In pics: Aftermath of Russia’s drone attack on Kyiv
Ukrainian rescuers work among the rubble inside of a destroyed residential building at the site of an air attack in Kyiv on July 31, 2025 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 August 2025 05:15
Russia launched 300 drones and eight missiles at Ukraine
Russia launched a barrage of more than 300 drones and eight cruise missiles at Ukraine overnight, targeting Kyiv, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
One of the missiles hit a nine-storey residential building in Kyiv, destroying parts of it. Ukraine’s national rescue service said the toll rose to 16 after another body had been retrieved from underneath rubble.
The rescue service said 16 of the injured were children, the largest number of children hurt in a single attack on the city since Russia started its full-scale invasion.
“Today the world has once again seen Russia’s response to our desire for peace … Therefore, peace without strength is impossible,” the Ukrainian president said.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 August 2025 05:12
Trump warns Putin’s right-hand man: ‘You’re entering very dangerous territory’
Donald Trump issued a stern warning to “failed” former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and urged him to “watch his words” after he ridiculed the U.S. president on social media.
“Russia and the USA do almost no business together,” Trump said in a midnight Truth Social tirade, after attacking India’s close ties with Russia and setting his sights on Medvedev.
“Let’s keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President, to watch his words. He’s entering very dangerous territory.”
Medvedev, who was handpicked by Vladimir Putin to serve as president in 2008 due to term limits, ridiculed Trump’s recent ultimatum demanding Russia agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 August 2025 05:04
Zelensky reports intense battles near Pokrovsk
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the most intensive battles were still near the city of Pokrovsk, about 60km southwest of Chasiv Yar.
Ukrainian forces, he said, were repelling Russian sabotage and reconnaissance parties. Russia yesterday claimed it had captured the town of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine after nearly 16 months of fighting, opening the way for potential further advances.
The Ukrainian president, however, dismissed the claim as “disinformation”.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 August 2025 04:47
Zelensky calls on allies to bring regime change in Russia
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged his allies to bring about “regime change” in Russia after Moscow’s drone attack on Kyiv killed 16 people, including a six-year-old boy.
At least 150 people sustained injuries after the overnight strikes reduced part of a nine-storey apartment block in Kyiv’s western suburbs to rubble.
Speaking via video at a conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Cold War-era Helsinki Accords, Zelensky said Russia could be “pushed” to end the war.”
But if the world doesn’t aim to change the regime in Russia, that means even after the war ends, Moscow will still try to destabilise neighbouring countries,” he said, according to AFP.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 August 2025 04:14
Zelensky restores power of anti-graft agencies
President Volodymyr Zelensky restored the independence of Ukraine’s two main anti-corruption agencies on Thursday, moving to defuse a political crisis that has shaken faith in his wartime leadership.
Thousands of protesters rallied in Kyiv and other cities in recent days in a rare show of discontent.
It came after lawmakers led by Zelensky’s ruling party rushed through amendments last week defanging the respected agencies.
He signed a new bill on Thursday shortly after lawmakers approved it 331 to 0, saying the legislation “guarantees the absence of any kind of outside influence (or) interference”.
“Ukraine is a democracy – there are definitely no doubts,” Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app.
Daniel Keane1 August 2025 03:00
Trump ‘wants deal to end war by August 8’
President Donald Trump has made clear that he wants a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine by August 8, the United States told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday.
“Both Russia and Ukraine must negotiate a ceasefire and durable peace. It is time to make a deal. President Trump has made clear this must be done by August 8. The United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace, senior U.S. diplomat John Kelley told the 15-member council.
Trump said on Tuesday that the US would start imposing tariffs and other measures on Russia “10 days from today” if Moscow showed no progress toward ending its war in Ukraine.
Daniel Keane1 August 2025 02:00
Russia hosts Syria’s new foreign minister for the first time since fall of Assad
Syria’s top diplomat met with Russian officials on Thursday on the first visit to Moscow by a member of the new government in Damascus since former Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in the Kremlin, according to Syrian news agency SANA.
Before the talks with Putin, al-Shibani met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who emphasised that the Russian authorities “sincerely wish that the Syrian people, with whom we have long-standing friendship, overcome all existing challenges and completely normalise the situation.”
Assad was an ally of Russia, and Moscow’s scorched-earth intervention in support of him a decade ago turned the tide of Syria’s civil war and kept Assad in his seat until his swift demise in December.
Daniel Keane1 August 2025 01:00
US Senate committee backs more Ukraine funding
A powerful US Senate committee approved a military spending bill on Thursday that includes about $1 billion to support Ukraine, despite President Donald Trump’s administration having asked Congress to eliminate such funding in its budget request.
The Republican-led Senate Appropriations Committee approved $852 billion for the Department of Defence in the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, 2026.
This is $21.7 billion, or 2.6%, more than the Republican president requested earlier this year.
The committee voted 26-3 to send the spending measure for a vote in the full Senate, with strong support from both Democrats and Trump’s fellow Republicans.
Daniel Keane1 August 2025 00:01
US senators propose £40 billion military aid package
A pair of bipartisan US senators on Thursday introduced a bill that would provide £40 billion ($54.6bn) in military aid to Ukraine over the next two years.
The bill, introduced by Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, faces a stiff struggle to become law but follows threats by President Donald Trump to increase military aid to Kyiv if Moscow does not take steps to end the war.
Congress last passed a major aid package for Ukraine – £46 billion ($61bn) – in April 2024, when Democrat Joe Biden was still president and his fellow Democrats had a slim majority in the Senate.
Daniel Keane31 July 2025 23:00