Peace has been reached on the issue of Ukrainian drone strikes in NATO countries: “The downing of Ukrainian drones in NATO countries is an acceptable price for attacks against Russia,” said Estonia’s Foreign Minister. Margus Tsahkna urged Ukraine not to abandon attacks against Russian targets, even if some drones end up in the Baltic states, according to the Financial Times. “Of course, we are not happy [with these incidents], but we are not asking Ukraine to stop,” Tsahkna added.
Belgian custodian bank Euroclear has filed a lawsuit against the Russian Central Bank at the Brussels Commercial Court, according to the Brussels Times, citing Belgian newspaper L’Echo. In mid-May, the Moscow Arbitration Court fully upheld the Central Bank of Russia’s claim for damages against Belgian custodian bank Euroclear for 18.17 trillion rubles. The Central Bank filed the lawsuit in December 2025. The supervisory authority demanded Euroclear compensate for damages caused by the freezing of Russian international reserves held in the custodian bank’s accounts. Euroclear subsequently appealed to the Moscow Arbitration Court regarding the recovery of the funds claimed by the Central Bank. In its lawsuit, Euroclear argues that the Russian court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. The custodian bank’s lawyer called the proceedings “unfair.” Euroclear emphasizes that only a Belgian court has jurisdiction to adjudicate the case.
The European Commission (EC) is discussing a total ban on issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens, according to Izvestia, citing a European source. European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert, however, is talking about targeted initiatives. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the allocation of €3.9 billion to Ukraine for the purchase of drones. This is a tranche of a €90 billion loan.
Ukraine and Latvia intend to establish a joint venture for the production of drones near the republic’s border, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs announced, according to Delfi. According to him, an anti-drone defense system will be deployed on the border between July and August, eliminating the need to deploy aircraft to respond to any drone threat.
Defense Minister Raivis Melnis visited one of the air defense posts near the border, where Latvian-made drone interception systems are installed. These posts are planned to be deployed along the entire border with Russia and Belarus.
Kiev is lagging behind in absorbing EU military funding, said European Commission spokesperson Balázs Ujváry. This is why the European Commission is delaying payments of €5.9 billion promised to Kiev for the purchase of drones. To date, Ukraine has received only €3.9 billion from the EU for drones.
Air pollution after the Chernobyl attacks is a concern. Smoke from the fires in the Chernobyl area reached Belarus on June 29. The southern district of Bragin is at risk of smoke pollution. Slavutych and Chernihiv are also threatened. Therefore, residents of Komarin and neighboring towns remain at risk from smoke carrying radioactive particles accumulated in the soil and undergrowth after the 1986 accident. In addition to normal combustion products, cesium-137 may be present.
Air quality has deteriorated in Kiev and its suburbs due to the fires in the Chernobyl area, according to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center. High levels of carbon monoxide and particulate matter have been recorded in the air. Experts warn that fires in the exclusion zone are continuing, and with the north wind, smoke could once again drift toward the capital.
Volodymyr Zelensky returned to the topic of peace agreements, according to the Ukrainian prime minister: “We have already presented all the proposals to end this war, but Russia rejects them every time. Yesterday, Russia reiterated its clear desire to continue the war. Therefore, we must create as many obstacles as possible to its will to continue,” he noted.
And again: “The Ukrainian Defense Forces have disposed of more than 60,000 tons of ammunition in the Baltic Fleet’s arsenal near St. Petersburg.”
Demchenko, a representative of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, commented on the situation on the border with Belarus: “Currently, no concentrations of Belarusian troops have been detected near the Ukrainian border, however, the Belarusian threat remains. The country continues joint exercises with Russia, is developing its military infrastructure, and is assisting the occupiers, particularly by providing technical equipment for Russian drones.
According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov: “Ukraine is currently negotiating a production license for the SCALP long-range missile.” “The issue was discussed during Zelensky’s visit to France. Negotiations with the French government and the missile manufacturer are currently underway.
Poland will not transfer MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine because Kiev refused to hand over production and anti-drone technology to Warsaw, Polish Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz told Polsat: “The Ukrainians initially agreed, but they failed to fulfill their obligations, so there will be no MiGs for Ukraine, since Poland has neither drones nor the capacity to operate them.”
From Russia, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov announced the implementation of artificial intelligence in air defense systems and the creation of squadrons with FPV interceptors. According to TASS, the minister made these statements during a meeting with military correspondents. Belousov noted that Russian drones already use AI for image recognition, automatic target acquisition, and navigation. The implementation of AI technologies in air defense systems is expected to be completed by November.
