Europe tightens screws on Russia, Ukraine taps Umerov for key national security role

EU ambassadors agree on new sanctions against Russia

Ambassadors of EU member states have agreed on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. This new round includes, among other measures, lowering the price cap on Russian oil exports.

The new sanctions package will:

• target 105 vessels of the Russian shadow fleet and their facilitators;

• further restrict Russian banks' access to financing;

• ban the operation of the Nord Stream pipelines;

• introduce a lower oil price floor;

• increase pressure on Russia’s military-industrial complex and Chinese banks;

• block exports of technologies used in drones (UAVs);

• impose restrictions on Rosneft's largest oil refinery in India and individuals involved in propaganda targeting Ukrainian children.

According to Reuters, citing unnamed diplomats, the G7 price cap on Russian crude oil will be lowered to $47.60 per barrel under the new sanctions.

Former defense minister Umerov gets new post

Rustem Umerov has been appointed Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (RNBO). Previously, he served as the Minister of Defense.

Before Umerov, the RNBO Secretary was Oleksandr Lytvynenko, appointed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 26 last year. Lytvynenko had earlier led the Foreign Intelligence Service since July 23, 2021, and from April 4, 2014, to August 13, 2019, he served as Deputy Secretary of the RNBO.

On July 18, Zelenskyy issued a decree dismissing Lytvynenko from his post, and with a separate decree, appointed Umerov as his replacement.

Russian saboteurs attempt attack on Pokrovsk but are eliminated

According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, a group of Russian saboteurs tried to enter Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, on July 18. However, Ukrainian forces neutralized them.

"The enemy continues to use small infantry group tactics, but they are powerless in their attempts to capture Pokrovsk. Today, an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group attempted to break into the city but was detected and destroyed by Ukrainian defenders. Our Pokrovsk continues to hold the line with resilience," Syrskyi emphasized.

Erdogan urges Putin to resume talks with Ukraine

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Among other things, they discussed the possibility of hosting a new round of Ukraine-Russia delegation talks in Istanbul.

More on the Erdogan-Putin negotiations can be found in the RBC-Ukraine article.

Digital minister Fedorov announces government version of DOGE

Ukraine’s government plans to launch an analog of Elon Musk’s internal cost-saving department, DOGE, aimed at reducing expenses.

"I plan to launch an analog of DOGE for several projects. We urgently need to cut expenses and evaluate efficiency. I’ll be looking for someone to lead this effort," said Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

Shmyhal announces date of next Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting

Ukraine's Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that a new Ukraine Defense Contact Group online meeting will take place on Monday, July 21.

He added that, besides the talks, he will be holding discussions with the defense ministers of the G7 countries soon.

"Ramstein (Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting - ed.) on Monday will be more technical and coordination-focused," the defense minister said.

Ukrainian intelligence hackers deal serious blow to Russian Gazprom

The Cyber Unit of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) has carried out a major cyberattack on the network infrastructure of Gazprom, the Russian energy giant involved in supporting Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.

As a result of the cyberattack, Gazprom's network infrastructure suffered serious damage, including the destruction of large volumes of databases and the installation of special software.

During the operation:

• access to Gazprom's information system was cut off for around 20,000 system administrators;

• software was installed on company servers that will continue to destroy Gazprom's data.

In addition, the following were destroyed:

• backup copies of Gazprom's information system data;

• databases of about 390 Gazprom subsidiaries and branches, including Gazprom Teplo Energo, Gazprom Obl Energo, Gazprom Energosbyt, and hundreds of others;

• data from 1C server clusters (10 extremely high-performance servers) along with all files (contracts, orders, directives) of Gazprom and its subsidiaries;

• data from auxiliary systems (data protection, server control, administration, and more);

• databases of pipeline analytics systems, valves, sensors, pumps, and other components. Servers responsible for SCADA system analytics—which manage technical infrastructure—were deleted;

• operating systems on accessible servers, with BIOS systems damaged (servers do not boot and will require physical intervention to restore functionality).