56 civilians in Kyiv.

Sources: Investor.bg, Ukrinform

The US Senate has voted 86–12 to advance a comprehensive sanctions bill targeting Russia's energy sector. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the vote at the Capitol, which served as a tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian long-range drone strikes have intensified across Russian territory. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated over 390 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight, though Ukrainian sources reported damage to a steel mill near the capital. Additional strikes targeted logistics hubs of Russia's major online retailer Wildberries, inflicting up to $1.3 billion in economic damage.

On the manpower front, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev reported 200,000 volunteers enlisted during early 2024, denying Ukrainian assertions of an impending mobilization. However, President Zelenskyy alleged that Moscow plans to deploy 30,000 North Korean troops to the Voronezh region.

Sources: Hartpunkt, ORF, Sweden Herald.

Wildfires across south-west France and Spain continue to advance towards Bordeaux, forcing mass evacuations and damaging key infrastructure. Flames reaching the metropolitan area have led authorities to close the Bordeaux–Biarritz railway and shorten Tour de France routes. Firefighters struggle against severe conditions as an extraordinary pyrocumulonimbus cloud generates unpredictable winds and lightning strikes.

In France's Gironde department, over 42,000 hectares have burned, contributing to 115,000 hectares scorched nationwide this year. Two firefighter fatalities have been confirmed, while law enforcement opened arson investigations following three suspicious ignitions in the Var region. Estimates of total displaced residents vary across media reports, ranging from 220,000 to over 325,000 people across both countries. French President Emmanuel Macron convened a crisis meeting to coordinate the national emergency response.

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

Tensions within Italy's ruling coalition intensified following Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani's decision to seek €14.9 billion from the European Union's Safe defense credit line by year-end. Coalition partners Lega and Brothers of Italy pushed back against the move, insisting that defense spending requires explicit approval from Parliament.

The internal friction coincides with broader domestic challenges linked to international disruptions. The government faces criticism over differential fuel subsidies introduced to mitigate price surges caused by the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Meanwhile, new data released by Istat reveals Italy's birth rate fell to a record low of 355,000 in 2025, driven by economic constraints.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Stampa.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met for a ninety-minute closed-door Oval Office session on Tuesday to navigate strategy regarding Iran's nuclear program.

Official public statements highlighted shared objectives. Israeli spokesperson Doron Spielman stated that both administrations were "fully aligned" on preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, while White House representatives called the encounter "productive".

However, reporting indicates lingering strategic tension over military escalation. The Trump administration is seeking to avoid renewed bombing runs and lay groundwork for diplomacy following a temporary pause in direct hostilities. Conversely, reports indicate Netanyahu urged Washington to maintain military pressure, while Trump accused the Israeli leader of attempting to draw the US further into war through intelligence on Iran's nuclear capabilities.

Sources: Bloomberg, Il Messaggero, La Stampa, La Vanguardia