Ukrainian army

Russian forces have taken control of two front-line villages in eastern Donetsk region following persistent attacks, which are part of the Kremlin's summer offensive aimed at breaking through battlefield defenses, according to a Ukrainian army sergeant, as reported by the Associated Press.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Brigadier General Andriy Khnatov as the new commander of the combined armed forces defending the eastern region of Donetsk. This change follows the dismissal of Lieutenant General Yuriy Sodol, who faced criticism for significant military failures.

Overnight, Russian forces launched multiple groups of Shahed kamikaze drones towards western Ukraine, according to reports from the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This prompted an air alert in several regions across the western and southern parts of the country.

In February 2024, Russia confirmed that a Ukrainian missile shot down a Russian A-50 "flying radar" over the Krasnodar Territory. This incident led to the in absentia arrest of a Ukrainian army colonel, whom Russian authorities suspect of ordering the attack on February 23. The downing resulted in the deaths of 10 crew members.

Western army instructors who train Ukrainian soldiers in the country would have no "immunity" from Russian strikes, the Kremlin said yesterday, amid reports that France could dispatch military trainers to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday urged his Nordic allies to supply his struggling military with more weapons, and denounced Russian border "provocations" in the Baltic region.

Zelensky has been touring European capitals in recent days to appeal for more military aid for the Ukrainian army, which has been ceding ground to relentless Russian attacks in recent weeks.

Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of soldiers, prompting the government to intensify efforts to enlist men into military service. With the Ukrainian army drained after two years of conflict, including desertions and a lack of volunteers, the mobilization law recently enacted aims to address these challenges.

The commander of the Ukrainian army, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, has signed documents authorizing French military instructors to visit Ukrainian training centers soon. This initiative, driven by a French proposal, aims to enhance cooperation and support between the two countries' military forces.

Russia said Wednesday that its forces had retaken Klishchiivka, one of a handful of villages on the eastern front that Ukraine claimed back in a 2023 counteroffensive.

Russia's forces have in recent weeks made their biggest territorial gains in the war-battered east in the last 18 months as Ukraine waits for desperately-needed U.S. and European weapon supplies.

NATO appears to be on the verge of sending troops to Ukraine, according to a report by the New York Times. The troops will train Ukrainian soldiers, a move expected to deepen US and European involvement in the conflict.