Small air defence command formed in the Air Force: Colonel Khlibnikov appointed head of the unit

Ukraine is considering the possibility of recruiting foreign workers due to an acute labour shortage, but they must not compete with Ukrainians for jobs. A proposal has been put forward in the Verkhovna Rada to allow the employment of foreign nationals only in those sectors where vacancies cannot be filled by domestic workers.

The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, is prepared to continue peace talks only once the Russian Federation has seized the whole of Donbas. The Russian Ministry of Defence is assuring him that this can be achieved by 2026, but rank-and-file soldiers disagree.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas has stated that, as the war against Ukraine has not yielded the expected results, the Kremlin may seek a further escalation. According to him, Russia may regard the Baltic states and Poland as its next potential targets.

Major General Ihor Skybyuk is to become the new Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The personnel decisions regarding the reshuffle of the military leadership are due to be formalised on 22 July.

The British company BAE Systems is to begin licensed production of L119 105-mm howitzers directly in Ukraine. The agreement was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow.

In the first six months of 2026, 73,292 children were born in Ukraine, whilst 259,853 people died. The death rate is therefore almost four times higher than the birth rate.

Large-scale testing of fifth-generation mobile networks has begun in Kyiv. Owners of compatible smartphones can use 5G, although coverage depends on the network operator and the specific area of the city.

The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) has announced that it is seeking a communications expert. The vacancy has been advertised as part of an international technical assistance project aimed at strengthening the capacity of anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, 22 July, dry weather will prevail across most of Ukraine, although some regions will see rain and thunderstorms. The most challenging weather conditions are forecast for the Odesa region.

In Ukraine, it will be prohibited to label uncertified products as ‘organic’, ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘biological’. Companies found to be using the prefixes ‘eco-’ and ‘bio-’ unlawfully will face fines of up to 24 times the minimum wage.

The Ukrainian Magura unmanned surface vessels, which have become a symbol of the defeat of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, are to be manufactured in the US for the first time. The American company ReconCraft has signed an agreement with the Ukrainian firm Uforce to jointly manufacture unmanned boats that have already proven their effectiveness in real combat conditions.

The Russian National Guard has drawn up amendments to the regulations governing civil defence, which, for the first time, provide for preparedness for threats during periods of mobilisation, martial law and wartime. The draft document has been published on the regulatory portal.

General John Daniel Kane, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has reported that a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet has shot down a Russian aircraft in aerial combat for the first time. According to him, Ukraine has significantly strengthened its defence capabilities in recent years.

A Russian missile strike on the Kyiv region on 19 July destroyed a UNICEF warehouse in the village of Bilohorodka, where humanitarian aid for children and families affected by the war was being stored. The total value of the lost supplies is estimated at approximately $3.9 million.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi announced that on 22 July he would be stepping down from his post as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a position he had held for almost two and a half years. In his closing address, he recalled the key stages of the war and the army’s achievements, and stated that he was handing over to his successor an army that is currently on the offensive.