# Russia
Explosions have been heard in Mariupol — a petrol tanker, a petrol station and, presumably, Russian warehouses have been hit
Explosions have been heard in occupied Mariupol. A petrol tanker, a petrol station and a garage were hit as a result of the strikes. Reports that the occupiers’ warehouses have been destroyed are also being verified.
Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian MiG-29 fighter jet
Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian MiG-29 fighter jet and a ‘Pantsir-S1’ air defence system in the Kursk region.
The EU is considering three scenarios to break the deadlock over sanctions against Russia
The European Union is set to discuss at least three possible scenarios for breaking the deadlock over its latest package of sanctions against Russia.
A hybrid of a drone and a rocket: Russia is increasingly targeting Ukraine with ‘Banderole’ munitions
The Russians have begun to make more frequent use of jet-powered drones and hybrid loitering munitions, or small ‘Banderol’ cruise missiles, to carry out strikes against Ukraine.
An unusual toilet seat competition was held in Russia
In Stavropol, Russia, a sanitaryware manufacturer ran a promotional campaign that caused quite a stir on social media. Visitors to one of the shopping centres were invited to drink a soft drink from the new toilet bowls, and then take part in another unusual challenge
Russia has lost 75 per cent of the capacity of the Kerch ferry crossing
Robert Brovdi (call sign ‘Madyar’), Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces, stated that as a result of Operation ‘MoLoChKa’, which took place over a two-week period in July, Russia lost approximately 75 per cent of the Kerch ferry crossing’s capacity
A Russian vessel believed to be involved in spying on NATO has broken down off the coast of Sweden
The Russian research vessel *Akademik Nikolai Strakhov*, which is believed to be monitoring NATO’s military infrastructure, lost power off the coast of Sweden. Despite the breakdown, the crew declined the assistance offered by the Swedish military and coastguard.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked an oil depot near Moscow and Russian ships
On the night of 18 July, the Ukrainian Defence Forces carried out strikes on a number of military and logistical targets on Russian territory and in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The targets included an oil depot in the Moscow region, ships and support vessels of the Russian navy, and a railway bridge in the Luhansk region.
France has summoned a Russian diplomat over FSB cyberattacks on French institutions
On 17 July, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of the Russian Federation. This was in response to cyber-attacks which the French authorities link to the activities of the Russian security services
Kadyrov called on Russia to launch strikes against NATO countries
The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has made further aggressive statements regarding Western countries that support Ukraine. In a post on social media, he called on Russia to take military action against those states supplying Kyiv with weapons and other military aid
The EU has imposed sanctions on Russians who tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka and at the remand centre in Taganrog
Європейський Союз додав до санкційного списку 15 росіян, які катували українських військовополонених в Оленівці, та російське СІЗО в Таганрозі.
Russia’s budget deficit in 2026 could exceed the official forecast by more than one trillion roubles
Russia’s federal budget expenditure and deficit in 2026 may turn out to be higher than the approved figures. At the same time, the revenue forecast remains unchanged.
