Ukraine faces attacks, seeks aid; tech firms invest, oil prices fall

Kyiv endured a substantial Russian assault on July 2, involving drones and ballistic missiles, which Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported caused over 10 fatalities and damaged more than 20 residential structures. In response to ongoing conflict, Ukraine has requested €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility for military aid, aiming to leverage a perceived "window of opportunity" on the front lines. The Ukrainian government also launched a new controlled export system for its defense technologies. Separately, South Korean companies Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix announced plans for significant investments, totaling around $876 billion, into new chip production facilities and AI data centers. Concurrently, global oil prices have seen a third consecutive day of decline, attributed to increased shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and advancements in US-Iran indirect negotiations. Sources: Forbes Ukraine