The Kyiv Independent

The Ukraine-U.S. Reconstruction Investment Fund will provide opportunities not only for U.S. companies but also for other countries, representatives of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) said during a workshop at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on July 11. The fund agreement, known as “the minerals deal,” was signed on April 30 and aims to attract investment in Ukraine’s natural resources, like its critical raw materials, as well as infrastructure like ports and transport. While the fund is being developed by America's DFC and Ukraine’s Support Public-Private Partnership Agency (PPP Agency), it can be beneficial for non-American companies and investors as well. “We are not trying to crowd out other capital,” said Jonathan Taylor, deputy associate general counsel for direct equity and investment funds at the DFC, during the workshop. “We are here to invest in Ukraine,” he said, adding that there will be co-investment opportunities for European nations and other countries. Under the agreement, Ukraine will transfer 50% of its profits from new licenses, new royalty payments, and new production sharing agreements to the fund over 10 years. New U.S. military aid will be included as part of Washington's contribution. While the U.S. will have off-take rights, meaning new projects have an obligation to go to the fund, this doesn’t give the U.S. any special terms; it will still operate on commercial terms, said Taylor. “The mechanics of the fund have become clearer and look fair and reasonable,” Denys Alyoshyn, director of strategy at UkrLithiumMining, a Ukrainian lithium company, told the Kyiv Independent after the workshop. “The right of first refusal will be clearly articulated in all new licenses granted, both in terms of third party capital raise and offtakes, but it does not give any preferential treatment to the U.S. side.”The DFC will also mobilize private capital with more extensive use of political risk insurance, which should ease the concerns of hesitant foreign investors. According to panelist Giovani Salvetti, the head of Rothschild & Co. for the CIS Region, 70% of the issues investors have with investing in Ukraine can be solved by the fund. For now, the structure and mechanism of the fund are still being developed, and the first board meeting is planned to take place within a month. The fund is still collecting seed investment, with $25 million expected by September, and it should start operating by the end of the year with initial investments in pilot projects. Ukraine has presented at least eight projects for investment with the pilot project already underway, the Dobra lithium mine in central Ukraine. Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that the U.S. government-backed company TechMet is likely to bid on the mine, having eyed up the deposit since 2023.

Read also: Ukraine’s minerals fund focus of private investment ahead of major recovery conference

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

Ukraine and the EU will allocate 100 million euro ($117 million) to boost battlefield-driven solutions under the newly-launched BraveTech EU initiative, announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Rome on July 11.

The initiative was jointly announced by Ukraine's Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius.

BraveTech EU marks the first major technological alliance between Ukraine and Europe on equal terms, with each side contributing 50 million euro ($58 million).

The initiative will focus on small and medium-sized enterprises and startups in Ukraine and Europe. It will help exchange regulatory experience, develop innovations, scale them up, and rapidly procure new defense technologies.

"European colleagues will receive results from the battlefield," Fedorov said at URC.

Other European countries may also join the initiative's funding, according to Fedorov.

"The EU and its member states have an industrial capacity that can help Ukraine develop new defense systems and increase European resilience," Kubilius said in a press release.

The program will unfold in two phases, starting with hackathons for Ukrainian and European defense companies in autumn 2025, Fedorov wrote on his Telegram page.

In 2026, they plan to expand the program with larger grants, startup scaling support, and investments in the most promising projects.

The BraveTech EU initiative will integrate Ukraine's defense industry into European mechanisms, connecting Ukraine's BRAVE1 defense technology platform with EU instruments, including the European Defense Fund (EDF) and the EU Defense Innovation Scheme (EUDIS).

Read also: As leaders attend Ukraine Recovery Conference, rebuilding is distant dream for Ukrainians who need it most

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Norway's government have launched a $200 million initiative aimed at restoring and transforming Ukraine's energy sector, Ukraine's Energy Ministry announced on July 10 in a press release.

During the full-scale Russian invasion, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy grid, causing blackouts across the country.

The funding, unveiled at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, aims to address both immediate energy needs and long-term modernization goals.

According to the Energy Ministry, the initiative will restore heating and water services to millions of Ukrainians, particularly in front-line communities.

The funding will also support equipping hospitals and water facilities with solar panels and backup battery systems, helping to provide medical care during power outages.

"This contribution from Norway, provided through UNDP, is critically important for our ability to restore vital services and accelerate the strategic transition to a decentralized and clean energy system," said Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko in a press release.

Norway separately committed 42 million euros ($49 million) to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, targeting infrastructure protection against Russian attacks and development of more sustainable energy networks.

A smaller 300,000-euro ($350,000) agreement was also signed with the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) to support energy efficiency and clean energy production projects.

Read also: In historic feat, Ukraine’s 3rd Brigade captures Russian troops using only drones and robots, military says

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

In an exclusive interview with NBC News on July 10, United States President Donald Trump said he plans to make a "major statement" on Russia next week.Speaking about the war in Ukraine, Trump told NBC News: "I'm disappointed in Russia, but we'll see what happens over the next couple of weeks."

"I think I'll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday," he added. He did not elaborate on the nature of the statement.

Trump also outlined what he described as a new arrangement involving the U.S., NATO, and Ukraine for the transfer of American weapons.

"We're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%. So what we’re doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and NATO is paying for those weapons," Trump said.

He said the deal was finalized during the NATO summit last month, where Trump signalled support for sending more Patriot missiles to Ukraine.

"We send weapons to NATO, and NATO is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons," Trump said.

Trump's latest remarks come amid a series of conflicting and erratic signals from Washington. Just last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unilaterally paused deliveries of critical military aid to Kyiv, including Patriot missile interceptors and precision-guided munitions.

The decision has since been reversed, with Trump denying involvement and now pledging to authorize additional weapons shipments to Ukraine.

Read also: ‘You think the end has come’ — as Russian attacks on Ukraine escalate, Kyiv grapples with terrifying new normal

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

The role and capabilities of uncrewed systems are evolving rapidly. KI Insights invites you to an exclusive off-the-record briefing on the latest technologies, tactics, and trends shaping the drone war — and the emerging opportunities for international partners and investors in this fast-growing sector.

