Contemporary history

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

At least 18 dead after Russians hit a mall in Kremenchuk

The death toll from a strike at a shopping center in the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk has reached 18, with 59 injured.

NATO leaders are set to approve the alliance's new strategic concept this week, with a huge increase in rapid reaction force.

In addition to doubling the forces that will be deployed in Eastern Europe in the context of the war in Ukraine, the number of troops that can be deployed in a high readiness for rapid response is also increasing: from 40,000 to "well over" 300,000.

Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as G-7 leaders discussed new sanctions against Russia in Germany. To the east, the battle continued in the city of Lysychansk, the last major Ukrainian-controlled city in the Luhansk region.

The head of the military intelligence service of Ukraine stated that the middle of August will be the turning point of the war, when they will start liberating the eastern part of the country.

The Group of Seven economic powers are set to commit themselves to supporting Ukraine in the long haul, with the U.S. preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kiev, as leaders meet in the German Alps and confer by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Explosions were heard in Kyiv, attacks continue all over the country

Four explosions were heard in Kyiv early this morning. In a residential complex near the city center, there is a fire and thick gray smoke rises.

A Russian administration official was killed in Kherson, Ukraine.
The leaders of the European Union granted Ukraine and Moldova the announced status of official candidates for joining the European bloc, which is a brave geopolitical step that Kyiv and the EU itself welcomed as a "historic moment".

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

A hidden mobilization is underway in Mariupol, the young people are being sent to "Putlerjugend"

Andrei Soldatov - one of the best experts in the media on what is happening in the Russian secret services, was advised not to travel to Bulgaria because the country is too close to Moscow for him to feel safe.

According to the Russian-language newspaper "Meduza" other similar countries whose borders it is not advisable to cross are Hungary, Serbia, Turkey and Armenia.

Russia has summoned the European Union's ambassador today in open anger at the suspension on Saturday of the transit of sanctioned goods through Lithuania to the Russian Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, world news agencies reported.

Russia called the measure an "illegal blockade" and threatened retaliation against Lithuania, Reuters reported.