Jul 29, 2026, 11:30 AM UTC

Ukrainian forces launched long-range drone strikes targeting Russian energy and export facilities in the Rostov, Yaroslavl, and Udmurtia regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed a hit on an export terminal located roughly 250 kilometres from the front line. Concurrently, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated that air defences intercepted 12 drones approaching the capital, prompting temporary flight disruptions at local airports.

Meanwhile, Russian forces intensified bombardments across Ukraine. Regional authorities in Dnipropetrovsk reported more than 50 drone and artillery strikes that killed three people and wounded six. In Zaporizhzhia, a drone strike on a commercial site injured four people, including two children.

Addressing the UN Security Council, UN official Kayoko Gotoh highlighted a sharp rise in civilian casualties during July, noting at least 56 deaths and 232 injuries in Kyiv alone.

Sources: Investor.bg, Ukrinform

Severe wildfires across Spain's Ávila, Castellón, Madrid, and Toledo provinces have forced the evacuation of more than 73,000 people, marking the country's largest wildfire displacement this century. Emergency officials report that over 170,000 residents remain threatened by the spreading blazes.

Meanwhile, early morning Russian air strikes targeted Kyiv, causing fires across three city districts and damaging local infrastructure. The bombardment followed warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding an impending missile attack. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that freezing the conflict remains impossible under present conditions. Separately, International Criminal Court member states voted to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Sources: N1, Tanjug

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are preparing for their first visit to Kyiv to revive peace negotiations, following recent closed-door discussions between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The diplomatic push coincides with expanding regional friction. Reports suggest Iran considered retaliatory strikes against a Ukrainian seaport following an attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. On the battlefield, aerial operations continue unabated; Ukrainian air defense forces reported intercepting 65 of 80 Russian drones overnight, following earlier Ukrainian drone strikes that targeted the Moscow region.

Sources: Digi24, Moldova1, TV8, Ziarul de Gardă

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has issued an international arrest warrant for Telegram founder Pavel Durov, formally charging him with facilitating terrorist activities.

Russian authorities allege that Ukrainian secret services utilised the messaging platform, including automated chatbots, to coordinate acts of sabotage, terrorism, and targeted killings inside Russia. Security officials stated that Telegram failed to remove content and channels linked to foreign intelligence services and extremist groups.

Durov, who was born in Russia and holds citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates, currently resides in France. The entrepreneur already faces legal scrutiny in several jurisdictions over platform governance and moderation policies.

Sources: BBC News, Der Standard, Digi24, ORF, Point

United States military forces and Saudi Arabia launched coordinated airstrikes against pro-Iranian militias in eastern Iraq following recent drone attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure. U.S. Central Command confirmed it also intercepted several Iranian ballistic missiles directed at American bases in the region.

American military officials warned Tehran to cease all aggression toward U.S. personnel and Gulf energy targets. The sudden escalation triggered immediate volatility in global commodity markets, causing crude oil prices to surge by five percent. Casualty counts from the joint strikes remain unconfirmed as security measures near critical energy facilities have been heightened.

Sources: Euronews Greece, Phileleftheros