Ukraine minister hails foreign defence deals backed by US
Ukraine’s defence minister thanked the US for approving more than $200 million in deals to supply arms to Ukraine, funded by allies and arising from agreements between the US and Ukrainian presidents.
The partner-funded packages will provide technical support for howitzers and logistical services, Denys Shmyhal wrote on X on Wednesday.
“Entirely funded by partner countries, these packages are a boost to Ukraine’s defences and regional security,” he said.
Denys Shmyhal (Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)
Jabed Ahmed6 August 2025 08:34
Zelensky says Russia hit gas facility to undermine preparation for winter
Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a wave of Russian strikes across multiple regions overnight, accusing Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians and energy infrastructure ahead of winter.
The Ukrainian president said on Telegram that a Russian attack struck a recreation centre in the Zaporizhia region, killing two people and injuring twelve others.
“There is zero military meaning in this strike,” he said. “Only cruelty to intimidate.”
Elsewhere, drone strikes hit power infrastructure in the Dnipro region, while an attack in Kherson targeted people directly, he said.
In the southern Odesa region, a gas station in the village of Novosilske was hit, damaging a main gas pipeline and sparking a fire, according to local officials.
Oleh Kiper, the regional governor of Odesa, confirmed the pipeline damage and said around 2,500 customers had been left without gas. “Work is currently underway to release gas from the system,” he wrote on Telegram.
(Ukrainian Presidential Press Service)
Mr Zelensky called the strikes “absolutely cynical”, accusing Russia of attempting to derail Ukraine’s preparations for winter. “Every Russian strike on the energy sector is deliberate,” he added.
The Ukrainian president warned that the Kremlin would only show genuine interest in ending the war if it faced greater international pressure.
“Right now it is very important to strengthen all the levers in the arsenal of the USA, Europe and the G7 so that the ceasefire really comes immediately,” he said.
“Ukraine sees the political will, appreciates the efforts of our partners, America and all those who help. And we are counting on the necessary decisions.”
Jabed Ahmed6 August 2025 08:23
Russian drone attack damages gas pipeline in Ukraine’s Odesa
A Russian drone attack has damaged gas infrastructure and a main gas pipeline in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, causing a fire, governor Oleh Kiper said this morning.
“Work is currently underway to release gas from the system. As a result of damage to the main gas pipeline, 2,500 customers have been temporarily disconnected,” Mr Kiper said on his Telegram channel.
Arpan Rai6 August 2025 08:04
In photos: Russian strikes kill two people and injures 10 in Zaporizhzhia
A view shows the site of a Russian military strike amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia (Telegram/Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration)
Wreckage and damage caused by a Russian military strike amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine seen in Zaporizhzhia (Telegram/Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration)
Arpan Rai6 August 2025 07:52
More than 330 Russian soldiers killed in dawn raid by Ukraine – report
More than 330 Russian troops were killed in a dawn raid by Ukraine’s special forces yesterday, military officials said.
Officials from Ukraine’s defence intelligence said a Russian advance in northern Sumy was “stopped cold” after troops from its Timur unit raided Russian positions and killed hundreds of Russia’s forces.
The fighting was described as close-quarter battle with co-ordinated drone and artillery strikes, reported The Telegraph.
Ukrainian special forces on Tuesday claimed to have killed more than 330 Russian troops in a dawn raid behind enemy lines.
The HUR did not provide exact details of the date, location or specifics of the fight but Russia’s advance into the region has stalled in recent weeks because of Ukraine’s strong pushback.
Ukrainian soldiers, who have just returned from the frontline positions after months of fighting, rest in a shelter at an undisclosed location in Donetsk region (The 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade)
Arpan Rai6 August 2025 07:45
Russian strikes kill two people and injures 10 in Zaporizhzhia
Russian strikes killed two people and wounded 10 others, including four children, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, governor Ivan Fedorov said this morning.
Russian forces carried out 567 attacks over the 24 hours into the morning across 16 settlements in the region, Mr Fedorov said.
Zaporizhzhia has been on the front lines of the war that Russia launched against its smaller neighbour in February 2022.
At least nine buildings were damaged in the early morning strikes on the Zaporizhzhia city district alone, Mr Fedorov said on the Telegram messaging app. Zaporizhzhia city is the administrative centre of the broader region.
“Emergency services continue to respond on the ground,” Fedorov said.
Arpan Rai6 August 2025 07:23
US approve repair of howitzer guns to Ukraine
The US State Department has approved the potential sale of repair and sustainment support for M777 howitzer artillery guns and transportation and consolidation services to Ukraine for an estimated total of $203.5m, the Pentagon said yesterday.
The principal contractor for equipment, repair services, and sustainment support for the howitzers will be BAE Systems , while the principal contractor for transportation and consolidation services will be determined from approved vendors, the Pentagon said in a statement.
Arpan Rai6 August 2025 06:59
Sweden, Norway and Denmark to buy $500m of US arms for Ukraine war under new Nato scheme
Sweden, Norway and Denmark will contribute around €500mn (£434mn) to purchase US military equipment for Ukraine, joining the Netherlands in supporting a new Nato mechanism aimed at supplying American weapons to Kyiv.
Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans announced on Monday that the Netherlands will contribute €500mn to the mechanism called the Nato Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.
On Tuesday, Norwegian defence minister Tore O Sandvik said the country will contribute around 1.5bn Norwegian crowns (£109mn).
Arpan Rai6 August 2025 06:42
Who are the biggest buyers of Russian oil?
US president Donald Trump is pushing China and India to stop buying oil from Russia and helping fund the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine.
Mr Trump is raising the issue as he seeks to press Russian president Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire.
But cheap Russian oil benefits refiners in those countries as well as meeting their needs for energy, and they’re not showing any inclination to halt the practice.
Arpan Rai6 August 2025 06:22
US special envoy Witkoff lands in Moscow – report
US special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow and was greeted at the airport by Russia’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, a source involved in the preparation of the visit told Reuters this morning.
Donald Trump, who warned that he would impose sanctions on Russia if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine before Friday, had said earlier that Witkoff might be travelling to Moscow this week.
A source familiar with the plan told Reuters on Tuesday that Mr Witkoff would meet with Russian leadership today.
Arpan Rai6 August 2025 06:06