Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1252: Ukrainian AI coders target hidden Russian killers

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Ukrainian war documentaries Russia doesn't want you to see. These films expose Russian war crimes and showcase Ukrainian resilience through stories of survival, volunteering, art creation amid destruction, and resistance that directly contradict Moscow's propaganda about Ukraine.

20,000 wrecked vehicles behind them, Russians crawl toward Siversk like there's no tomorrow. A Russian tank column rolled into a bloody disaster outside Siversk in eastern Ukraine. But Moscow's troops are still advancing.

Man wants to counter China by letting Russia dismember Ukraine, forgets they're allies. Pentagon's Undersecretary Elbridge Colby crafted America's China strategy. Beijing couldn't be happier.

Spain Ukraine military aid: Patriot missiles, Leopard tanks—plus surprise Chornobyl solar plant. Missiles and tanks are only part of Spain's military aid to Ukraine: the past year also brought troop training, demining, sanctions and a solar plant in Chornobyl.

Military

Frontline report: Ukrainian defenders revive Roman anti-cavalry tactics to achieve devastating 66-to-1 kill ratio against Russian forces. Russian commanders have redirected their offensive focus toward Torske after maintaining a bridgehead across the Zherebets River for months without establishing a direct route to their target city. Ukrainian drones turned Russia's Salsk station into a firestorm — fuel train destroyed (video). Additionally, drones reportedly knocked out power substations in occupied Donetsk and in Russia's Orlovsky. Ukrainian marines turn training ground into war school at NATO's Sea Breeze 2025 in UK. With minehunters and battle-tested marines, Ukraine's Navy is no longer just a student of war — it's a teacher on the modern battlefield. Belarus says drone shot down over Minsk at 2 am.

Intelligence and technology

Kyiv's AI coders take aim at hidden Russia's killers beneath soil. With a third of its territory mined, Ukraine is betting on AI to accelerate demining. With civilian factories frozen and war plants revived, Lukashenko's regime becomes ghost manufacturer for Kremlin missiles. Drone shells, missile chips, and targeting optics are pouring out of newly built plants as Minsk militarizes under Kremlin command. Lithuania selects Ukrainian tech over alternatives to catch Russian drones following airspace violations. Lithuania's military selected Ukrainian acoustic detection technology to monitor drone activity, with deployment scheduled for 2026 after two Russian drones entered the country's airspace this month. Euroactiv: Ukraine welcome to join EU's IRIS² satellite network as Starlink reliance sparks unease. The project could give Kyiv an alternative to Musk's system during the war.

International

ISW: Kremlin pushes alone-against-the-West myth to rally Russians against Ukraine and NATO. "Putin is unlikely to make any concessions unless forced to do so by Ukrainian victories," ISW says. NATO tanks would get "stuck in tunnels" if Russia invaded EU, European commissioner warns. Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas plans $20 billion in infrastructure upgrades after warning that current roads and railways cannot support rapid military deployment against Russian invasion. Trump cuts Putin ceasefire deadline from 50 days to under two weeks. Meeting UK PM Keir Starmer in Scotland, the US President warned Russia there will be no more delays. Switzerland allows sanctioned Russian official speak at international forum. Ukraine wants her at Special Tribunal. Valentina Matvienko spread Russian propaganda in Geneva publicly as Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman called her participation "disgraceful."

Humanitarian and social impact

Pregnant woman among 22 killed by Russia in one day, Zelenskyy says. Russian guided bombs, drones, and missiles targeted homes, hospitals, stores, and emergency services overnight. Russia bombs Zaporizhzhia prison — 17 dead, dozens injured overnight (updated). Eight Russian bombs targeted the facility and damaged single-family homes close by.

Political and legal developments

"We took Trump's ultimatum into account," says Kremlin—but Russia still has no plans to stop war. Despite a new 10-day deadline from the US, Kremlin directly insists Moscow will continue its aggression in Ukraine. Kyiv formally recognizes forced resettlement of 700,000 Ukrainians by Moscow and Polish communist authorities as deportation. Decades after Operation Vistula, Kyiv enshrines the truth with legal clarity. Lukashenko's spy caught mapping defenses in Ukraine's border region near Poland. With a phone and a Google Map, a Volyn local fed military intel to Belarusian handlers. As Trump sets new ultimatum for Russia, Kremlin's mouthpiece threatens war not with Ukraine, but America itself. Medvedev warns of US–Russia war, even as Moscow struggles to hold occupied Ukraine. Amid war, Russia shuts down gasoline exports — producers hit for the first time. The ban takes effect 29 July and could be extended into September. Read our earlier daily review here.