Jul 2, 2026, 01:30 PM UTC

Russia launched a massive combined missile and drone assault 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 occurred across all Kyiv districts, notably a residential building in Darnytskyi 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 was subjected to a significant Russian attack on July 2, which led to over 10 fatalities and damage to more than 20 residential buildings. Several commercial properties were also affected, including an ERC office-warehouse complex, a Porsche Center, the CityHotel Residence, and an Agromat store. In related news, Ukraine has urged its European Union partners to allocate €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility for military assistance, aiming to capitalize on a perceived "window of opportunity" on the front lines. The Ukrainian government has also launched a controlled export system for its defense technologies. Meanwhile, South Korean companies Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix revealed plans for approximately $876 billion in investments towards new chip production facilities and artificial intelligence data centers. Sources: Forbes Ukraine

Kyiv experienced its most significant Russian assault since the 2022 invasion, with the death toll rising to 17 and 86 people injured. Over 50,000 residents sought shelter in the capital's metro system following the overnight bombardment, which damaged residential buildings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested a license from the United States for Patriot missile systems in response. Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated Russia "will continue to intensify pressure on the Kyiv regime to achieve the set objectives." Elsewhere, Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted 46 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow, with no damage or casualties reported. Further Russian strikes caused three deaths and 18 injuries in the Zaporizhzhia region, three injuries in Dnipropetrovsk, and ten in Sumy, alongside electricity disruptions.

Sources: Le Monde

Morgan McSweeney, a former senior aide to the Prime Minister, has shared details regarding Sir Keir Starmer's initial phone conversation with US President Donald Trump. McSweeney recounted to the BBC that he found President Trump "much funnier than I expected him to be" during the call. He specifically mentioned a joke made by the president concerning foxes consuming birds killed by "windmills," his term for wind turbines. According to McSweeney, officials present during the discussion "were barely able to contain themselves" due to the humor of the remark. This interaction offers a glimpse into the initial rapport between the two leaders.

Sources: BBC News