Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1608: Britain’s new PM opens with call to Kyiv

Exclusives

Ukraine's protesters set a 24 July deadline as Zelenskyy weighs replacing his army chief. Organizers gave the government four days before nightly rallies begin.

Why Russia is importing gasoline made from its own oil. To keep its pumps supplied, Moscow has written India's gasoline price into its own tax code.

Military

Ukrainian regiment that raised flag in Kostiantynivka says it's aware of reports that its soldiers were captured there. These are the same troops who filmed a flag-raising after clearing the center.

Drones found the FSB where it felt safest—a seaside resort deep in occupied Kherson Oblast. The SBU's Alpha unit's strike set off a large blaze at a base ringed by checkpoints, guards and bunkers.

Russia keeps hitting Ukraine's couriers—so Ukraine went after Russia's Amazon: oil depot and warehouses hit near Moscow. Drones struck logistics sites and an oil depot in Moscow Oblast's Sheremetyevo and Podolsk, days after Russian missiles battered Ukraine's Nova Poshta postal network.

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine's new combat robot is silent, fits in minivan, and carries MK19 grenade launcher. Ukraine codified the "Zmii Mini Strike," a recon-strike ground robot with a silent electric motor.

The Ukrainian combat divers who blew up a Russian bomber just built their own sea drone. Ukraine's National Guard unveiled a naval drone designed by one of its own frontline units, reflecting a growing trend of soldiers building the weapons they fight with.

International

Britain's new PM Andy Burnham is opening with calls to Trump and Zelenskyy. His first foreign calls go to Zelenskyy and Trump, with UK support for Ukraine "unwavering."

Botswana warns its people about Russian job scams that end in the trenches against Ukraine. Officials say they keep getting distress calls from citizens already at the front, describing dangerous conditions they never signed up for.

Humanitarian and social impact

60-year-old Pole stood up for Ukrainian teenager on tram in Poznań. Three men beat him for it. They turned on him and beat him so badly he suffered memory loss.

"Policy of ethnocide": Ukraine says Russia has settled 300,000 Russians in occupied Crimea, replacing Ukrainians driven out. Russia is resettling its citizens into occupied Ukraine to replace the population.

Ten dead as Russia strikes a Turkish-owned bulk carrier off Odesa. Rescuers pulled eight of the 18 people aboard from the burning ship overnight; the pilot brought on to steer it out was among the dead.

Political and legal developments

"Small service can cost life imprisonment": Ukraine warns against Russian Shahed-recording scheme. Russia is recruiting Ukrainian traitors through social media to record FM signals broadcast by Shahed drones.

Russia jails two more of its own warbloggers days apart—one for extortion, one for "justifying terrorism". Both had cheered the invasion for years, and both had recently started blaming Russia's leadership for a war they say is going wrong.

Read our earlier daily review here.