Drawing on sources ranging from the trenches of Donbas to the Presidential Office, we will examine how tactical and strategic drone operations are redefining both the battlefield and the defense-tech landscape.

This briefing features insights from the newly launched Ukrainian defense tech catalogue — a first-of-its-kind publication co-produced by KI Insights and Tech Force in UA. It will be led by KI Insights Director Jakub Parusinski, and Analyst Mykolaj Suchy. The presentation will offer a comprehensive overview of current developments in technology, production capacity, internal politics, and the critical role of Western support.

Event details:

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Time: 18:00 Kyiv time (17:00 in Brussels, 16:00 in London, 11:00 in Washington D.C.)Expected duration – 1 hour 30 minutes.

Format: Online, in English. The event will include a presentation by KI Insights and a candid Q&A session.

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KI Insights, backed by the Kyiv Independent, provides in-depth analysis of Ukraine's political and business environment. Our briefings offer essential insights for analysts, decision-makers, and organizations overseeing investments or operations in Ukraine.

Please note that a KI Insights subscription is separate from a Kyiv Independent membership and provides more detailed, expert-level analysis.For more information about our work and to subscribe, visit KI Insights.

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

The U.K. and Ukraine will sign a deal on July 10 to supply Ukraine with Thales air defense missiles, the U.K. government announced on its website.

Kyiv has repeatedly urged Western partners to expand air defense coverage as Russian forces continue to target Ukrainian cities with drones, missiles, and aerial bombs.

The U.K has committed to producing Thales-produced missiles for Western air defense systems in support of Ukraine over the next 19 years, in a £2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) project. Under the agreement, the U.K. will supply Ukraine with a total of 5,000 missiles.

"This announcement underlines our continued support for Ukraine — boosting their air defences against devastating drone and missile attacks and supporting the critical work to reconstruct this nation and provide the hope that they need," British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said.

"This will also provide skilled jobs in the U.K. and is all part of our Plan for Change — bolstering the U.K. defence industry and strengthening our international ties," Rayner added.

The deal is set to be signed on July 10 during the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Rome.

In addition to missile supplies, the U.K. will provide bilateral assistance to Ukraine totaling up to £283 million ($354 million) through 2026.

Thales-made missiles, including the high-speed Starstreak and versatile Martlet models, have become key elements of Ukraine's air defense. Designed for precision and resistance to jamming, they are effective against drones and low-flying aircraft.

The missiles have a range of up to three kilometers (nearly one mile), and in some variants, feature laser guidance.

Read also: 2 killed, 24 injured as Kyiv slammed with drones, ballistic missiles in Russian mass attack against Ukraine for 2nd night in row

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

Russian authorities confirmed that Colonel Sergei Ilyin, commander of Russia's 155th Marine Brigade, has been buried, without disclosing the cause of death, independent media outlet Astra reported on July 11, citing Chuvash Republic authorities.

The news follows speculations that Ilyin was among the Russian military personnel killed when Ukrainian forces attacked the 155th Brigade's command post in Korenevo in Russia's Kursk Oblast on July 2.

Russian Major General Mikhail Gudkov, a deputy head of the Russian Navy, was reportedly killed in the same attack. According to Russian milbloggers, 22 people in total were killed as a result of the Ukrainian HIMARS strike. Kyiv has not commented on the attack.

News of Ilyin's death and burial was initially posted on the VKontakte social media page of the Urmarsky District administration in Russia's Chuvash Republic. The post, which was later deleted, did not disclose when or where the Russian officer died.

Kyiv has accused the 155th Separate Marine Brigade of committing numerous war crimes in Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, members of the brigade are responsible for executing prisoners of war and humiliating captured Ukrainian soldiers.

Service members of the 155th Brigade have also been linked to war crimes committed during the occupation of Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel in Kyiv Oblast during the early months of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

A number of Russian high-ranking military officials have been killed throughout the full-scale invasion, both on the front lines and in the rear. The BBC Russia service has identified 10 generals and 524 lieutenant colonels and colonels killed during the invasion.

Ukrainian forces launched a cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast in August 2024, making it the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign troops since World War II. The move was intended to disrupt a planned Russian offensive targeting Ukraine's Sumy Oblast and to relieve pressure on the Donetsk front.

Since then, Ukraine claims it has inflicted 63,402 Russian troop casualties in the oblast, including 25,625 killed and 971 captured. Ukrainian forces also say they have destroyed or damaged over 5,664 pieces of Russian military equipment in the area.

Russia retook most of the lost territory during a renewed offensive in March 2025, supported by North Korean troops.

Read also: Dnipropetrovsk village likely contested despite Russia’s claim of its capture

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

Ukraine on July 10 destroyed a Russian command post and killed five Russian soldiers in occupied Melitopol in a joint operation by military intelligence (HUR) and partisans, the intelligence agency said.

The southern city of Melitopol in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast has been under Russian occupation since March 2022.

Russian forces established a logistics base in the city, serving as a hub for personnel and military vehicles. The explosion took place as Russian National Guard soldiers stationed there were unloading a military vehicle, the statement read.

"As a result of the explosion, a satellite communication hardware station — intended by Russian military leadership to coordinate occupying forces — was also destroyed," the agency said.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

Ukrainian partisan groups, alongside Ukrainian intelligence officers, routinely execute covert missions within Russian-occupied territories to degrade the operational capacity of Russian forces.

The Atesh partisan group on July 10 sabotaged the railways in the Russian city of Volgograd and in the Russian-occupied settlement of Uvarove in Crimea in order to limit Russia's ammunition supplies to the front line and reduce the intensity of Russian assaults.

Map of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast. (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

Read also: The day I first heard a Shahed drone buzzing overhead

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

Russia has lost 1,031,620 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on July 11.

The number includes 1,040 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,013 tanks, 22,979 armored fighting vehicles, 54,732 vehicles and fuel tanks, 30,163 artillery systems, 1,437 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,193 air defense systems, 421 airplanes, 340 helicopters, 45,003 drones, 3,459 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

Read also: As leaders attend Ukraine Recovery Conference, rebuilding is distant dream for Ukrainians who need it most

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

Editor's note: The story is being updated.

