Jul 29, 2026, 08:00 AM UTC

Following a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump pledged licenses allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles. Simultaneously, the US Senate advanced an energy sanctions package targeting Russia in an 86–12 procedural vote attended by Zelenskyy, which honored the late Senator Lindsey Graham.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian long-range drone strikes continued. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported intercepting over 390 drones overnight, while Ukrainian media indicated damage to a steel mill near the capital. Previous strikes on Russian online retailer Wildberries reportedly caused up to $1.3 billion in economic losses.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy alleged that Russia intends to recruit 30,000 North Korean soldiers for deployment in the Voronezh region and receive additional ballistic missile launchers from Pyongyang.

Sources: DW, Hartpunkt, ORF, Sweden Herald.

US and Saudi military forces executed joint precision strikes against Iran-backed militants in Iraq following an attempted surprise missile barrage by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. US Central Command confirmed that all incoming ballistic missiles directed at American forces in the Middle East were successfully intercepted.

While official American statements omitted specific target locations, Jordanian military officials reported intercepting five missiles aimed at a United States base in Jordan. Analysts noted that the attack coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's diplomatic visit to Washington.

Following the escalation, US President Donald Trump stated that American forces maintain vast ammunition reserves "well beyond our needs." Despite the renewed friction, global oil prices fell by over five percent in Asian trading, reflecting market optimism regarding ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, El Mundo, ORF, TVP info

Severe wildfires across southwestern France and Spain continue to spread towards Bordeaux, prompting authorities to order widespread evacuations. High temperatures and unpredictable winds generated by a massive pyrocumulonimbus cloud are impeding containment efforts. French officials reported that more than 42,000 hectares have burned in the Gironde department alone, while rail service between Bordeaux and Biarritz remains halted.

Media outlets report varying evacuation figures, ranging from 220,000 to over 325,000 displaced across both nations. In France, arson investigations are underway following three suspicious ignitions in the Var region. French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency crisis meeting, while Spain declared a national state of emergency amid advancing flames.

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

Rescue operations are ongoing across Kyushu, Japan, as emergency crews search for survivors following a major earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that at least 13 people have died, with officials warning the casualty count could rise further.

Reporting on the quake's intensity varies, with BBC News citing a magnitude of 6.8, while ORF, Der Standard, and TV 2 Nyheter reported 7.1.

Rescuers remain focused on collapsed structures, including a shopping center in Kashima where an explosion occurred. Tsunami warnings were briefly issued before being lifted, though widespread destruction to roads and bridges continues to hamper emergency access.

Sources: BBC News, Der Standard, ORF, TV 2 Nyheter.

Ukraine has expanded its long-range drone campaign across Russian territory, targeting key energy and logistics infrastructure. Recent strikes hit an oil refinery in the Ryazan region and major warehouses belonging to e-commerce retailer Wildberries, following earlier attacks on electrical infrastructure in Crimean territory. In the Caspian Sea, Ukrainian drones targeted two Iranian cargo vessels, the Port Olya 2 and Begey, which Kyiv claims were transporting military supplies to Russian forces.

Separately, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) issued an international arrest warrant for Telegram founder Pavel Durov, charging the tech entrepreneur with complicity in terrorism. The warrant marks a severe escalation in legal action against the Russian-born billionaire, who currently resides in France.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero