Sunday, July 21

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A couple stands near a makeshift memorial to Iryna Farion, the controversial former lawmaker who was shot on July 20, 2024 in Lviv, Ukraine. The killing of the 60-year-old linguistic professor is currently under investigation and is being treated as an assassination. (Mykola Tys/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Russian involvement in Farion assassination not ruled out, Zelensky says. The investigation into the assassination of Ukrainian lawmaker and linguist Iryna Farion is considering all possible leads, “including the one that leads to Russia,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 20.

Ukraine increases defense spending by almost $12 billion in 2024. “Financing the needs of Ukrainian forces is now a top priority. Additional funds for weapons, fortifications, and salaries for servicemen are a critical component of countering the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine,” Deputy Defense Minister Yurii Dzhyhyr said.

Satellite images show damage to Russian airfield in Rostov Oblast after reported drone strike. The Millerovo military airfield’s technical-operational unit and its fuel and lubricant warehouse were damaged in the attack, according to satellite imagery compiled by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

Debris shows Russia targeted Kyiv with new unidentified drone. The low altitude of the drone shot down in Kyiv indicates that it was a kamikaze drone, but it does not resemble the Shahed-136, Defense Express reported on July 20.

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Drone attack damages power, water supply in Poltava Oblast. A Russian drone attack in Poltava Oblast overnight left thousands of people without power and running water, Governor Filip Pronin reported on July 20.

Ukraine’s sanctions on Russia’s Lukoil may result in fuel crisis in Hungary. The restrictions have created supply shortages in Budapest, which depends on Russia for 70% of its oil supply, with Lukoil providing half of that volume, according to Politico.

US-Japan Patriot missile production delayed by component shortage, Reuters reports. U.S. plans to produce more Patriot air defense missiles — critical for Ukraine’s defense against Russia — at Japanese factories is delayed by shortages of a crucial component made by Boeing, four unnamed sources told Reuters.

US is preparing new sanctions against China for supporting Russia’s war efforts. The United States plans to impose new sanctions against Chinese entities that fuel Russia’s war in Ukraine. Chinese banks may also be targeted.

Read our exclusives

Who was Iryna Farion, the nationalist professor-politician assassinated in Lviv?

Despite the contrasting opinions surrounding her life’s work and sometimes contentious public statements, the assassination of linguist and former right-wing lawmaker Iryna Farion on July 19 came as a shock to Ukrainians.

Photo: Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Death toll from Russian missile attack on Mykolaiv rises to 4. The death toll from a Russian missile attack on Mykolaiv on July 19 has risen to four, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych reported on July 20.

General Staff: Russia has lost 565,610 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. This number includes 990 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

International response

Germany seeks to increase defense spending over threat of Russian aggression, defense minister says. The agreed budget will see an increase in defense spending by 1.2 billion euros (nearly $1.4 billion), while German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius requested a 6.7 billion euros (nearly $7.3 billion) increase, according to Tagesspiegel.

Most Georgians see Russia as enemy. According to the Caucasus Barometer survey, 69% of respondents consider Russia as Georgia’s main enemy. This figure has increased compared to previous years.

Azerbaijan could export gas through Ukraine after Russia deal expires. Ukraine and the EU have approached Azerbaijan to discuss supplying natural gas to Europe via Ukraine once an existing contract with Russia expires at the end of 2024, President Ilham Aliyev said, Bloomberg reported.

Fico criticizes Kyiv’s sanctions against Russian oil in call with Shmyhal. “Slovakia doesn’t intend to be a hostage to Ukrainian-Russian relations,” Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico reportedly said.

Poland urges EU to combat Russian disinformation in US. “At this critical moment in history, it is imperative that we collectively take swift and robust action to strengthen the transatlantic relations through strategic communication about the E.U. in the U.S.”

In other news

Bus carrying Ukrainians crashes in Poland, 9 injured. A bus carrying Ukrainians crashed in Poland, injuring all nine passengers on board, Polish police reported on July 20.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Abbey Fenbert, Kateryna Hodunova, Teah Pelechaty, Oleksiy Sorokin, Lili Bivings, Kate Tsurkan, and Elsa Court.

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