31 July 2025
Columns
Words of support from a free land: A letter to a peer in occupation from a ninth-grader in the Chernihiv region
ZMINA publishes a letter from a competition participant, Yaroslav Horovyi, a student in the 9th grade at Nizhyn Gymnasium No. 9 in the Chernihiv region
Remember Munich and Yalta – ensure history does not repeat
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Kataryna Maternová has issued a direct appeal to democratic leaders, arguing that any peace agreement negotiated without Ukraine's participation would reward the aggressor and repeat historical mistakes
While missiles hit Kyiv, the OSCE throws itself a birthday party
Today, one OSCE member state – Russia, assisted by another member, Belarus – has systematically violated every single Helsinki principle
News
Russian forces kill unarmed elderly civilian man in Donetsk Oblast – Ukrainian forces
The Ukrainian forces pointed out that the man was clearly dressed in civilian clothes and was unarmed
Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia kills 1 and wounds 30 including 3 children
Russian forces launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine on the night of August 30, with attacks targeting Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, and the Volyn Oblast
Russian attack on Kyiv kills 25, including four children and injures at least 52 people
Russians destroyed a five-storey residential building in the south-eastern Darnytskyi district on Kyiv's left bank
Russian shelling kills three on Ukraine’s Independence Day
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, more than 13,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine. The number of civilian casualties has continued to rise this summer, a trend that began last year as the Russian army increasingly used indiscriminate weapons and changed its attack tactics
Russian attacks kill nine Ukrainians on August 20
Amid discussions about a potential peace settlement in Ukraine, Russian forces have intensified their shelling, leading to a sharp increase in civilian casualties of the war. In some regions, the number of attacks has reportedly increased tenfold
Man killed in Russian drone attack on civilian car in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Russia used guided aerial bombs and drones to strike the Mezhova and Novopavlivka hromadas in the Synelnykove District, damaging residential buildings, a gas pipeline, and infrastructure facilities
In Kharkiv region, Russian military killed an elderly family by targeting their car with a drone
The attack by Russians killed the 70-year-old driver and his 71-year-old passenger
Over the past day, Russian shelling killed at least eight Ukrainians
At least eight civilians were killed and more than 50 others were injured as a result of Russian military attacks across the Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions on August 18, 2025
Civilian man killed in Russian drone attack in Chernihiv Oblast
According to Chaus, the drones also damaged infrastructure. Some settlements lost power, and power engineers and emergency workers are working to restore it
Russian soldier shot dead civilian in the Donetsk Oblast
Law enforcement officials are carrying out urgent investigative actions to establish all the circumstances of the event and to identify the Russian military personnel involved in the commission of the crime
Nighttime shelling by Russian forces: seven killed in Kharkiv, including two children (updating)
Russian military killed at least five civilians and injured 18 others in Kharkiv on August 17, 2025
Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia kills teen, wounds two children and four adults
The family's home was destroyed in the attack. Houses located nearby were also damaged
President of Ukraine rejects Putin’s demand to cede all of Donetsk Oblast – Reuters
According to the source of Reuters news agency, Trump told Zelenskyy that Putin proposed to "freeze most front lines" in return for Ukraine giving Russia all of the Donetsk Oblast
No peace decisions without Ukraine’s participation – MFA of Ukraine
The MFA said negotiations would only make sense after Ukraine and Russia reach a ceasefire
Russian drone attacks in Sumy Oblast kill 1 and injure another civilian
The Ukrainian Air Force reported downing more than 60 of the drones, but impacts from missiles and UAVs were recorded in at least 13 locations. The military's summary included hits in the Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions, though not all regions reported on the consequences immediately
Ignoring citizens of Ukraine in occupied territories during negotiations with occupying power risks “catastrophic” crisis – joint statement of human rights NGOs
In recent weeks, the world has once again been discussing the prospect of a possible ceasefire on the battlefield of the Russian-Ukrainian war. This time, the political negotiations, which are usually rather secretive, are accompanied by conflicting reports in the media, human rights NGO pointed out
Moscow must not be rewarded with territory for its aggression – top European parliamentarians on Alaska meeting
The statement urges the leaders of the free world to reach a ceasefire agreement "that serves the best interests of freedom-loving people throughout the democratic world."
