RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Latest Developments At A Glance
- One person was killed and 19 wounded, including four children, in fresh Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said on July 23.
- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia “failed a long time ago” in what it sought to achieve in its war against Ukraine and that Kyiv’s current counteroffensive has retaken substantial territory initially seized by Moscow, but he also warned of a long, "very hard fight" in the coming months.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in St. Petersburg on July 23 with Belarusian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who was quoted as saying in an apparent joking tone that fighters of Russia's Wagner mercenary group who are now training Belarus's army were keen to push across the border into NATO member Poland.
- The Bulgarian parliament has voted to send additional military and technical support to Ukraine, including some 100 Soviet-era armored vehicles from the NATO country’s reserves.
- Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has registered a "real estate management" firm in Belarus following his aborted mutiny against Russia's military leadership last month.
- A Russian military correspondent for the state-run RIA Novosti news agency was killed during shelling in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya region, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said.
- Poland's Foreign Ministry issued an "urgent" summons to the Russian ambassador to protest what Warsaw termed "provocative declarations" by President Vladimir Putin.
- Ukrainian troops struck an oil depot and an ammunition warehouse of the Russian Army in Russian-annexed Crimea, the Ukrainian military's communications department confirmed.
- Ukraine and Turkey are discussing the possibility of reviving the Black Sea grain agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said after a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ukraine's Counteroffensive Is Going Slowly. Is That A Problem?
Here's what we know six weeks into a major counteroffensive that Kyiv hopes will change the course of the war: It’s not happening. At least not yet. Whether the sluggish pace is trouble, underscoring Ukrainian weaknesses, Russian strengths, or something else, depends on whom you ask. Read the story by Mike Eckel here.
What Will Be The Long-Term Impact Of The Latest Crimea Bridge Blast?
Although Russian officials have hastened to downplay the damage caused by the July 17 explosion on the only bridge linking Russia to occupied Crimea, experts say even a few hours of logistical delay at this time could be important. Read the report by Robert Coalson here.
After Prigozhin's Mutiny, What Happens Next?
The dust is still settling in Russia, after Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin's march on Moscow, a mutiny that presented the gravest challenge to President Putin in his 23 years as Russia's preeminent leader. Where we go from here is far from certain. Read the story by Mike Eckel here.
How Are Ordinary Russians Feeling About The War Being Delivered To Their Doorstep?
Attacks in Shebekino and elsewhere in the Belgorod region have brought the war home to Russia as local residents grapple with the new reality. Read the article by Oleg Artyushenko here.
The Ukrainian Cities Obliterated In Russia's Self-Proclaimed 'Liberation'
Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine has nearly wiped multiple cities and towns from the face of the Earth, despite the Kremlin's claim that it is conducting a campaign of "liberation." Read the report by RFE/RL's Donbas.Realities, Svitlana Kuzmenko, and Carl Schreck here.
After The Flood: What Do We Know About The Destroyed Ukrainian Dam And Its Consequences?
The collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam sent torrents of water flooding through Ukraine's southern Dnieper River basin, prompting evacuations and inundating thousands of hectares of land. Among other consequences, it could cause the biggest environmental disaster of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.
Who Is Flying Military-Grade Drones Over Moscow?
The drones that slammed into buildings and hit other locations in Moscow this week were the second batch to rattle the Russian capital in a month. It's still not clear who's behind them, and what the goal is. Here's what we know. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.
How Do We Prevent A Black-Swan Event In Ukraine?
The sooner Ukraine defeats Russia on the battlefield, the less likely there is the risk of a so-called black swan event "such as a tactical nuclear weapon used by Russia," says Dan Rice, a former special adviser to the head of Ukraine's armed forces. Read the interview by Vazha Tavberidze here.
