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Moscow has launched an attack on a Ukraine -bound gas tanker near Romania’s coast, as the Kremlin vowed to step up its attacks on ships supplying Kyiv’s military.
Romanian president Nicusor Dan said the Liberian-flagged vessel sailing from Egypt to Ukraine was hit in an attack likely linked to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
This year, Russian and Ukrainian drones have repeatedly breached the airspace and territorial waters of Romania, officials in the European Union and NATO member state neighbouring Ukraine have said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russia would not stop striking vessels supplying Ukraine’s military.
In an earlier incident, India confirmed four casualties to its nationals in a Russian attack on a ship leaving the southern port city of Odesa in Ukraine.
Ukraine said Russia hit the Golden Leo – a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship manned by a crew from India and Syria – with three cruise missiles on Sunday.
Meanwhile, at least three Chinese nationals have been wounded in a major Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow, Chinese state media announced this morning.
This comes as Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with the new British prime minister Andy Burnham, shortly after he took office yesterday in London.
Russian warship carries out live-firing exercise off UK coast
A Russian warship carried out a live-fire artillery exercise off the coast of Plymouth on Monday, the Ministry of Defence said.
The Russian frigate, Neustrashimy, was being shadowed by a Royal Navy ship and a French military aircraft during the operation, which lasted around 30 minutes.
The warship is understood to have informed the Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel HMS Tyne of its intentions ahead of time.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “A Russian naval vessel shadowed by the Royal Navy conducted a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth yesterday.
“The Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel’s activity closely, and stands ready to protect UK national security.”
Alex Croft21 July 2026 11:10
Watch: Russian comedian Sasha Nezlobin on his new life in AmericaRussian comedian Sasha Nezlobin on his new life in America
Alex Croft21 July 2026 10:43
Russia attacks Naftogaz gas production facilities, says Ukraine
Russia has attacked Naftogaz’s gas production facilities in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region for three days in a row, the state-owned energy company said on Tuesday.
An attack on one of the facilities on Sunday resulted in partial loss of production volumes after equipment needed to be stopped, the company said on Telegram.
Another facility was damaged in an attack on Monday morning, Naftogaz said.
Alex Croft21 July 2026 10:21
Russia expels two Italian diplomats, foreign ministry says
Russia said it had declared two Italian diplomats persona non grata, calling it a reciprocal measure in response to the expulsion of two Russian embassy staff in Italy.
Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on 9 July that Rome had expelled two military attaches at the Russian embassy in Italy who were allegedly involved in espionage activities.
The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that Vittorio Parrella, the assistant defence attache at the Italian embassy, and Davide D’Aprile, an attache, were persona non grata and must leave Russia with their families within three days.
The ministry also said it had summoned Italian interim Charge d’Affaires Giovanni Scopa in connection with the expulsion of Russian embassy staff.
“The Russian Federation has expelled, without reason, the Italian military attache in Moscow along with one of his collaborators. This is an act of blatant retaliation for the expulsion from Italy of two Russian military attaches, who were indeed caught red-handed while carrying out espionage activities to the detriment of our national security,” Tajani wrote on X on Monday.
Arpan Rai21 July 2026 10:00
‘I was Russia’s Michael McIntyre – but I’ve now fled Putin and may never go back’
With his own sitcom, a thriving stand-up career and various films in the works, Sasha Nezlobin was one of the biggest comedy names in Russia. But in the space of just a few months, he went from writing a new show to fleeing his home country and the wrath of Vladimir Putin.
In February 2022, the comedian found himself frantically packing a suitcase to escape Moscow with his family. He had criticised Russia’s prosecution of those speaking out against the war with Ukraine – and Nezlobin, his wife and their young daughter were headed for the last direct flight to New York before Europe and North America closed their airspace to Russian planes.
Arpan Rai21 July 2026 09:49
Three injured after Ukraine-bound vessel struck near Romanian coast, says president
A vessel sailing from Egypt to Ukraine has been hit off Romania’s coast in an attack likely linked to Russia’s war on Ukraine, Romanian president Nicusor Dan has said.
This year, Russian and Ukrainian drones have repeatedly breached the airspace and territorial waters of Romania, officials in the European Union and Nato member state neighbouring Ukraine have said.
“Last night, the LPG Gas Lisbon, a Liberian-flagged vessel, was hit outside Romanian territorial waters, approximately 20 nautical miles (40 km) off the Romanian coast,” Dan wrote on X.
Dan said Romanian rescuers had evacuated the crew of the Liberian-flagged vessel, including three injured members, and a tugboat had been dispatched to ensure the vessel did not drift and pose a danger to navigation.
“State institutions are on alert and will clarify the circumstances, causes and responsibilities related to this serious incident, most likely part of the illegal war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine,” Dan said.
