Aug 3, 2026, 07:00 PM UTC

Record-low water levels along the Danube and Rhine rivers have raised concerns over potential energy supply disruptions across Serbia and the broader region. Hydrological measurements at Bezdan reached -163 centimeters, breaking a historic record established in 1909.

In the Middle East, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that negotiations with Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stage after U.S. President Donald Trump paused planned military strikes. U.S. embassies across the region nevertheless warned citizens of possible "unforeseen escalation."

In Ukraine, authorities updated the toll from Russian strikes on Kherson to 18 injured and one dead. Concurrently, Russian state entity Rosatom stated a Ukrainian naval drone attack sank its cargo ship Janjina in the Black Sea, though all 17 crew members were rescued.

Sources: Danas, N1, Tanjug

European Union interior ministers will gather on Tuesday for emergency talks following the entry of around 60,000 migrants into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. The crisis, which has left at least 67 people dead, triggered a joint statement from 22 EU member states demanding stronger external border security.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized proposed responses as "selfish, polarising and unlawful." Beyond European division, the influx has fueled domestic tensions within Madrid's cabinet between the interior and defense ministries over relations with Rabat. Meanwhile, European officials warned that Russian digital networks are actively amplifying political fallout to exacerbate divisions across member states.

Sources: BBC News, Corriere della Sera, El Mundo, FAZ

Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and former commander-in-chief, publicly expressed skepticism about his country ever joining NATO. Speaking at a Kyiv conference for diplomatic envoys, Zaluzhnyi remarked that he no longer expects accession after hearing "tales" about NATO membership for 12 years, recommending that Kyiv pursue alternative security arrangements instead.

The ambassador's comments coincided with senior leadership shifts in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Rustem Umerov as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, replacing his former post as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council with Ihor Klymenko. Concurrently, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry cautioned French media outlets against treating remarks by former presidential spokesperson Yulia Mendel as authoritative, warning of potentially manipulative statements.

Sources: Liga net, NV, Ukrainska Pravda

A fresh wave of Russian ballistic missile strikes against Kyiv has killed at least nine people and injured over 30 others, causing widespread damage to residential buildings, a school, infrastructure, and the Lithuanian embassy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that the nation has completely exhausted its stockpile of Patriot air defense interceptor missiles after Ukrainian defense systems successfully intercepted only a single incoming ballistic missile during the assault.

Concurrently, Ukrainian retaliatory drone strikes across several Russian regions resulted in at least eight fatalities. The drone attacks struck multiple locations, including a logistics warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer.

In international diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to hold upcoming discussions with Iranian officials after temporarily calling off planned military strikes against Iran.

Sources: HRT Vijesti.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Ukrainian diplomats, calling for increased international sanctions against manufacturers of Russian ballistic missiles. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine aims to exert diplomatic, military, and economic pressure to force Russia toward peace before winter. In tandem with security sector adjustments, Zelensky appointed former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

Concurrently, military actions persisted across the region. A Russian guided bomb attack in the Zaporizhzhia district resulted in one death and one injury, according to local Ukrainian military authorities. Meanwhile, Russian officials reported that a drone strike hit a resort beach in Gelendzhik on the Black Sea, killing seven people, including three children, and injuring 40 others. Moscow alleged the attack intentionally targeted civilians; Ukrainian officials did not immediately issue a comment.

Sources: Digi24, G4Media, HotNews, Ziarul de Gardă