According to the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, North Korea is now providing up to 40% of Russia’s ammunition used in the war in Ukraine. The Kim Jong Un regime is also supplying Russia with other weaponry, including ballistic missiles and artillery systems. In exchange, Russia is offering financial and technological support to North Korea, easing its international isolation. This increasing cooperation solidifies the growing partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.
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Ukraine has received another 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) from the European Union, sourced from frozen Russian assets, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. These funds are part of the G7’s Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) mechanism, which aims to provide Ukraine with $50 billion in loans repaid using profits from frozen Russian assets. To date, Ukraine has received over $18.5 billion this year through this initiative, with plans to further advocate for the complete confiscation of Russian assets at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. The ERA initiative, primarily supported by the U.S. and the EU, is expected to deliver all funds to Ukraine by the end of 2027, with contributions from the EU, U.S., U.K., Canada, and Japan.
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During the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine, pledging to provide assistance for the duration of the conflict. The EU, already Ukraine’s largest donor, will disburse new financial tranches, including €1 billion in macro-financial support and over €3 billion from the Ukraine Facility, which will unlock €10 billion in investment. Von der Leyen also highlighted that supporting Ukraine aids EU member states in meeting their NATO defense targets, while the conference also saw announcements regarding a fund dedicated to Ukraine’s reconstruction.
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Hide restaurant, a luxurious establishment in London, became the target of a “Russian-ordered” plot involving a kidnapping and arson, according to investigators. Authorities arrested a group of young British men connected to the Wagner mercenary group, who were also found guilty of an arson attack on a Ukraine-linked warehouse. These incidents are part of a broader campaign of sabotage across Europe, with Russia utilizing proxies recruited online to carry out attacks and sow distrust. These operations are seen by experts as a form of psychological warfare, designed to undermine European support for Ukraine and destabilize societies.
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In June 2025, the UN Monitoring Mission reported a record high of civilian casualties and fatalities in Ukraine, marking the worst month in the past three years. This alarming increase is largely due to Russia’s escalated use of long-range missiles and drones targeting urban areas, leading to 232 deaths and 1,343 injuries. The first half of 2025 saw a 54% surge in civilian casualties compared to the same period in 2024, with a 17% increase in deaths and a 64% rise in injuries. The UN has documented a total of at least 13,580 civilian deaths and 34,115 injuries since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
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President Trump stated in an NBC interview that the US has reached an agreement with NATO to supply Ukraine with weapons, with NATO covering the full cost. This deal involves the US sending weapons, including Patriot missile systems, to NATO for distribution. Earlier that day, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had urged leaders to increase aid to Ukraine, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned ongoing discussions with European countries regarding sharing Patriot batteries with Ukraine. Trump also announced a forthcoming “major statement” on Russia, scheduled for Monday.
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A Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) officer was fatally shot in Kyiv on Thursday morning in what is being investigated as an assassination. Authorities launched an investigation and manhunt for the perpetrator. The SBU has not released the identity of the officer. CCTV footage, which CNN cannot independently verify, purportedly shows the attack with a masked individual approaching the officer before firing, and the victim collapsing. The SBU is Ukraine’s main security service and was responsible for the recent drone attack against Russian airfields.
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The U.S. Treasury Department imposed a $216 million penalty on GVA Capital, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, for violating U.S. sanctions. The firm, labeled by OFAC as an “egregious” violator, knowingly facilitated investments for sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, who has alleged ties to Vladimir Putin. Despite legal warnings, GVA Capital coordinated transactions with Kerimov’s proxy related to an investment in Luminar, a U.S.-based technology company. This action underscores the importance of compliance with sanctions to prevent Russian nationals’ access to the U.S. financial system.
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During the Ukraine Recovery Conference, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the crucial role of strong sanctions in compelling Russia to negotiate a genuine ceasefire, not just engage in superficial exchanges. He highlighted the immense financial burden of the war on Russia, estimating Putin’s spending to reach $300 billion next year, which sanctions could curtail. Zelenskyy acknowledged the importance of prisoner exchanges but stressed Russia’s lack of genuine desire to end the conflict, citing the high salaries of Russian contract soldiers. He also expressed appreciation for Donald Trump’s apparent recognition of Russia’s unwillingness to stop the war and underscored the need for Ukraine to strengthen its military through contract service.
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The state has been acquitted in a case where seven former residents of the Erritsøhus children’s home each sought 300,000 kroner in compensation for violations of human rights, according to Copenhagen City Court. The former residents sued the Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and Elderly Affairs last year for failing to intervene during their time at the children’s home between the 1950s and 1970s. Before the trial began, the Ministry of Social Affairs refused to pay compensation, citing a lack of concrete evidence of abuse and neglect.
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John Q. Hosedrinker