U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg will arrive in Kyiv on July 14 for a week-long visit, he told a Novyny Live journalist at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome.

Kellogg previously visited Kyiv in February, a month after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

State Bureau of Investigation officers are conducting searches at the home of a former infrastructure minister, who may have been involved in a lawmaker's fraud scheme, the bureau's spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent on July 11.

Though the statement did not reveal the names of the people involved, Ukrainska Pravda reported earlier that the searches had been conducted at the home of former Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov.

The raid is linked to the fraud case of controversial lawmaker Yevhenii Shevchenko, the news outlet wrote, citing sources in the bureau.

Shevchenko, who has been in custody since November 2024 on treason charges, now faces an additional charge of embezzling Hr 14.5 million ($350,000) from a Ukrainian company that was purchasing fertilizers in Belarus, the bureau and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said.

Ukrainian authorities did not say whether Kubrakov also faces charges in connection with the case.

Commenting on the news on social media, Kubrakov denied any involvement with "Yevhenii Shevchenko, Belarus, purchase of fertilizers, or any fraud."

The former minister said his last contact with Shevchenko took place before the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022 and was strictly on an official basis. He nevertheless affirmed his readiness to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, saying, "I have never hidden anything, and I do not intend to do so in this case."

Kubrakov served as Ukraine's infrastructure minister between 2021 and 2024,  overseeing the key department during much of the full-scale Russian invasion. He was dismissed last May for unclear reasons.

While his dismissal was formally justified by the restructuring of Kubrakov's ministry, Ukrainska Pravda previously reported that the former minister fell out of favor with the Presidential Office.

After his dismissal, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov appointed Kubrakov as his logistics advisor.

Shevchenko is a controversial figure in Ukraine, known for his criticism of the EuroMaidan Revolution and frequent appearances in the pro-Russian media before the full-scale war.

Ukrainian authorities noted that the lawmaker, who was a member of President Volodymyr Zelensky's Servant of the People party before being ejected in 2021, frequently traveled to Belarus and met local business leaders, politicians, and dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus has been a crucial ally of Russia during its all-out war and provided its territory as a launching ground for Russian military operations against Ukraine.

The investigators "also documented that the lawmaker used his personal political and economic connections in Belarus to negotiate deals for the supply of Belarusian mineral fertilizers to Ukraine," the bureau said in a statement.

Shevchenko was charged with treason last November over allegedly "causing harm to the defense capability and information security of Ukraine."

Read also: Trump promises ‘major statement’ on Russia, reveals new NATO weapons deal for Ukraine

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

Berlin is ready to purchase Patriot air defense systems from the United States and transfer them to Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on July 10 amid an uptick in Russian aerial strikes, Sky News reported.

Merz's statement came hours after another large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine. Moscow's forces launched 397 drones and 18 missiles overnight, primarily targeting Kyiv, killing two people and injuring at least 24 others.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, Merz said he had asked U.S. President Donald Trump last week to supply Patriots to Ukraine.

"We are also prepared to purchase additional Patriot systems from the U.S. to make them available to Ukraine," the German chancellor said.

"The Americans need some of them themselves, but they also have a lot of them," he added.

A final decision on the delivery has not yet been made, Merz said.

A day before, on July 9, Trump said that his administration is "going to have to take a look" at supplying Ukraine with another Patriot system.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the White House is considering sending Kyiv a Patriot battery in what would be the administration's first major new weapons transfer since taking office in January.

According to Axios, the White House is working on a deal under which Germany would sell a Patriot battery to Ukraine, with the U.S. and European allies sharing the cost.

The proposal comes amid a series of conflicting signals from Washington. On July 2, the Pentagon announced a pause in deliveries of key military aid to Kyiv, including Patriot interceptors and precision-guided munitions.

Trump later denied involvement in the decision and expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin for failing to pursue a ceasefire. As of July 10, shipments of at least some weapons to Ukraine have been reportedly resumed.

Kyiv has repeatedly urged Western partners to expand air defense coverage as Russian forces continue to target Ukrainian cities with drones, missiles, and aerial bombs.

Patriot batteries, with their high-precision tracking and interception capabilities, are a cornerstone of Ukraine's layered air defense system.

Washington has so far delivered three Patriot batteries to Ukraine, while Germany has sent three more. A European coalition has contributed an additional battery, though not all systems are currently operational due to maintenance rotations.

If approved, a new transfer would mark Trump's first major military package to Ukraine not initiated by the previous Biden administration.

Read also: Russia’s summer offensive becomes its costliest campaign during Ukraine invasion, Economist reports

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

Mikhail Ryumin, a 55-year-old resident of the Russian city of Chelyabinsk, was arrested for allegedly transporting drones in a truck for Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb, Russian independent media outlet Mediazona reported on July 10, citing a court's appeal ruling.

Ukraine carried out an unprecedented mass drone strike as part of the Operation Spiderweb on June 1, targeting four Russian air bases deep inside the country. During the attack, Ukrainian forces reportedly damaged 41 aircraft, using drones concealed in trucks at multiple locations across Russia.

Ryumin was charged with committing a terrorist act and arrested on June 2. On June 26, the Ivanovo Regional Court upheld the decision to arrest him.

A colleague of Ryumin confirmed to Mediazona, on condition of anonymity, that he was indeed the driver of one of the trucks used in the Ukrainian operation. The source insisted that Ryumin was unaware that the vehicle was carrying drones hidden beneath the roofs of the frame house structures.

Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb. (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent))

According to the source, Ryumin had recently switched jobs and accepted a delivery order to transport components for frame houses from Chelyabinsk to Ivanovo Oblast using a rented truck.

Western analysts and military officials praised Ukraine's ingenuity in the Spiderweb operation. NATO Admiral Pierre Vandier called the mission a modern reinvention of the "Trojan Horse," demonstrating Ukraine's growing technical sophistication and deep-strike capability.

President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that roughly half of the targeted aircraft are damaged beyond repair.

Russia has acknowledged losses but insisted all damaged aircraft will be restored.

