Jul 2, 2026, 08:30 AM UTC

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine during the night of July 2, deploying 74 missiles and 496 drones, with Kyiv as the primary target. The assault caused significant damage and casualties in the capital, where 13 people were killed and over 30 injured. Rescue operations are ongoing, particularly in the Darnytskyi district, where a residential building sustained severe damage and a family, including a 15-year-old girl, is still being sought under rubble. Power outages affected Kyiv and four regions—Sumy, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia—due to strikes on energy infrastructure. July 3 has been declared a day of mourning in Kyiv.

Sources: Громадське, Радіо Свобода

Kyiv experienced a significant Russian attack on July 2, involving drones and ballistic missiles, which resulted in over 10 fatalities and damage to more than 20 residential buildings, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Concurrently, Ukraine has urged European Union partners to allocate €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility for military assistance, citing a "window of opportunity" on the front lines. The Ukrainian government also initiated a new controlled export mechanism for its weapons and defense technologies. In the technology sector, South Korean firms Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are planning substantial investments totaling approximately $876 billion in new chip production facilities and AI data centers. Separately, oil prices have declined for a third consecutive day, influenced by increased shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and progress in US-Iran talks. Sources: Forbes Ukraine

Recent hostilities in Ukraine have seen an escalation of Russian attacks, with at least 13 people killed in Kyiv, according to updated reports. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the overnight incident as the most significant Russian attack on the capital. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested a license from the United States for Patriot missile systems. Separately, Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted 46 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow, with Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stating no damage or casualties occurred. Ongoing bombardments also resulted in three fatalities and 18 injuries in the Zaporizhzhia region, four deaths in Dnipro, and injuries to three people in Dnipropetrovsk and ten in Sumy. Electricity disruptions were reported across several oblasts.

Sources: Le Monde

The death toll from Venezuela's June 24 double earthquake has continued to rise, reaching 2,295 fatalities by July 1, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez. This marks a significant increase from the 1,450 deaths reported on June 28, 1,719 on June 29, and 1,943 on June 30. The number of injured has also climbed to over 11,000, while the United Nations estimates approximately 50,000 individuals are missing. Rodriguez characterized the event as "the most brutal natural disaster that our country has suffered in its entire history." The UN also highlighted a "cruel" lack of food and shelter. Public frustration is reportedly growing over the government's perceived insufficient response.

Sources: Le Monde

The United States has declined to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), also known as ACEUM or USMCA, in its current form, according to the Trump administration. While Canada and Mexico had sought a 16-year ratification of the trade pact, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the United States did not accept the agreement's existing terms. Mexico is reportedly preparing for an annual renegotiation of the framework governing trade among the three North American partners. This decision signals a significant shift in the future of the regional trade arrangement.

Sources: Le Monde