Jul 2, 2026, 09:30 AM UTC

The death toll from Russia's extensive missile and drone attack on Ukraine on July 2 has risen to 17 in Kyiv, with nearly 90 individuals reported injured. Rescue operations are continuing in the capital's Darnytskyi district, where a residential building sustained severe damage, with part of it described as "literally blown away." A family, including a 15-year-old girl, remains missing under the rubble, while a 10-year-old boy is undergoing surgery for severe injuries. The national energy company Ukrenergo confirmed that energy infrastructure was targeted, leading to new power outages in Kyiv and the Sumy, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions, with Sumy being the most affected. The Ukrainian Air Force noted the assault's complexity, involving 74 missiles and 496 drones, many ballistic, launched "simultaneous[ly]... from different directions." July 3 has been declared a day of mourning in Kyiv. Sources: Громадське, Радіо Свобода

Kyiv experienced its most significant Russian attack since the 2022 invasion, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. The overnight assault resulted in at least 13 fatalities and 86 injuries, with residential buildings damaged and residents seeking shelter in the metro. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested a license from the United States for Patriot missile systems. Meanwhile, Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted 46 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow, with Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stating no damage or casualties occurred. Further Russian bombardments caused three deaths and 18 injuries in the Zaporizhzhia region, three injuries in Dnipropetrovsk, and ten in Sumy. Electricity disruptions were also reported across several oblasts.

Sources: Le Monde

A Belarusian citizen has been arrested in Poland on suspicion of working for Belarusian special services, according to Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW). The individual is accused of photographing and video-recording events organised by Belarusian democratic forces in Warsaw. These collected materials were reportedly subsequently used in Belarusian regime propaganda. A Polish citizen is also facing charges in connection with the alleged intelligence gathering. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into foreign intelligence activities in Poland.

Sources: Радіо Свобода

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Thursday, July 2, that the nation's ruling coalition has reached a compromise on a wide-ranging reform package. These measures are intended to help Germany navigate its current economic difficulties by addressing key areas such as pensions, taxation, national competitiveness, and household purchasing power. Chancellor Merz emphasized that the reforms aim to "ensure greater flexibility for our companies, reduce bureaucracy, and preserve our welfare state." The government's objective is to lighten the load on both employees and businesses, fostering a more dynamic economic environment. Sources: Le Monde.

A Swedish court has ordered Google to pay a substantial sum to Klarna, the fintech company that acquired price comparison service PriceRunner. The ruling stems from a private competition case, with the awarded damages noted as one of the largest ever in Europe for such a matter. Klarna had purchased PriceRunner in 2022 for nearly €1 billion. The legal action centered on allegations of anti-competitive practices by Google. The exact amount of the payment was not specified in the initial reporting, but it is described as a significant indemnity.

Sources: Le Monde