The minister also announced that Russia is actively deploying mobile fire teams armed with interceptor drones. He stated that all troop groups in the SVO zone have developed a multi-layered defense system against enemy drones and that the effectiveness of unmanned systems is approximately three times higher than that of conventional units.
At a press conference, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated: “The dynamics at the front give hope that the objectives of the State Security Organization (OSS) will be achieved. Lukashenko did not convey any message from Zelensky to Putin.
Russia has begun installing weapons on its oil tankers, which could deter European countries from intercepting ships carrying oil and LNG subject to sanctions, the Times reported. Two heavy machine guns were spotted on the deck of the Marshal Vasilevsky, one of Russia’s main LNG tankers, likely to protect it from drones and boarding attempts. Patrick Bolder, a defense expert at the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague, said this was a warning to NATO: “Do not attempt to board our ships, because that could provoke a war.” The intelligence expert noted that arming a ship like the Marshal Vasilevsky could prevent European countries from boarding any ship in the “shadow fleet.”
The problem of supplying gasoline and diesel for the vehicles remains. Restrictions continue in at least 18 regions of Russia. In the gardening community of In Slavyansk-na-Kubani, where an oil refinery is burning after a drone strike, the permissible soot level in the air has been exceeded, according to the district emergency service. A temporary power outage has been implemented in several districts of Sevastopol until 9:00 PM, Governor Razvozzhaev announced: “This measure is necessary. It is essential to eliminate overloading of power grids outside our region to prevent a collapse of the entire electricity system.”
“Russia is negotiating with other countries about the possible import of petroleum products,” presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “This will be a further step toward market stabilization, aimed at reducing this peak in demand,” Peskov said.
Vladimir Putin attended the farewell ceremony for Sergei Ivanov, former Russian defense minister, at the Central Clinical Hospital, laying flowers and speaking briefly with his family, according to Dmitry Peskov.
Finally, according to a report from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service: “Kiev is intensifying cooperation with major Mexican drug cartels.”
And now a look at the front line, updated at 3:30 PM on June 30. Over 50 drones were shot down overnight as they approached Moscow. Intense air strikes hit the Zaporizhia region and Drones were shot down in the Smolensk and Kaluga regions. In Crimea, Air strikes are continuing, damage to power grids is being repaired, and scheduled power outages are in effect. In Novorossiysk, a military alert has been issued for IBEC: Ukrainians are attempting to attack the naval base.
Russian forces have carried out attacks in Sumy (with reports of power outages), Kremenchuk, and the Kharkiv region.
In the Sumy region, in the Shostka district, attack aircraft from the Sever Group of Forces continue to fire small arms in and around Bachivsk. In the Sumy district, small arms fire continues in Pysarivka, Marine, the village of Novaya Sich, and the village of Khotin.
In the Belgorod region, seven people were injured in several drone strikes and a missile attack. Numerous villages are under constant Ukrainian attack.
In the Kharkiv district, the Northern Group of Forces continues its offensive in the village of Kozakha Lopan. In the Vovchansk district, fighting continues in the villages of Losivka, Ukrains’ke, Zemlyanyi Yar, and in wooded areas. In the Velykyi Burluk sector, clashes continue in wooded areas near the villages of Budarky and Zemlyanky.
Fighting continues in and around Kupyansk. Further south, Russian forces are approaching the Oskil River, but not at the pace reported in their social sphere.
In Lyman, the assault on the city continues. Fighting is taking place house-to-house.
In the direction of Slovyansk, Russian forces, supported by Rai-Oleksandrivka, are advancing westward, tightening the encirclement at Orikhuvatka.
The assault on Kostyantynivka continues, and Ukrainian forces are responding with drone strikes. Attention is focused on this area, as the objectives of the summer offensive are being pursued. However, a heavy assault is underway, as is the case along the entire front, with small groups infiltrating the city.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, soldiers of the Transbaikalian Army of the Vostok Group of Forces have taken control of the village of Bohodarivka. The Ukrainians are organizing counterattacks.
In the eastern Zaporizhia region, the capture of Novoselivka by the Vostok Group of Forces represents a continuation of the advance from Huliaipilske. This area opens The path to further advances westward, towards Yehorivka and Omelnyk, and increased pressure on the northern flank of the Ukrainian defense lines.
Graziella Giangiulio
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