Photo : The Ukrainian Emergency Service
Photo : The Ukrainian Emergency Service
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 10 July, Kyiv was targetted by Russia. According to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv military administration. Debris from intercepted drones fell across several districts, and Reuters witnesses reported multiple loud explosions. The attack followed Russia's largest missile and drone assault of the war so far, with 728 drones and 13 missiles launched across Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force reported intercepting 711 drones and seven missiles, noting that many of the Russian drones were likely decoys and that newly deployed Ukrainian drones played a key role in the defense. The western town of Lutsk was heavily targeted as per the report, particularly its military airfield and infrastructure, marking a grim escalation in a war where previous attack records are broken with alarming frequency.
On 10 July, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on allies to accelerate the imposition of new sanctions on Russia following a massive wave of strikes on Kyiv that killed two. According to The Guardian's reports, Russian targetted Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region leaving two civilians dead and five injured.
On 09 July, Zelenskyy stated that he had discussed intensifying sanctions on Moscow with US envoy Keith Kellogg. Expressing optimism about a bipartisan sanctions bill in the US Congress sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, the push for tougher measures comes as US President Donald Trump took a sharp, critical stance toward Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, dismissing his recent peace overtures as “meaningless” and “bullshit.” On the same day, Zelenskyy held a meeting with US Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg in Rome, describing it as “substantive,” highlighting key discussions on weapons supplies, strengthening air defense, and joint defense manufacturing. Zelenskyy noted that they also addressed the purchase of US weapons and efforts to localize production within Ukraine.
On 09 July, three were killed and one injured in the frontline town of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, according to national emergency services. The attack destroyed a one-storey administrative building, with rescue teams recovering bodies from the rubble and firefighters extinguishing fires in four other structures. Donetsk regional governor Vadym Filashkin urged residents to evacuate, warning: “It’s time to take a responsible decision. Evacuate to less dangerous regions of Ukraine!”
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 10 July, research was released revealing the confiscation of USD 50 billion from Western assets from last three years. This includes holdings from companies such as beer giant Carlsberg. Meanwhile, Western nations continue to freeze an estimated USD 355 billion in Russian financial assets, with several of Ukraine’s allies advocating for their use in funding Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction efforts.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from Europe and the US
On 11 July, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that there were no indications the Kremlin was prepared to compromise, following his talks with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur. Rubio noted that President Donald Trump was disappointed by Moscow’s continued hardline stance and confirmed that sanctions against Russia were being seriously considered. He added that the Trump administration was actively engaging with both the Senate and Congress regarding a potential sanctions bill, signaling a tougher approach amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
On 11 July, the US government claimed to be resuming deliveries of artillery shells and mobile rocket artillery missiles to Ukraine, according to US officials speaking to Reuters and the Associated Press. The renewed shipments, which include 155mm artillery shells and GMLRS missiles, were authorized by Trump, who claimed he was unaware of who had ordered their suspension last week. The resumption comes amid escalating Russian attacks and heightened urgency from Ukrainian officials for continued US military support.