Eastern Europe / News
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Hormuz squeeze on ammonia draws foreign bidders to Odesa Port Plant
Hormuz squeeze on ammonia draws foreign bidders to Odesa Port Plant Four companies from the US, Asia and the Middle East are studying data on Ukraine's war-damaged fertiliser plant as the Strait of Hormuz blockade tightens global ammonia supply.
Russia's fuel crisis eases further as refineries restart, but shortage remain
Russia's two-month fuel crisis is showing signs of easing, with Omsk becoming the first Russian region to lift all limits on petrol and diesel sales at filling stations, Governor Vitaly Khotsenko said on July 28.
Senate passes Graham's “hellish sanctions” package during Zelenskiy's trip to Washington in coup for Bankova
The US Senate passed the “hellish sanctions” package advanced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham on July 29 with an overwhelming majority of 86 to 12 in favour, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in attendance.
Italy's mafia seeking drones from Ukraine war black market, prosecutor says
Cosa Nostra is trying to buy mine-laying drones on the black market created by the war in Ukraine, Palermo's chief prosecutor has told parliament, describing an attempt to rebuild a modern arsenal.
Ukrainian missile-maker Fire Point targets 90 long-range missiles a month
Ukrainian long-range missile-maker Fire Point aims to produce three missiles a day by the end of the year — roughly 90 a month, matching Russia's own pace — its co-owner Denys Shtilerman said in in an interview posted on YouTube on July 27.
Putin expands Russian army to 2.4mn for sixth time
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 27 July decree sets the total authorised strength of the Russian Armed Forces at 2,426,130 posts, including 1,535,000 military personnel.
EU weighs smaller sanctions packages to dodge national vetoes
The EU is considering abandoning its practice of bundling Russia sanctions into large, all-or-nothing packages in favour of smaller, thematic ones, the Financial Times reported, after Greece’s veto delayed the bloc’s 21st sanctions package.
'Everyone's afraid to die': violence against Ukraine's draft recruiters turns deadly - BBC
Attacks on Ukrainian military recruitment officers have become "regular" and "a major problem," the country's military ombudswoman said, as Kyiv struggles to mobilise men to fight in the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Russia, Ukraine trade heaviest strikes of the week
Russia launched a wave of ballistic missiles at Kyiv overnight on July 26, striking a residential building in the capital, in the latest round in an escalating tit-for-tat missile war.
Russian missiles hit Ukrainian drone-industry expo near Kyiv, killing at least 10
Russia carried out a daytime ballistic and cruise missile attack on Kyiv Oblast on July 24, striking among its targets a defence industry exhibition organised by Armada, an association of Ukrainian drone and unmanned systems manufacturers.
Kazakhstan’s Tokayev explicitly urges Putin to “freeze” Ukraine war in face to face talks
Says his country “does not understand nature” of “tragic” conflict.
Russia updates its drones to hit moving targets using "mesh" radios
A full blown and fast moving drones arms race is playing out in the wheat fields of Ukraine with each side constantly trying to leapfrog its opponent. Both sides have taken the lead at one time or another only to lose it again.
Iran's Araghchi warns Ukraine over Caspian strike that killed sailor
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that a Ukrainian strike killing a sailor aboard an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea would not go unanswered, after Kyiv claimed a wave of drone attacks on Russian energy and military targets.
Rheinmetall to more than double gunpowder output at Bavaria plant
German arms maker Rheinmetall plans to more than double gunpowder production at its Aschau am Inn plant near Munich, ramping up annual capacity from 1,700 tonnes to 4,200 tonnes and over 1mn propellant charges a year by 2028.
UPDATE: Old Drapatyi remarks on Donbas resurface, seized on by Russian media
Comments Ukraine's new commander-in-chief, General Mykhailo Drapatyi, made in a 2023 interview about the population of Donbas have resurfaced this week and are being heavily amplified by Russian state media.
Ukraine hits Wildberries warehouses again, targetting St Petersburg for first time
Ukrainian drones struck a Wildberries warehouse for the fifth time this week, targeting a logistics centre in St Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region overnight on July 24, triggering large fires.
Russia's gas queues start to ease, but the fuel crisis is far from over
Ukraine's drone campaign against Russian refineries has made the country's refining sector a strategic liability for the Kremlin, and the resulting fuel crisis has pushed Russian refining to record lows even as LNG exports to Europe hit record highs.
Estonian meat producer Rannarootsi denies anti-Russian messaging in grill advert
Estonian meat processor Rannarootsi has refused to withdraw a grill advert accused of carrying anti-Russian messaging, with its chief executive saying the onion slogan referred only to the product's ingredients.
Odesa in the crosshairs
Russia has sharply intensified strikes on Odesa, in what appears to be the most sustained campaign against the port since the war began. A merchant vessel leaving Odesa was reportedly struck by a Russian missile, killing four.
Russia's Duma passes bill stripping banking and property rights from nationals abroad
Russia's State Duma has approved a bill blocking banking, property and consular rights for nationals abroad who face criminal or political administrative cases, with a Justice Ministry register determining who is affected.