Because the conflict enters its 874th day, these are the primary developments.
That is the place the conflict stands on Thursday, July 18, 2024:
Combating
- Explosions rang out over Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, as air defences downed a Russian drone over the town. The falling particles didn’t trigger any injury, Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated.
- No less than one particular person was killed and eight others wounded in Ukrainian shelling and drone assaults on Russian-occupied Kherson in southern Ukraine, the world’s Moscow-backed governor stated.
- In Russia’s Belgorod area, which borders Ukraine, authorities stated a Ukrainian drone hit a passenger automotive and killed a younger couple.
- Russia and Ukraine launched a complete of 190 captured troopers of their third such swap over the previous seven weeks. All sides freed 95 prisoners of conflict following talks mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
- Officers in Ukraine’s Kharkiv introduced plans to construct a sequence of faculties underground to guard kids amid near-daily Russian assaults on the northeastern metropolis.
- The Kremlin denied {that a} main floor offensive in Ukraine’s Kharkiv had failed after Russian officers stated they’d seal off Russian border villages to guard civilians from Ukrainian shelling.
Navy assist
- Germany plans to halve its army assist to Ukraine subsequent yr, the Reuters information company reported, regardless of issues that help from america for Kyiv might doubtlessly diminish if Republican candidate Donald Trump returns to the White Home. The company, citing a draft of Germany’s 2025 funds, stated German assist to Ukraine might be minimize to 4 billion euros ($4.35bn) in 2025 from round 8 billion euros in 2024.
Politics and diplomacy
- The European Parliament condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for assembly Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, stressing that he didn’t signify the European Union whereas on the journey.
- Russia is able to work with any US chief prepared to have interaction in “equitable, mutually respectful dialogue”, International Minister Sergey Lavrov stated, whereas welcoming the stance on Ukraine of US Republican vice presidential candidate, JD Vance.
- NATO appointed British official Patrick Turner as its senior consultant in Ukraine. Turner had held senior posts contained in the alliance.
- Estonia and Lithuania stated on Wednesday they’d not permit Belarus-registered automobiles to enter by means of checkpoints on their borders with Russia or Belarus, citing EU sanctions towards the nation.