Alex Croft21 July 2026 09:24
Burnham speaks to Zelensky and Trump in first calls after taking office
Andy Burnham has spoken with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and US president Donald Trump as part of his first set of phone calls with world leaders as prime minister.
Burnham promised that Britain’s support for Ukraine would remain unchanged under his leadership, just hours after he replaced Sir Keir Starmer in No 10.
Zelensky confirmed the call on his Telegram channel and said the two sides reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine and agreed to speak on bilateral cooperation in the near future, including within the Anti-Ballistic Coalition.
“I was happy to speak with Andy Burnham and congratulate him on taking office as prime minister of the United Kingdom. I truly appreciate that the support for Ukraine and our people will remain steadfast,” he said.
Zelensky thanked Burnham for “warm words of respect for the Ukrainian people and for your condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed in Russia’s recent attacks”.
Trump said on Truth Social that he had spoken to Burnham in one of his first phone calls as PM. “The call was interesting, and went very well,” Trump wrote.
Burnham, who has little previous foreign policy experience, has said that Britain will remain a firm United States ally.
Arpan Rai21 July 2026 09:20
IMF approves $690m for Ukraine after review
The International Monetary Fund’s board completed a review of Ukraine’s financing arrangement, clearing the way for immediate access to about $690m, the Fund said on Monday.
IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said on Monday that maintaining macroeconomic stability remained Ukraine’s immediate priority and called for prudent fiscal and monetary policies as well as measures to safeguard financial-sector resilience.
The war-torn nation is operating under an $8.1bn IMF loan programme.
The latest funding brings total disbursements under the programme to about $2.2bn, the IMF said in a statement.
The review is a key test for Ukraine as it struggles to sustain economic stability and advance reforms while battling intensified Russian attacks on its infrastructure.
The IMF said Ukraine had maintained macroeconomic and financial stability despite Russia’s war.
However, it said the economic outlook had weakened largely due to intensified attacks on critical infrastructure and spillover effects from the war in the Middle East.
To keep the programme on track, IMF staff and Ukrainian authorities agreed in June to a revised timeline for implementing reforms, corrective actions to address slippages and additional policy commitments, the IMF said in June.
Arpan Rai21 July 2026 09:00
Why young Ukrainians in the streets want wartime military general gone
Thousands of angry protesters in Ukraine have taken to the streets triggering the largest protests the war-hit nation has seen since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
For several days in a row now, these protesters have defied martial law to protest against last week’s removal of young reformer Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister and to demand the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The protests have exposed deep divisions in the defence leadership on how to stop Russia’s battlefield advances, as the war’s overall momentum has swung in Kyiv’s favour.
A poll from Gradus research company showed that 61 per cent of Ukrainians were against the dismissal of Fedorov.
Zelensky said he spoke with Fedorov, 35, “at length” over the weekend as the tussle between the two sides intensified, with the ousted young defence minister refusing to return to the government.
A source close to Fedorov told Reuters that he had discussed other roles with Zelensky, but that he was only ready to return as defence minister.
Ukrainian media reported that Fedorov had been offered roles overseeing military technology and innovation.
Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran and one of the organisers of the protests, called on supporters to launch a “general, indefinite protest” unless Syrskyi is removed and Fedorov reappointed as defence minister by 24 July.
Syrskyi, 60, faces criticism from civil society, soldiers and lawmakers for his Soviet-style command culture and high casualty tactics.
Arpan Rai21 July 2026 08:40
Zelensky meets military commanders amid street protests against army chief
President Volodymyr Zelensky met some of Ukraine’s top military commanders on Monday to try to ease growing discontent with the defence leadership that has triggered the largest street protests since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60, is facing mounting criticism from civil society, soldiers and lawmakers for his Soviet-style command culture and high casualty tactics.
Zelensky met five generals and one colonel, viewed by political analysts as potential replacements for Syrskyi, one after another to discuss the battlefield situation as fighting rages along more than 1,200km (746 miles) of the frontline.
The six most well-known and respected military commanders, including Commander of the Joint Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Volodymyr Horbatyuk, represent a younger generation of Ukrainian officers whose careers were shaped in combat against Russian troops.
Oleh Apostol, commander of the air assault forces, and commanders of the three army corps – Andriy Biletsky, Ihor Obolenskyi, and Denys Prokopenko also met Zelensky, who posted pictures from his study following each meeting.
Zelensky’s chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, called for unity and restraint in the wake of the protests, promising a constructive response.
“The public’s views have been heard,” he said. “Work is underway. Results will follow.”
People shout slogans during a protest demanding the reinstatement of Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister and calling for the resignation of Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi in Kyiv (Reuters)
Arpan Rai21 July 2026 08:15