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Editorial: Zelenskyy opens a second front—against his own people. Not at the border, but in parliament — where a decade of reforms just collapsed in 72 hours.

Zelenskyy’s scandalous law weakening anti-graft watchdogs takes effect (updated). The President offered only vague claims of “Russian influence” to justify stripping institutional independence.

“I defended Zelenskyy against Trump’s dictatorship accusations. Now I can’t,” says Ukraine’s top corruption fighter. Zelenskyy must reverse course on the legislation targeting corruption prosecutors, or risk proving Putin right about Ukrainian democracy, warns the architect of the system being destroyed.

Ukraine just got 49 new Abrams tanks—but the tank war is already over. The first of up to 49 fresh M-1 Abrams tanks have arrived in Ukraine. What will the Ukrainian military do with the 69-ton, four-person vehicles with their thick armor and 120-mm guns?

Military

Russian power station burns after drone strike—Novocherskassk traffic gridlocked (video). Propaganda calls it “debris damage,” but eyewitnesses describe explosions at infrastructure in Russia’s Rostov Oblast.

Ukraine suffers first Mirage-2000 loss. Pilot ejects and survives. The aircraft failed during an evening mission on 22 July, forcing the pilot to take emergency action.

Intelligence and technology

US approves sale of two military aid packages to Ukraine worth $ 322 mn. Ukraine secured approval to buy $172 million in HAWK Phase III missile system components and $150 million in Bradley infantry fighting vehicle support through two separate Pentagon-announced packages.

It wasn’t just the Skripals—Russia’s covert attacks spanned years and continents, UK intelligence reveals. British findings show how Moscow weaponized disinfo, cyberwar, and assassination at scale.

Intelligence: Russia plans to weaponize crisis emerged after Zelenskyy signs law weakening anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine. As Ukraine’s President triggers outrage by signing a contentious law, Moscow reportedly prepares provocations to exploit internal discord.

Ukraine’s Bulava middle-strike drone trialed in Donetsk. Results show all targets successfully hit. Each of the five launches struck its target despite camouflage and intense electronic warfare.

International

EU had a secret plan to bypass Orbán. Zelenskyy blew it up instead.. Brussels had quietly crafted an extraordinary workaround to Hungary’s obstruction before Ukraine imploded its own chances.

EU Officials demand Ukraine explain controversial anti-corruption law weakening NABU, SAPO. European Parliament members raised concerns over Ukraine’s adoption of the controversial anti-corruption law and warned that the legislation threatens both EU financial assistance and the country’s accession prospects, with one deputy calling it “a clear breach of trust.”

Ursula von der Leyen demands Zelenskyy explain anti-corruption law that sparked nationwide protests. EU chief called Ukrainian President demanding explanations for a law that subordinates Ukraine’s premier anti-corruption agencies to the prosecutor general, with Brussels warning there can be “no compromise” on rule of law standards for EU candidate countries.

Politico: Trump’s September Ukraine ultimatum gives Putin green light to attack. Russian analysts say the Kremlin views Trump’s September deadline for a Ukraine ceasefire as a green light to intensify strikes, with current attacks now exceeding 400 missiles and drones per night.

Humanitarian and social impact

Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul for the third time—and agreed on one thing: swapping POWs. The latest round of closed-door talks in Türkiye lasted under an hour and focused on returning captured soldiers and civilians.

21-year-old Ukrainian adopted by Italian family dies fighting Russia. A Ukrainian man who spent nearly a decade in an Italian adoptive family has been killed fighting Russian forces after traveling to Ukraine to find his brother.

9th Ukraine-Russia prisoner swap returns seriously ill and injured defenders. Ukraine and Russia conducted their ninth prisoner exchange under Istanbul agreements, with Ukrainian President confirming that seriously ill and seriously injured defenders have returned home.

Ukraine downs 45 Russian drones overnight—but 26 still strike 14 locations. Russian Shahed drones hit homes, schools, and factories in Sumy and Kryvyi Rih, despite dense air defenses.

Political and legal developments

“We heard the street”: Zelenskyy promises to restore independence of NABU and SAPO, prepares draft law. Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to restore independence to Ukraine’s main anti-corruption agencies through new legislation, responding to public protests that erupted after he signed controversial changes eliminating their autonomy just one day earlier.

Ukrainian Church holds first service in Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra caves since its independence from Moscow Patriarchate. For the first time in history, prayers in Ukrainian echo where Kremlin influence once held sway.

Zelenskyy urgently gathers anti-corruption chiefs amid mass protests, as MPs plan to challenge his new controversial law in court. The battle over Ukraine’s reforms legacy intensifies.

New developments

Reuters: Russian oil revenue drops 37% in July 2025 vs 2024. Russia’s oil and gas revenue fell 37% to 680 billion roubles in July amid sustained defense spending for its Ukraine military operation.

Frontline report: Russia plans to import one million Indian workers as war drains domestic labor pool. The imported laborers are being assigned to keep essential services running—from municipal operations to basic infrastructure—jobs previously filled by Russians now fighting in Ukraine.

Read our earlier daily review here.