Possible transfer of first F-16s to Ukraine and elimination of Hamas leader - Wednesday brief
RBC-Ukraine collage
Ukraine could have received its first F-16 fighters from the allies. Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran.
Read more about what happened on Wednesday, July 31.
Ukraine receives first batch of F-16 fighters from allies - Bloomberg
The first batch of American F-16 fighters has likely arrived in Ukraine. The exact number remains unknown, Bloomberg reports.
According to sources cited by the news agency, allies initially planned to deliver the first batch of F-16s to Ukraine by the end of July, and that deadline was met.
Hamas leader killed in Tehran
The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas has lost one of its top leaders. Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran after he attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Read more about the assassination in the RBC-Ukraine article.
Massive drone attack on Ukraine: Air Force shoots down all enemy Shaheds
On the night of July 31, Russians carried out a massive attack on the Kyiv region using a Kh-59 guided aerial missile and 89 Shahed strike drones.
The Russians launched the drones from the areas of Yeysk, Seshcha, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. This is one of the most massive Shahed-131/136 drone attacks since the New Year’s Eve attack on January 1, 2024.
Ukraine's intelligence completes major cyberattack on Russian financial sector
Ukrainian intelligence carried out a massive cyberattack on Russia's financial sector and government resources. The attack lasted for a week.
Sources in Ukrainian intelligence report that the attack lasted continuously for a week and affected the online services of all major Russian banks, including the Central Bank, telecommunications service providers, national payment systems, social networks and messengers, government resources, and dozens of other services.
Ukraine’s intelligence strikes Russian airbase in Syria, sources
Ukrainian special forces attacked a Russian air base in Syria. This happened after a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to sources in Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.
At the end of July, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine conducted a special operation to attack the Russian Army's Kuweyres airfield, located east of Aleppo.
The complex strike was carried out by the fighters of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine of the Khimik group.
Ukraine will not lift sanctions against Russian Lukoil, Prime Minister explains reason
Ukraine has no intentions of lifting sanctions against the Russian company Lukoil. The imposed restrictions do not pose a threat to the energy security of Slovakia or other European countries, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
"The sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine do not pose a threat to the energy security of Slovakia and Europe as a whole, which is why their removal is not up for discussion. We have full understanding from Brussels on this matter," Shmyhal said.
Zelenskyy answers whether Ukraine can start peace talks without full Russian withdrawal
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia within the framework of the second Peace Summit may begin even if the Russian forces have not yet withdrawn their troops from all Ukrainian territory by that time, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with French media.
He clarifies that such a scenario of fully restoring territorial integrity before the negotiations is just. However, this does not mean it is achievable solely with the help of weapons.