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

A Russian attack against the southern city of Odesa on July 11 injured at least eight people and damaged residential areas, local authorities reported.

The strike damaged residential and administrative buildings, civilian infrastructure, cars, and a stable. The full extent of damage and casualties is being established.

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

Russian attacks against Ukraine have killed at least nine civilians and injured at least 42 others over the past day, regional authorities reported on July 11.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian strikes killed seven people: three in the town of Pokrovsk, as well as four people in the villages of Zapovidne, Rodynske, Zatyshok, and Viroliubivka. Russian attacks also injured nine people in several settlements, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

In Kharkiv Oblast, one person was killed, while another 14 were injured due to the Russian strikes against 10 settlements, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

In the regional center of Kharkiv, Russian drones injured nine people, and in the town of Kupiansk, a 43-year-old man was killed and a 73-year-old woman suffered injuries.

In the village of Myrne, a 57-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman were injured, while a 74-year-old man suffered injuries in the village of Lyman. A 65-year-old woman was also injured in a Russian strike against the town of Chuhuiv.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian artillery and drones attacked the Nikopol district, killing a man and injuring a 22-year-old woman, according to Governor Serhii Lysak.

In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 37 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, 14 people were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

In Sumy Oblast, a 62-year-old woman suffered injuries in the Sumy community, while two other residents were injured in the Sad community, according to the local military administration. Nearly 120 strikes were recorded across 32 settlements.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 48-year-old man suffered injuries in the Russian attack at the Zaporizhzhia district. Russian forces launched 592 strikes across 16 localities in the region in the past day, according to the local military administration.

Read also: ‘You think the end has come’ — as Russian attacks on Ukraine escalate, Kyiv grapples with terrifying new normal

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

DTEK, Ukraine's biggest private energy company, has begun final commissioning of the country's largest battery energy storage project, the company announced on July 10 at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Rome.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has deliberately targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, causing electricity shortages in the system and leading to blackouts. Once operational, the batteries will help stabilize Ukraine's electricity grid and keep the power supply steady, avoiding emergency power outages.

The project was developed in partnership with American energy company Fluence Energy Inc. The 200-megawatt system spans six locations across Ukraine and represents one of Eastern Europe's most significant energy storage deployments.

Each site has a capacity between 20 and 50 megawatts, with almost seven hundred Fluence Gridstack battery units installed collectively. According to DTEK, the project can store 400 megawatt-hours of electricity — enough to power 600,000 Ukrainian homes for two hours.

DTEK announced that commercial operations are scheduled to begin in October 2025, just before Ukraine's critical winter heating season.

"We are laying the foundation of a new energy system in Ukraine because bringing an energy storage system of this scale into the Ukrainian power grid means that we are building an absolutely new, much more resilient energy system in the country," Maxim Timchenko, DTEK CEO told the Kyiv Independent in Rome.

The project marks the first major energy infrastructure delivery since Ukraine and the United States signed an economic partnership agreement in April 30, according to DTEK.

Julian Nebreda, CEO at Fluence, told the Kyiv Independent that they decided to pursue this project because "we're convinced that Ukraine is going to win the war."

"In the United States, the average time to put up a new generation asset, be it a combined gas turbine or a wind farm or a solar PV plant at industrial scale, is approximately six years. We've seen that done in six months in Ukraine. And that's in the middle of a war," said Nebreda.

Due to wartime restrictions, Fluence conducted its first fully remote project launch. Twenty Ukrainian engineers were trained at the company's facilities in Germany and Finland to operate the systems independently.

Fluence will continue providing remote technical support and monitoring to ensure the project runs safely.

"The project of this scale we are realizing in Ukraine under the new administration of the United States is proof that real partnership shouldn't wait for the end of war or any other conditions," Timchenko said.

Read also: ‘You think the end has come’ — as Russian attacks on Ukraine escalate, Kyiv grapples with terrifying new normal

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

Key developments on July 11:

Ukraine behind new pipeline explosion in Siberia that supplies Russian military-industrial complex, source claimsRussian troops tasked to create 10-kilometer buffer zone in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine's spy chief saysUkrainian drone strikes reported at Russian MiG plant, other defense industry facilities amid mass attackRussian drone attacks on Odesa, Kharkiv injure at least 20

Ukraine was behind the operation that caused an explosion on a major gas pipeline in the city of Langepas, Russia’s Tyumen Oblast, a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent on July 11.

According to the source, the incident destroyed a section of the key pipeline supplying Russian military-industrial facilities in Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, and Sverdlovsk oblasts.

Langepas is located in western Siberia, some 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The explosion reportedly led to a large fire, with immediate damages estimated at $1.3 million.

Repairing and testing the pipeline could take about a month, the source said. Due to damage in a swampy area, repairs will be challenging, reducing gas supply by 25 million cubic meters and causing indirect losses of nearly $76 million, the source in HUR added.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

Read also: Ukraine’s HUR destroys Russian command post in occupied Melitopol in joint operation with partisans

Russian troops tasked to create 10-kilometer buffer zone in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine's spy chief says

Russian troops have been tasked with establishing a buffer zone up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine's military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with Bloomberg, published on July 11.

Budanov's remarks come as Russian troops continue their offensive in the neighboring Donetsk Oblast, pushing closer to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast — a major industrial region in central Ukraine.

In mid-June, Ukraine's military denied reports that Russian troops had entered the region, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying that Ukrainian troops had intercepted Russian reconnaissance units attempting to breach Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

"It’s not realistic for Russia to seize all of Donetsk Oblast by the end of the year," Budanov said.

According to Budanov, Russia’s earlier announcement of its entry into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast serves a political goal.

Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

Ukrainian drone strikes reported at Russian MiG plant, other defense industry facilities amid mass attack

Drone attacks were reported on July 11 near a Russian oil depot and multiple defense industry facilities, including a MiG jet fighter production plant near Moscow, according to an independent Russian news outlet, Astra.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces downed 155 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 53 over Kursk Oblast and 13 over Tula Oblast.

Kyiv regularly targets Russian industrial and military facilities deep in the rear, aiming to undermine Moscow's ability to wage its all-out war.

