Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1227: Russian missiles release toxic clouds over Ukrainian cities

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How Ukraine can win, p.5: Russia is winning the recruiting war. That's also how it could lose.. Russia isn't going to run out of men. But it may run out of volunteers.

Russia's terror on civilians: I sleep in my bathroom and text friends to see who survived. By 6 AM, I know who made it through another night.

A Russian drone found the toughest armor on the battlefield—and lost. Russian observers celebrated a drone strike on a Ukrainian Leopard 2A6 near Pysarivka. They filmed the moment it hit the tank's frontal turret—the exact spot where its armor is thickest.

"Luxury TikToking": French MEP slams Macron's call with Putin as narcissism while Ukraine burns. While Ukraine fights for survival, Macron phones Putin. French MEP Glucksmann calls it peak European performance: busy, public, and strategically empty.

Ukraine needs air defenses—US pulls Patriots, Europe can't help. As the US withdraws Patriot missiles this week, UK defense expert Frank Ledwidge warns: Europe lacks the systems Ukraine needs to survive.

Military

Ukraine reportedly conducts one of most distant sabotage operations, targeting Russian military infrastructure near Vladivostok. Russian authorities move quickly to control information on the blast. Ukraine strikes Russian facility making components for Shaheds and Iskander missiles used to bomb schools and hospitals. Ukrainian forces struck the Kometa antenna plant. Frontline report: Ukrainian drone strikes on military targets race to weaken Russia before major offensive launch. Ukraine systematically targets Russian command centers, ammunition and oil depots, and railway networks to delay Moscow's planned multi-front summer offensive spanning from Sumy to Kherson—the largest coordinated assault Russia has attempted since the full-scale invasion began. In one night Ukrainian drones hit Russian military airfield and drone defense factory used to fuel aggression. Fires erupted at Russia's Borisoglebsk aviation center where Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-30SM aircraft conduct training operations before attacking Ukraine.

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine is becoming naval power: two ships pass NATO certification. Two Ukrainian vessels have officially become interoperable with NATO standards, and Ukraine's Marine Corps is now the largest in Europe. Ukraine develops new laser drone that guides precision strikes through jamming. The R-34-T drone allows Ukrainian forces to illuminate Russian targets from safe distances, keeping operators in safety. Ukraine leads NATO into future of combat medicine. Ukraine's combat medics warn: evacuating the wounded is the most dangerous job in field medicine.

International

Former Polish President Duda: US blocked Polish MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine in 2022. President Zelenskyy asked. Poland agreed. But the US vetoed the transfer. Ukraine's Intelligence: Moscow accelerates its troop buildup in Armenia as tensions with Azerbaijan rise. Ukraine's military intelligence warns: this is not a coincidence—it's part of a calculated move to destabilize the region. Armenia accuses Russian state TV of "hostile propaganda" against its government. Armenian officials claims that the country's democracy is "under attack" through Russian media, while also considering to block Russian television broadcasts. Trump satisfied with Zelensky call, suggests Patriot missiles still possible for Ukraine despite deliveries halt. In contrast, the US President expressed sharp frustration with Vladimir Putin after their phone call that preceded Zelenskyy's, telling reporters the Russian leader rejected ceasefire discussions and "wants to continue killing people."

Humanitarian and social impact

Russian missiles and drones continue to kill after impact, releasing toxic clouds of carcinogens over Ukrainian cities. Children may need evacuation from cities hit hardest by toxic fallout. Ukraine on fire with civilians injured as Trump doubts Putin wants to end war. Russia launched 322 drones at Ukraine on the night of 5 July, sparking fires at different locations and injuring at least 16 civilians, including children. Read our earlier daily review here.