A snapshot of recent news from sources around the world on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Political Developments
Sources told CNN and other media outlets on Thursday that U.S. and German authorities foiled a Russian plot earlier this year to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall.
North Korea has sent military training officials to Russia, according to North Korean state media. A delegation led by president of the Kim Il Sung Military University, Kim Geum Chol, departed on Monday. The two countries recently signed a pact to bolster military cooperation.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Moscow this week for a two-day visit, securing a promise from Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia will release Indians who have been forced into active combat on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Military Assistance to Ukraine
The UK’s new Defence Secretary John Healey has pledged to step up the UK’s support for Ukraine on a visit to Odesa, less than 48 hours after his appointment. This latest package includes 10 AS-90 self-propelled artillery guns and 90 Brimstone missiles.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated a pledge to provide GBP3 billion in annual military aid to Ukraine. Starmer also indicated that London will allow Kyiv to use its Storm Shadow missiles to hit military targets on Russian territory.
Northrop Grumman has become the first American company to reach an agreement to produce weapons inside Ukraine, a company official said this week.
The Norwegian government announced it will donate six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Wednesday. The aircraft are expected to arrive this year, but an exact date wasn’t provided. Norway is replacing its legacy F-16s with the Lockheed Martin F-35. The Netherlands and Denmark have also announced plans to donate F-16s to Ukraine.
Delivery of those Danish and Dutch F-16s “is underway,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. Belgium expects to send the first of 30 F-16s to Ukraine this year as well, following the signing of an agreement with Kyiv.
Poland, meanwhile, said it will consider transferring a squadron of MiG-29s to Ukraine if Warsaw’s allies can help backfill the Polish Air Force with a replacement.
Norway is also sending spare parts for Sea King helicopters to Ukraine, which will be used to maintain six aircraft being donated by Germany. Norway’s Sea King fleet served between 1973-2023. The United Kingdom also plans to donate three Sea Kings to Ukraine. Norway’s retired fleet has reached its maximum flight hours and cannot be donated, according to the government.
Western countries will provide additional air defense systems to Ukraine. Kyiv is to receive three more Patriot air defense batteries. The allies will donate Patriot components for a fourth Patriot battery. Italy will provide an additional SAMP-T air defense system. A new $225 million PDA package from the U.S., announced on July 11, will also provide more NASAMS and Stinger ammunition.
Ukrainian troops will soon receive 18 155mm Bohdana self-propelled howitzers, which were purchased with financing from Denmark under an agreement that supports procurement from the Ukrainian defense industry.
Battlefield Updates
The Russian military has attacked a Ukrainian air base in Poltava, an east-central city. The operation took place on July 3. The airfield was hit by an Islander theater ballistic missile. This is the second attack on a Ukrainian air base in this region during the last week.
Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure. Two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and six Shahed drones took part in an attack on July 11. A missile struck the northeastern region of Sumy.
A Russian missile also struck a children’s hospital in Kyiv, killing two and wounding over a dozen. A Financial Times investigation highlighted the Western components that power the Kh-101 cruise missile used in the attack.
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