Residents of Tula, a city over 300 kilometers (roughly 200 miles) from the Ukrainian border, reported explosions in the city's industrial Proletarsky district. According to Astra, three major defense industry facilities that have been previously targeted in drone strikes are located in the area.

The JSC Instrument Design Bureau develops precision munitions, the NPO Splav produces multiple-launch rocket systems, and Shcheglovsky Val JSC — one of Russia's largest defense companies — produces guided weapons, air defenses, and small arms.

It is not immediately clear whether the facilities suffered damage. Tula Oblast Governor Dmitry Milyaev reported one person killed and another injured, without providing additional details on potential damage.

Russian authorities largely do not comment on possible damage to strategic or military facilities caused by Ukrainian attacks.

In Moscow Oblast, residents of the Lukhovitsy town, lying some 110 kilometers (70 miles) southeast of the Russian capital, reported a drone attack near the local aviation plant and an oil depot, Astra reported.

The Lukhovitsy Aviation Plant produces warplanes used by Russian forces in Ukraine, including MiG-29 fighter jets and MiG-31 Kinzhal missile carriers. Astra noted that the drone strike's actual target in Lukhovitsy remains unclear.

"The Lukhovitsy Aviation Plant was under attack. It specializes in the production and modernization of the MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighters and their modifications," saidAndrii Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.

Kovalenko also noted that the facility is developing new fighter jet models based on the MiG platforms and is involved in upgrading the Shahed-type attack drones.

Elsewhere in the region, drones reportedly attacked the Kronstadt drone factory in Dubna, roughly 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Moscow, a facility previously targeted in a Ukrainian attack in May.

Moscow Oblast Governor Andrey Vorobyov did not report on possible attacks in the region, and Russia's Defense Ministry did not report downing any drones in the area.

Russian regional authorities reported injuries in other regions as a result of Ukrainian drone attacks, including four people allegedly wounded in Kursk Oblast.

Read also: Europe will also benefit from US-Ukraine minerals investment fund, Americans say

Russian drone attacks on Odesa, Kharkiv injure at least 20

A Russian drone attack against the southern city of Odesa on July 11 injured at least 11 people, damaging residential buildings and a horse stable, local authorities reported.

One horse was killed in the attack, the State Emergency Service said. Photos published by the service show other horses bloodied and visibly injured.

Administrative buildings, cars, and civilian infrastructure were also damaged.

The port city of Odesa, Ukraine's third most populous city and a major maritime transport hub, is a regular target of Russian missile and drone attacks.

In Kharkiv, Russian drones injured nine people overnight on July 11, including women in a maternity hospital. The medical facility was damaged as well.

"Women in labor with children, women after surgery. Fortunately, there were no children among the victims. Russia targets life. Even where it is just beginning," President Volodymyr Zelensky said, stressing the critical need for additional air defense for Ukraine.

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In the early hours of July 10, many Kyiv residents were jolted awake by the thundering sound of ballistic missiles shaking their buildings.

Others were already lying awake in beds, bathtubs, and underground shelters across the city, as residents endure a new normal of intensified Russian strikes on the capital.

"You lie down, look into the abyss of night, and hear the loudest attack," Hryhorii Matsebok, a 47-year-old artist, told the Kyiv Independent. "And you think the end has already come."

Matsebok, a resident of Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district, said the overnight attack was one of the most intense he had experienced in three years of war.

Since the start of the year, Russia has dramatically scaled up its aerial attacks across Ukraine, breaking record after record of firepower used — and of civilian casualties. The sound of explosions and the whine of drones overhead has become increasingly familiar in recent months, as residents cope with new anxieties, tragedies, and mounting hours of lost sleep.

Red Cross medics evacuate a woman from a damaged residential building after a Russian drones and missiles attack on July 10, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine (Oleksandr Gusev/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

The capital city has long been a refuge for displaced civilians fleeing for safety from the eastern and southern areas of the country. But as Russia steps up its attacks, residents in Kyiv, too, are increasingly vulnerable.

In the latest overnight strike, Russian armed forces launched 397 Shahed loitering munitions and decoy drones, along with 8 ballistic missiles and 10 cruise missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

The main target was the capital city, where two were killed and at least 19 were injured during the mass attack.

“Children spend many nights not tucked in bed, but sheltering in corridors, basements, and bathrooms.”

Aiida Nashchanska, an 18-year-old student studying to become a singer, had an exam in the morning and had wanted a full night’s rest.

"I woke up, and it’s still shaking and everything is shaking. I was very afraid that the windows would fly out," she said. The explosions were so close to her in the Troyeshchyna region of Kyiv that it "felt like it was exploding under my house," she said.

She ran to the bathroom  — often the safest part of a building away from windows and exterior walls —  and had difficulty tearing herself away from the news alerts about the latest launches and flight directions of missiles and drones overhead.

"I watch the news and I understand that I don't know when (the attack) will end, but I needed to sleep," she said. She lay awake praying for survival until she calmed down enough to get some rest.

A resident looks at the damage to apartments following Russian air strikes in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, July 10, 2025 (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)Emergency service workers at the site of a Russian air strike which hit a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, July 10, 2025 (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)A local resident reacts at the site of a Russian attack that damaged a resident building in Kyiv, Ukraine on July 10, 2025 (Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty Images)A communal worker is seen working at the site of a Russian attack that damaged a resident building in Kyiv, Ukraine on July 10, 2025 (Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty Images)A view of a damaged residential building after a Russian drones and missiles attack on July 10, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine (Oleksandr Gusev/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Last month, civilian casualties reached a three-year high, with 232 killed and 1,343 injured in June, according to a public statement from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). A key reason for the rise is Russia’s increased use of missiles and drones in urban areas.

Compared with June of last year, Russia launched ten times more missiles and loitering munitions, HRMMU wrote, and "virtually no region of Ukraine was spared, regardless of its distance from the frontline."

"Civilians across Ukraine are facing levels of suffering we have not seen in over three years," Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU, said in the July 10 statement released.

Russian drones launched against Ukraine by month. (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

"The surge in long-range missile and drone strikes across the country has brought even more death and destruction to civilians far away from the frontline."