Putin isn’t seeking peace that’s why Alaska meeting won’t change that – ISW expert
Barros commented on expectations surrounding the Trump-Putin summit scheduled for August 15 and ISW's recent assessments that the Kremlin is trying to use the meeting to sow discord between the U.S. and Europe
Russians hits Zaporizhzhia bus hub, injuring 23 civilians (updated)
The second strike hit the university clinic of Zaporizhzhia Medical University. No one was injured there, but the attacks damaged the healthcare facility buildings
Russian strikes on Kharkiv Oblast kill 1,wound 3 women
A 64-year-old man stepped on an unidentified explosive device in Kupiansk. Medics took him to a medical facility in Kharkiv for treatment
Ukraine will not allow Russia a ‘second attempt’ to divide its territory – Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy said that contacts with the American side regarding efforts to end the war "are ongoing almost around-the-clock at various levels, and we do not make everything public."
Russian drone attack on Kherson minibus kills 2, wounds 16
The Kherson District Prosecutor's Office opened a pre-trial investigation into a war crime that led to deaths (Article 438.2 of Ukraine's Criminal Code)
Russians attacked a child with a drone in Kherson
Doctors treated the boy at a hospital and provided all necessary assistance
Europe cannot be sidelined in Ukraine peace process – Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy also said his government coordinates with European leaders "on our talks and meetings to align all positions, and also on the work each of us is doing with other leaders to defend Europe's positions."
76% of Ukrainians reject Russian “peace terms” – poll
KIIS conducted the poll from July 23 to August 4, 2025, using telephone interviews in all regions of Ukraine under the Ukrainian government's control. Researchers interviewed 1,022 respondents aged 18 and older living in government-controlled Ukraine
Russian soldier shoots dead an Ukrainian civilian evacuating with suitcase in the Donetsk Oblast
Prosecutors noted that this is the third documented case this year of Russian troops executing civilians in the Donetsk Oblast
Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia recreation base kills two, injures 12, including children
Fedorov reported that medics took nine people to a hospital, including two children
The Council of Europe, the EU and 38 countries called on Russia to return the kidnapped Ukrainian children without delay and any conditions
The International Coalition’s Statement sends a clear and united message from the international community: Russia must return the Ukrainian children without delay or conditions
Imposing neutrality on Ukraine contradicts international law – scholars
According to Valeriy Chalyy, Chairman of the Board of the Ukraine Crisis Media Center, the issue of imposing neutrality on Ukraine by the aggressor country is carried over from one document produced by Moscow to another. Consequently, this issue features in negotiations and media narratives
Morning Russian shelling in Sumy Oblast killed two people and injured others
Emergency services are currently working at the scene. Search and rescue teams are conducting an ongoing operation
In Kharkiv region, two people killed in Russian shelling at night, 10 more were injured (updated)
In its morning report, the Ukrainian Air Force stated it had neutralized 29 of the drones but confirmed hits at 17 locations
Russian drone strike kills two civilians on moped in Kharkiv Oblast
Investigators have opened criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which pertains to war crimes
Russia kills 3, destroys momes in Zaporizhzhia Oblast strikes
The Zaporizhzhia Oblast constantly suffers from Russian shelling
Russia kills child, 12, in attack on village in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast, another teenager fights for life
Russia attacked the Svesa hromada at around 14:30 on August 2, 2025, affecting two boys who were near the scene
Russian forces strike Kherson again, killing a man and a woman; others injured
A Russian attack on Kherson's Korabelnyi District fatally injured a 68-year-old woman. The same attack wounded two others: a 41-year-old man who sustained blast trauma and multiple injuries to his torso and limbs, while a 79-year-old man also suffered blast trauma
