President Volodymr Zelenskyy outlined Ukraine’s military development priorities, stating he wants tangible progress by the end of the year on producing an anti-ballistic missile defence system. The system would be developed through the Freyja programme, a joint European initiative designed as an alternative to Patriot systems. Under the arrangement, Ukrainian manufacturers would produce missiles and launchers while international partners supply critical components including radars and sensors. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for rapid development, noting that while other nations spent decades perfecting such systems, Ukraine must accelerate its timeline significantly.
On the offensive front, Ukraine is also developing its own ballistic missiles, with testing demonstrating promising potential, according to Zelenskyy. He stated officials were working to establish conditions enabling Ukrainian weapons manufacturers to deliver functional results in both defensive and offensive capabilities.
Meanwhile, civilian casualties continued mounting from Russian military operations. The Kyiv region observed an official day of mourning following a Russian missile and drone attack that killed 17 people. According to the UN office in Kyiv, 1,396 civilians were killed and 7,978 injured during the first half of the year—a 37% increase compared to the same period the previous year and a 114% increase relative to 2024. The UN attributed the rise to intensified long-range aerial bombardment by Russian forces.
Ukrainian forces conducted strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and naval assets. Zelenskyy reported attacks on refineries in Russia’s Bashkortostan and Yaroslavl regions, along with strikes against Russian military patrol boats and shadow fleet vessels in the Black Sea. In response, the Russian defence ministry claimed its air defences intercepted 605 Ukrainian drones. Additionally, Sweden’s supreme court approved the transfer of a seized Russian cargo ship, the Caffa, to Ukraine, which had been operating as part of Russia’s shadow fleet allegedly transporting stolen grain.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit Serbia, marking his first trip since the invasion began. Ukrainian officials characterized the visit as an effort to shift Serbian alignment away from Russia, while Serbia’s government indicated its policy toward Moscow would remain unchanged pending further developments.
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