"Children spend many nights not tucked in bed, but sheltering in corridors, basements, and bathrooms, covering their ears from the sounds of sirens and explosions. These experiences bring lasting scars," Bell added.

During the attack, drones and missiles pummeled the city for hours. Fires broke out in apartment buildings, gas stations, and garages, and a primary healthcare center was almost completely destroyed, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

In the aftermath of the attack, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha shared photos of firemen standing amid falling building debris, aiming their hoses at a smoldering apartment several stories above their heads.

Firemen work to put out a blaze after a mass aerial attack on Kyiv on July 10, 2025. (Andrii Sybiha / X)

"Kyiv had a particularly dreadful night, with brutal attacks by swarms of drones and missiles, including ballistic missiles," Sybiha wrote on X.

"There are damaged residential buildings and civilian casualties in the capital, as well as thick smoke in the morning sky."

Viktor Kuzmenko, an 85-year-old who lives close to the damaged building in the Lukianivska district, told the Kyiv Independent that the sound of the strike was "very sharp, like a comet."

Because of his age, he struggles to walk or leave the house, he said, and didn’t think he could make it in time to an underground shelter from his 5th-story apartment when he heard the sound. In the morning, he saw smoke rising from the strike site.

"This is a clear escalation of terror by Russia — hundreds of 'Shaheds' every night, constant strikes, and massive attacks on Ukrainian cities," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.

The attack came one day after the largest aerial attack yet of the war, when on July 9, Russia launched more than 700 drones and 13 missiles. The main target during that attack was the Western city of Lutsk.

Olesia, a 33-year-old teacher who declined to give her last name, had been visiting friends in Kyiv's Pechersk region with the hopes of relaxing.

Instead, she said the attack on Kyiv was the first time since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion that she felt compelled to shelter underground. In her native Cherkasy region, the attacks haven't been as strong, she said.

About 40 minutes after the initial air raid alert, she heard neighbors in her building making their way past her and joined them as they sheltered on the first floor of the building – fearing that the walk to the underground subway would leave them too exposed.

"It was very difficult for me," she said. "I'll rest in Cherkasy."

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Read also: Investigation: How Russia prepares its strategic missile plant for ‘eternal war’

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Drone attacks were reported overnight near a Russian oil depot and multiple defense industry facilities, including a MiG jet fighter production plant near Moscow, according to an independent Russian news outlet, Astra.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces downed 155 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 53 over Kursk Oblast and 13 over Tula Oblast.

Kyiv regularly targets Russian industrial and military facilities deep in the rear, aiming to undermine Moscow's ability to wage its all-out war.

Residents of Tula, a city over 300 kilometers (roughly 200 miles) from the Ukrainian border, reported explosions in the city's industrial Proletarsky district. According to Astra, three major defense industry facilities that have been previously targeted in drone strikes are located in the area.

Tula residents report explosions in the Proletarsky district. Three major Russian defense plants are located there. ASTRA geolocates eyewitness videos.All three plants were previously attacked in May and June this year.On the night of July 11, drones launched a mass attack on… pic.twitter.com/pukMSr97Jk

— ASTRA (@ASTRA_PRESS) July 11, 2025

The JSC Instrument Design Bureau develops precision munitions, the NPO Splav produces multiple-launch rocket systems, and Shcheglovsky Val JSC — one of Russia's largest defense companies — produces guided weapons, air defenses, and small arms.

It is not immediately clear whether the facilities suffered damage. Tula Oblast Governor Dmitry Milyaev reported one person killed and another injured, without providing additional details on potential damage.

Russian authorities largely do not comment on possible damage to strategic or military facilities caused by Ukrainain attacks.

In Moscow Oblast, residents of the Lukhovitsy town, lying some 110 kilometers (70 miles) southeast of the Russian capital, reported a drone attack near the local aviation plant and an oil depot, Astra reported.

The Lukhovitsy Aviation Plant produces warplanes, including MiG-29 fighter jets, used by Russian forces in Ukraine. Astra noted that the drone strike's actual target in Lukhovitsy remains unclear.

Read also: As leaders attend Ukraine Recovery Conference, rebuilding is distant dream for Ukrainians who need it most

Elsewhere in the region, drones reportedly attacked the Kronstadt drone factory in Dubna, roughly 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Moscow, a facility targeted in a Ukrainian attack in May.

Moscow Oblast Governor Andrey Vorobyov did not report on possible attacks in the region, and Russia's Defense Ministry did not report downing any drones in the area.

Russian regional authorities reported injuries in other regions as a result of Ukrainian drone attacks, including four people allegedly wounded in Kursk Oblast.

The Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg suspended operations amid the drone strikes, according to Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency.

Ukraine has not commented on the claims, which could not be independently verified.

The reported drone strikes come as Russia intensifies aerial strikes against Ukrainian cities. Russian forces launched their largest aerial attack yet on July 9, deploying over 740 drones and missiles in a single night.

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The European Commission has revoked a French-Ukrainian interpreter's accreditation over suspicions she secretly recorded meetings involving President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising concerns of espionage, Le Monde reported on July 10.

The news comes amid growing concerns of Russian espionage and subversive operations across EU countries.

The European Commission's interpreter was present during a closed-door meeting between European Union leaders and Zelensky on Dec. 19, 2024, just ahead of the start of Donald Trump's second presidential term.

During the talks, European allies pledged continued support for Ukraine, including assistance with arms purchases and protection of its energy infrastructure.

Czech interpreters noticed that their colleague, who was translating from French into Ukrainian, was recording the participants' conversation. Interpreters are strictly prohibited from taking notes or making recordings during closed-door negotiations, according to Le Monde.

The incident was reported to security services in Brussels, after which the interpreter was suspended and her recordings confiscated.

Subsequently, the European Commission ended its cooperation with the interpreter and launched an internal investigation. The findings were passed on to the Belgian government, which is now responsible for determining whether she was carrying out espionage for Russia.

The interpreter's name has not been disclosed, but Le Monde refers to her as "Ms. I."

