Jul 2, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC

Russia launched a major combined missile and drone assault on Ukraine on July 2, primarily targeting Kyiv. The capital's death toll rose to 18, with 85 people, including two children, injured. Significant damage occurred across Kyiv, affecting a residential building and a diplomatic 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, focusing on 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 experienced a significant Russian attack on July 2, resulting in 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. Concurrently, Ukraine has requested €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility for military assistance from its European Union partners, citing a potential "window of opportunity" on the front lines. The Ukrainian government also initiated 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.

Sources: Forbes Ukraine

German prosecutors have formally charged a Ukrainian national, identified as Serhii K, in connection with the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. He is accused of leading and coordinating the sabotage of the natural gas infrastructure, following his arrest in Italy last summer. Concurrently, Russian forces launched a significant drone and missile attack on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, overnight. While one report stated 18 fatalities, another indicated at least one person was killed. The city's mayor described it as the "most massive attack" on the Ukrainian capital, prompting evacuations and leaving some individuals trapped under rubble. This occurred hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned of an impending "massive" assault.

Sources: BBC News

Kyrgyzstan has formally requested fuel assistance from several regional nations, including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Belarus. The appeal also extends to Russia, which historically supplied up to 90% of Kyrgyzstan's gasoline. This move comes as Russia itself faces a domestic fuel crisis, impacting its ability to maintain consistent exports. Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Energy confirmed sending official appeals to these countries to ensure stable fuel deliveries amidst the challenging supply environment. The Central Asian nation is seeking to diversify its fuel sources and secure its energy needs during this period of regional instability in fuel markets.

Sources: Радіо Свобода, Reuters