Jul 29, 2026, 07:30 AM UTC

Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 65 out of 80 attack and decoy drones launched by Russian forces overnight on July 29. The barrage involved multiple weapon types, including Shahed models and decoy drones dispatched from several locations in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories.

This latest wave follows intense aerial operations across both countries. Russian defense officials recently reported downing 81 Ukrainian drones over the Moscow region, where fallen debris damaged a residential building and ignited an industrial fire in Chekhov. Ukrainian authorities simultaneously reported intercepting more than 130 Russian drones in prior assaults, alongside missile and drone strikes targeting Zaporizhzhia, Izium, and Sumy that resulted in civilian casualties. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russian forces suffered over 220,000 casualties in seven months while alleging Moscow plans to deploy North Korean troops.

Sources: Moldova1, TV8, Ziarul de Gardă

Rescue operations continue across Kyushu following a major earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, with emergency crews searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures. A multi-story shopping center in Kashima sustained significant damage after a floor collapse and subsequent explosion, leaving multiple casualties. Authorities are also attempting to locate missing workers following the collapse of a factory chimney.

Discrepancies emerged regarding seismic measurements, with several reporting outlets citing a 7.1-magnitude quake while others reported 6.8. A secondary magnitude 3 earthquake later hit the same region. Over 150,000 residents have been evacuated, and tens of thousands of households remain without electricity amid widespread infrastructure damage. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that damage assessments are ongoing as officials fear the casualty count will increase.

Sources: BBC News, NOS, ORF, TV 2 Nyheter.

US President Donald Trump hosted separate White House meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Zelenskyy's Oval Office discussions focused on securing additional air defense systems to counter Russian missile attacks and exploring potential avenues for peace negotiations. Despite the recent pause on direct American military equipment deliveries to Kyiv, Trump praised Ukraine's advancements in drone technology.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu's visit marked his first meeting with Trump at the White House since February. The diplomatic talks occurred alongside escalations in the Middle East. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched several ballistic missiles toward a US military base in Jordan. US Central Command confirmed that American forces successfully intercepted all incoming projectiles.

Sources: NRK, TV 2 Nyheter.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that the death toll from the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in southwestern Japan has risen to 13, with over 9,000 individuals placed in emergency shelters. Search operations persist in Kumamoto prefecture for missing persons trapped following the collapse of a commercial center and a paper mill, alongside severe infrastructure damage.

Simultaneously, record heat continues to fuel uncontrollable wildfires across southern Europe, pushing total evacuations in France and Spain past 300,000. Blazes remain active near Bordeaux and Madrid, marking the largest wildfire outbreak in Spanish history. French authorities have distributed 1.5 million protective masks to shield residents from smoke as regional temperatures are expected to climb further.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump at the White House for closed-door discussions focused on air defence capabilities and diplomatic strategy. Following the hour-long meeting, Zelenskyy stated that Trump agreed to grant Ukraine a licence to manufacture interceptor missiles for Patriot air defence systems, calling the reported decision a clear "message to Putin".

The White House described the meeting as "positive and productive," with key administration officials attending. However, US authorities have not publicly confirmed any official agreement regarding missile production licences, while observers noted limited public evidence of immediate diplomatic breakthroughs.

Sources: Bloomberg, La Stampa, ORF, Respect, TVP info