According to the news outlet, she was born into a Russian family, and her sister — also a translator — shares a similar background. One of the sisters was born in Russia, and both lived in Ukraine for a period of time.

For the past two decades, they have reportedly worked as freelance interpreters for NATO, the European Commission, and the French defense and foreign ministries.

"Ms. I" called the incident with the meeting between Zelensky and European leaders a misunderstanding.

For several years, Ukrainian embassies in France and Brussels have declined to hire the interpreter for Zelensky's visits, citing her alleged ties to Russian officials, Le Monde reported, citing a Ukrainian diplomat in Paris.

Despite the December incident, the interpreter remained listed as an accredited interpreter for NATO, the French Permanent Representation to the EU, and the French ministries, according to Le Monde.

Read also: US reportedly resumes some arms deliveries to Ukraine after pause

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President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering appointing Defense Minister Rustem Umerov as Ukraine’s next ambassador to the U.S., he announced on July 10 during a press conference in Rome.

Zelensky confirmed plans to replace Ukraine’s current ambassador in Washington, Oksana Markarova, who has held the post since 2021.

He said he will decide who will replace her "in the near future."

"We need a person (as an ambassador to the U.S.) to be strong and to be in the context of the most important thing, in the context of strengthening Ukraine — through weapons, first of all. Therefore, one of my ideas is that it can be Ukraine's defense minister," Zelensky said.

The president's statement came days after Bloomberg reported that Umerov was on Kyiv's list of the candidates for ambassador to the U.S. along with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna and Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.

A source familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent on July 7 that the possibility of a new ambassador was discussed in a recent phone call between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the source, Kyiv raised the topic, suggesting the change could be "useful for both sides," and added that there are multiple "strong candidates" in the running.

"I am grateful to Oksana Markarova," Zelensky said. "I can't tell you what will be the continuation of her work, a lot depends on her... I would like her to continue working in Ukraine."

Amid growing speculation of a government reshuffle, Zelensky has not ruled out ministerial changes if Umerov is appointed as ambassador.

"If I decide that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will represent Ukraine in the United States, our key ambassador, that would lead to a serious reshuffle in Ukraine’s government," the president said.

Umerov was appointed Ukraine’s defense minister in September 2023. Prior to that, he served as a member of parliament, headed the State Property Fund, and was part of Ukraine’s delegation to negotiations with Russia at the outset of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

When direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow resumed in 2025, Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation in two rounds of negotiations.

At the beginning of the year, the Defense Ministry came under scrutiny as Umerov faced an investigation over his alleged abuse of power.

Pro-reform MPs and anti-corruption activists have criticized him for what they saw as efforts to destroy the independence of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA), which was created in 2022 to make defense procurement more transparent and counter corruption.

Read also: ‘You think the end has come’ — as Russian attacks on Ukraine escalate, Kyiv grapples with terrifying new normal

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Germany and Norway are prepared to purchase three Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine from a U.S. manufacturer, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a press conference in Rome on July 10.

"Germany is ready to pay – I have agreements with them – for two systems. Norway is ready to pay – I have bilateral agreements with Prime Minister (Jonas Gahr Stoere) – one system," Zelensky said on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference.

The announcement follows Kyiv's calls for Western partners to provide additional air defenses to help Ukraine repel intensifying Russian aerial strikes.

Zelensky added that Ukraine needs a total of 10 Patriots and voiced hope that other European partners will join the new financing scheme. He noted that a final response from the U.S. manufacturer is still awaited.

Speaking at the Recovery Conference earlier on July 10, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that Berlin is willing to purchase Patriots for Ukraine from the U.S., though adding that a final decision has not yet been made.

The comments followed reporting that U.S. President Donald Trump appealed to Merz to purchase a Patriot battery to boost Kyiv's air defenses. The U.S. president also said separately that he is "looking" into the possibility of helping Ukraine acquire additional Patriots.

At a press conference in Malaysia on July 10, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also acknowledged Ukraine's need for air defenses and urged European allies to provide their Patriot batteries.

"Ukrainians need more Patriot batteries. Many European countries have them, but no one wants to part with theirs. I hope that will change," Rubio said.

"I hope we can convince some of our NATO partners to send these batteries to Ukraine."

The comments followed confusion caused by what appeared to be a unilateral decision by the Pentagon to halt some of the weapons shipments en route to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles and precision munitions. Deliveries of at least some of the shipments have since then reportedly resumed, and Trump pledged to provide additional military support to Kyiv.

The Patriots are powerful U.S.-produced air defenses that have played a key role in protecting the Ukrainian skies. They are one of the few systems capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.

Ukraine operates at least six of these systems, provided over the past years by the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, and Romania.

Russia has ramped up aerial strikes against Ukraine in the past weeks, launching a record of over 740 drones and missiles on July 9. A day later, Russian forces again launched around 400 drones and 18 missiles against the country, primarily targeting Kyiv.

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CHERNIVTSI — This afternoon in the normally quiet western Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi, I found myself running home in terror, chased by the sounds of a Shahed flying overhead.

It was a first for me — despite my trips to frequently-targeted cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv since the start of the full-scale war, I’d never heard any major explosions. I caught myself on trains to and from those cities during attacks, yet was lucky enough to be on the ground when they weren’t actively targeted by missiles and drones.

Other than soldiers’ funerals, my home region, Chernivtsi — Ukraine’s smallest, tucked away in the southwest near the Romanian border — usually feels as distant from the front lines as one can get. It has long been a haven for those escaping the war’s daily horrors, with little in the way of critical infrastructure to draw the enemy’s eye.

At first, I was in disbelief — it couldn’t possibly be a Shahed in my Chernivtsi. Yet, as the sound grew louder, ominously close, denial ultimately gave way to dread. All I could do was run as fast as possible, desperate to close the distance between myself and home. My mind fixated on one fragile consolation: my little daughter was at home with family, not in imminent danger with me. But that hope was quickly shattered by a fresh surge of anxiety — what if they weren’t safe, either?

Chernivtsi is just an hour and a half drive from the Romanian city of Suceava. Looking online, I see that Suceava’s international airport is welcoming flights today not only from Bucharest but from London and Milan, too. It feels like an alternate universe where less than a hundred kilometers away, people make plans for travel, be it for work or pleasure, and most certainly do not give a second thought to the nearby war.

