Exclusives

Russian “Doctor Evil” posts about loving family and medical pride online, while he degrades and tortures Ukrainian POWs in reality. Investigators identified a Russian doctor who shocked Ukrainian prisoners of war with stun guns, forced them to bark like dogs and crawl on floors, made them recite degrading slurs, and denied them medical care.

First ever US stablecoin law signed — here’s what it means. The signing marks the culmination of years of debate and establishes the first comprehensive federal framework for payment stablecoins in United States history.

Ukraine just solved the hardest math problem in modern air defense – with a 1970s German gun. The German-made Gepard gun vehicle is one of Ukraine’s best defenses against swarms of Russian Shahed drones.

Military

Russian military ramps up attacks in Donetsk Oblast to sever Ukrainian logistics at Pokrovsk, says commander. In a recent phone call to US President Trump, Putin indicated plans to escalate the war in eastern Ukraine.

Western veterans join Ukrainian Army to end unfinished wars from Afghanistan and Iraq, chief of staff of International Legion reveals. Pavel Slavinsky, head of the 2nd International Legion’s staff, shares a rare insider look at the dynamic, evolving military unit made up of thousands of volunteers from over 50 countries.

Frontline report: Azerbaijan arrests Wagner fighters as war criminals, breaking post-Soviet precedent. Ramil Aliyev and Ismayil Hasanov served time in Russian penal colonies before Prigozhin’s Project-K recruited them for Ukraine—now they face mercenary charges in their homeland.

Intelligence and technology

Poland buys into Iceye—the satellite firm that spotted Russia’s troops before full-scale invasion. The company gave Ukraine early warning of Moscow’s movements with radar satellites that pierce night and cloud.

Germany pledges five Patriots, Norway — billions for drones, as Ukraine’s new defense chief leads first major international push since taking office. The allies agree to fast-track weapons delivery to Ukraine amid Russian air terror escalation.

Russia shows off giant Shahed factory and US trucks used to launch drone strikes on Ukraine. Kremlin footage shows rows of Shahed drones in production and American pickups launching them toward Ukraine, as Moscow ramps up long-range attacks.

Pentagon opens drone combat school in Indiana: “If your stuff’s not in Ukraine, it’s not serious”. The Pentagon’s new drone school launches next month, with Ukrainian military advisors set to observe and give feedback.

Czech civilians fully fund € 2.4 mn howitzer push—six D-30s now set for Ukraine. The “Gift for Putin” campaign had announced it was close to reaching its goal. Now, donation totals confirm the entire sum has been raised.

International

Bloomberg: EU sanctions squeeze Rosneft’s Indian refiner — buyers now forced to pay in advance. Nayara Energy imposes financial demands on traders amid rising fears over deal enforcement.

Moscow’s roadmap to “peace”: disarm Ukraine, remove Zelenskyy, and halt NATO. Russia continues to frame peace as Ukraine’s surrender, ISW notes, with demands that echo the start of the full-scale war. The kremlin’s “peace” offer masks intent to prolong the war, the think tank says.

New Ukrainian defense chief tests his negotiation skills during Ramstein meeting as Putin answers Trump’s ultimatum with escalated attacks. Just days into his role, Denys Shmyhal faces a double crisis: securing billions in Western aid while Russia signals its refusal to peace with a fresh wave of strikes.

EU imposes sanctions for first time on Chinese companies over aid to Russia in killing Ukrainians — Beijing protests. Beijing denounces the sanctions as a threat to economic cooperation.

Peace talks haven’t even started — and Russia has already responded to them with missiles, says French foreign minister at subway attack site in Kyiv. The Lukianivska metro station, where civilians were sheltering, has become a symbol of how the Kremlin “sees” diplomacy.

Italy cancels Putin ally conductor Valery Gergiev’s first Western concert since Ukraine war. Italy’s Culture Ministry blocked Valery Gergiev’s July concert after politicians opposed the Putin-linked conductor’s return to Western stages.

“Most valuable thing we have”: Ukrainian journalist gifts military chevrons to Azerbaijan president Aliyev. At a diplomatic forum in Shusha, Ukrainian journalist Olena Kurbanova presented the military chevrons to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, calling them Ukraine’s “most valuable” possessions.

Breaking: Ukraine-Russia peace talks may take place in Istanbul this week. The third round of Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Istanbul could take place on 23-24 July, focusing on prisoner exchanges and humanitarian corridors, diplomatic sources tell Turkish media.

Humanitarian and social impact

Three skeptics called war “media lies”—then visited Ukraine’s bombed hospitals and mass graves. Czech filmmaker challenged social media conspiracy theorists to witness the war in Ukraine firsthand.

Russian attacks on Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk injure at least 10 people, kill one. Russia bombarded Kyiv with over 400 drones and missiles across Ukraine, leaving at least 10 injured, with Ivano-Frankivsk experiencing what its mayor called the heaviest attack of the war.

Political and legal developments

SBU: Russian “mole” in Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Bureau spied for FSB under former President Yanukovych’s security chief. The investigation errupts in NABU’s most secretive unit as Ukraine’s Security Service exposes a spy working for Russia’s security service.

Ukrainian ex-police chief dies mysteriously at Spanish complex where Russian defector was assassinated in 2024. Former Ukrainian organized crime official Ihor Hrushevskyi died at the Spanish complex where Russian agents killed helicopter pilot Maxim Kuzminov in 2024. Residents question whether the location is coincidental

New developments

Archaeologists find 14th-century Italian fortress beneath Odesa’s famous duke monument. Archaeologists revealed 14th-century materials from a Genoese fortress in Odesa after a three-week dig near the Duke de Richelieu monument.

Read our earlier daily review here.