Jul 2, 2026, 12:30 PM UTC

Russia launched a large-scale combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine on July 2, primarily targeting Kyiv with 74 missiles and 496 uncrewed aerial vehicles. The capital's death toll rose to 18, with 85 people, including two children, injured. Significant damage was reported across Kyiv, notably to a residential building in the Darnytskyi district and a diplomatic residential area. Separately, a guided aerial bomb strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region killed a 7-year-old girl and injured four others, including an 11-year-old. EU Ambassador Katarína Mathernová described the assault as "real hell." The European Union pledged increased sanctions on Moscow and continued military support, particularly for air defense and drones. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that "only sustained military support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Moscow" can stop such attacks.

Sources: Українська правда, Радіо Свобода

Kyiv sustained a substantial Russian attack on July 2, with Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirming over 10 fatalities and damage to more than 20 residential buildings. Commercial sites, including an ERC office-warehouse complex, a Porsche Center, CityHotel Residence, and an Agromat store, were also impacted. Meanwhile, Ukraine has requested European Union partners to allocate €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility for military aid, citing a "window of opportunity" on the front lines. The Ukrainian government also launched a controlled export system for its defense technologies. Separately, South Korean firms Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix announced plans for approximately $876 billion in investments for new chip production facilities and AI data centers. Global oil prices continued their third consecutive day of decline. Sources: Forbes Ukraine

As the tenth anniversary of the United Kingdom's 2016 Brexit referendum approaches, the event is being framed as a significant moment for French politics. The vote for the UK to leave the European Union is considered a benchmark against which French presidential candidates should be evaluated. Commentators suggest that candidates' positions on Brexit in 2016 reveal their strategic intelligence, decision-making, and courage in the face of public opinion. The anniversary serves as an opportunity to assess how political figures have navigated such a historically impactful event, highlighting its enduring relevance to France's political landscape.

Sources: Le Monde - International