They believe the war is confined within Ukraine’s borders — a grim reality that cannot possibly touch them. To be honest, many people here in Chernivtsi once thought the same. There was always a temptation for such people to dismiss the air raid siren as mere noise and to believe that missile and drone strikes would remain confined to regions eastward.

Yet, back in June, military volunteer Mariia Berlinska warned that Russian drones are capable of hunting civilians deep inside cities far from the front lines, even mentioning Chernivtsi and Lviv by name. She cautioned that by 2026, swarms of thousands of drones in “hunting mode” could become a grim new reality for people in western Ukraine.

In my opinion, the past 24 hours — Russia launched a Shahed drone at Chernivtsi overnight, too, I should add — have signaled yet another decisive moment in the war, even if it might not immediately seem that way.

Read also: ‘You think the end has come’ — as Russian attacks on Ukraine escalate, Kyiv grapples with terrifying new normal

Let me explain.

Until now, missiles and drones rarely targeted Chernivtsi Oblast. However, the truth since the start of the full-scale war in 2022 is that no region is completely safe from Russian drone and missile attacks.

Today’s drone attack on Chernivtsi, Ukraine’s “little Vienna,” which is beautiful yet admittedly unremarkable in scale, is a blatant act of sadism on the part of Russia. This attack isn’t remotely capable of influencing the situation on the battlefield. I’m sure that wasn’t its task.

Those in the Kremlin who declare their sphere of influence will stretch “from Lisbon to Vladivostok” were never going to stop at Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Their hunger for empire is ravenous and unrelenting — a bloodthirst that can never be satiated. This was never just a “territorial dispute” for them — it has always been a brutal quest for world domination fueled by endless violence, because only through force and fear does Russia believe its power can be maintained.

I wonder when the rest of the world — especially our neighbors in Europe — will truly grasp this.

We occasionally hear about drone parts being shot down and landing in border settlements in Poland, Romania, or Moldova. Today, a Russian drone landed in Lithuania.

If these incidents become more frequent, and if their own people start to suffer casualties, will they finally recognize the threat posed by Russia is facing not just Ukraine, but them as well? How many kilometers must war travel before it reaches your doorstep — and you finally see it’s also coming for you?

Tonight, I’ll be doing something I haven’t done since the full-scale war began: packing an emergency bag with my personal documents and other essentials for the shelter. I doubt today’s strike on Chernivtsi will be the last — why would it be? After everything that’s happened over more than three years of the full-scale war, I can’t shake the sinking feeling that, for those of us in what was once “peaceful” western Ukraine, this is only the beginning of something much worse. Not only because Russia appears to take sick pleasure in targeting Ukrainian cities.

As I’ll place each item in that emergency bag, I’ll think of the dumb luck I’ve had up until now.

When I once mentioned to someone here in Chernivtsi the fact that I’d never heard the sound of explosions despite occasionally traveling throughout Ukraine since 2022, they replied that I have a “very powerful guardian angel” watching over me.

But even angels, I suppose, can start to grow weary of war.

Read also: Russia turns sound into weapon

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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Editor's note: This story is being updated.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, taking place on July 10 and 11, Suspilne broadcaster reported.This conference marks the fourth major international event focused on mobilizing political and private-sector support for Ukraine's reconstruction.

Read also: 2 killed, 16 injured as Kyiv slammed with drones, ballistic missiles in Russian mass attack against Ukraine for 2nd night in row

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The EU has signed agreements with financial institutions to mobilize up to 10 billion euros (around $12 billion) in investments to help Ukraine rebuild amid the Russian invasion, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference on July 10.

"With 2.3 billion euros in agreements signed, we aim to unlock up to 10 billion euros in investments to rebuild homes, reopen hospitals, revive businesses, and secure energy," von der Leyen said at the fourth international conference focused on mobilizing support for Ukraine's reconstruction.

The agreements include 1.8 billion euros ($2.1 billion) in loan guarantees and 580 million euros ($680 million) in grants.

Von der Leyen also unveiled the new European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, describing it as "the largest equity fund globally to support (Ukraine's) reconstruction."

The fund aims to mobilize 500 million euros (over $580 million) by 2026 in private sector investment across energy, transport, critical raw materials, and dual-use industries.

"We are literally taking a stake in Ukraine's future by leveraging public money to bring large-scale private sector investments and help the rebuilding of the country," von der Leyen explained.

Read also: Zelensky urges ‘Marshall Plan-style’ support for Ukraine at Recovery Conference in Rome

The initiative involves Italy, Germany, France, Poland, and the European Investment Bank as founding partners.

Von der Leyen emphasized that the EU will "ensure that Ukraine is supported until 2028 and beyond when the new European budget kicks in."

Her remarks followed those of President Volodymyr Zelensky, who urged international partners to join the Ukraine recovery coalition and help the country rebuild in a manner similar to the post-World War II-era Marshall Plan.

The EU and its member states have been key allies of Ukraine throughout the full-scale war, providing over $162 billion in financial, military, and humanitarian assistance since 2022.

Brussels has launched various initiatives to help Kyiv sustain its economy and resist Russian aggression, including the Ukraine Facility program and financial assistance using proceeds from immobilized Russian assets.

Von der Leyen also reiterated that the European Commission considers Ukraine ready to open the first cluster of accession negotiations.

Ukraine applied for EU membership at the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The country has made quick progress, achieving candidate status within months, with the initial negotiations formally launching in June 2024.

The Hungarian government, broadly seen as the most Moscow-friendly in the European bloc, continues to block the opening of the initial cluster, which requires a unanimous agreement of all 27 members.

"For them (Ukraine), the future has two flags. The flags of Ukraine and the flags of Europe," Ursula von der Leyen said.

"Under relentless fire, Ukraine is passing reform after reform. Ukraine is delivering on its reforms. Now we must too".

Read also: 2 killed, 19 injured as Kyiv slammed with drones, ballistic missiles in Russian mass attack against Ukraine for 2nd night in row

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