Ukraine-Russia war - latest updates (2024)

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  • Everything you need to know as war enters new week
  • Your questions answered:Could internal dissent lead to Putin's removal from power?|Has the West been honest about Ukraine's failures?

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12:42:20

Big picture: What you need to know as war enters new week

It's been another big week in the conflict, with world leaders met for a NATO summit and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to the UK to attend a European Political Community meeting.

We haven't been able to bring you live coverage today, but here's an overview of where the war stands at the moment to kick off the new week...

Secret labs across Ukraine building 'robot army' to fight Russia

Ukraine is hoping to assemble swathes of cheap, unmanned drones that it hopes will kill Russian troops and save its own wounded soldiers and civilians.

An ecosystem of laboratories in hundreds of secret workshops across Ukraine are building this robot army at a fraction of the cost it takes to import similar models.

Estimates believe around 250 defence startups across the country are creating the killing machines at secret locations that typically look like rural car repair shops.

Costing around $35,000 (£27,000) to build, employees at startups like those run by entrepreneur Andrii Denysenko can put together an unmanned ground vehicle called the Odyssey in four days from a shed.

The 800kg Odyssey prototype can travel up to 18.5 miles (30km) on one charge of a battery the size of a small beer cooler.

It acts as a rescue and supply drone but can be modified to carry a remotely operated heavy machine gun or sling mine-clearing charges.

Russia and China conclude naval drills

Russian and Chinese ships used joint naval exercises in the South China Sea last week to successfully rehearse several combat drills, Russian state media reports.

Russia's Pacific Fleet was cited as saying that the two navies had carried out about 30 combat exercises, including joint artillery firing at sea, coastal and air targets, and joint search and rescue operations at sea.

The drills, dubbed "Maritime Cooperation 2024", have now concluded.

China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership in 2022 when President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing just days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.

Russia's Kharkiv advance halted, Zelenskyy says

While speaking at the European Political Community summit, Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had halted Moscow's forces completely in Kharkiv.

The Ukrainian president made the comment while trying to convince leaders to help with Kyiv's air defence capability.

"We have stopped the Russian advance on Kharkiv - period," he said.

"Putin has sacrificed tens of thousands of his citizens but has achieved nothing significant," he added.

Russia launched a surprise attack on Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region in May, opening up another front for Ukraine to defend.

Trump and Zelenskyy have 'very good phone call'

On Friday, Donald Trump and Mr Zelenskyy had a "very good phone call", according to the former US president, after he promised to end Russia's war with Ukraine if he was re-elected.

Mr Zelenskyy "congratulated me on a very successful Republican National Convention and becoming the Republican nominee for President of the United States", he said in a post on the social media app Truth Social.

The pair agreed to "discuss at a personal meeting what steps can make peace fair and truly lasting", according to Mr Zelenskyy in a post on X.

16:00:01

We're pausing our live coverage

That's all for our live updates on the war in Ukraine for today.

We'll be back tomorrow with all the latest.

In the meantime, here's a reminder of today's key events:

  • Ukraine said Russia was "testing new tactics" after it launched its fifth drone attack on Kyiv in two weeks;
  • Russian fighter jets stopped two US strategic bombers from violating the country's airspace, Moscow's defence ministry said;
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated calls for countries to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons after Russia's overnight drone and missile attack;
  • Russian state media reported Moscow's troops had captured two settlements in Ukraine - Rozivka, in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, and Pishchane Nizhne in the northeastern Kharkiv region;
  • Russian forces launched a "double tap" attack on first responders in Sumy, the Ukrainian state emergency service said;
  • Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko warned the Ukrainian president faces "a very difficult" time in the coming months.

15:30:01

Ukraine working on AI-enabled war drones

Ukraine is developing AI systems to help fly a vast fleet of drones.

A number of startups in the country are working to roll out AI-enabled drones across the front line in the hope of overcoming Russia's unmanned aerial vehicle power.

Swarmer is developing software that links drones in a network, allowing decisions to beimplemented instantly across the group.

"For a swarm of 10 or 20 drones or robots, it's virtually impossible for humans to manage them," Swarmer chief executive Serhiy Kupriienko told Reuters.

The company is one of more than 200 tech firms that have sprung up since the war started.

Mr Kupriienko said that while human pilots struggle to run operations involving more than five drones, AI will be able to process hundreds.

The system, called Styx, directs a web of reconnaissance and strike drones, both large and small, in the air and on the
ground.

Every drone would be able to plan its own moves and predict the behaviour of the others in the swarm, he explained.

Swarmer's technology is still under development and has only
been trialled on the battlefield experimentally, he added.

15:00:01

Two photojournalists injured after coming under fire

Two Ukrainian photojournalists have been injured after coming under Russian fire.

Olga Kovalyova and Vladyslav Krasnoshchok had been documenting the situation in Donetsk from a trench near the front line when they came under attack.

Ms Kovalyova, who works for the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP), was evacuated and hospitalised after being hit by shrapnel, the organisation said.

"I was saved by a bulletproof vest and a helmet. The shrapnel got to a place where there was no protection," Ms Kovalyova said, according to UAPP's statement.

"It's a pity that it happened on the first day of the business trip."

Mr Krasnoshchok suffered a concussion but did not require hospital treatment, it added.

14:24:48

Zelenskyy facing 'very difficult' time and risks 'political suicide', says Klitschko

Volodymyr Zelenskyy will face a "very difficult" time over the coming months, the mayor of Kyiv has warned.

Speaking to Italian news outletCorriere della Sera, Vitaliy Klitschko said the Ukrainian president will have to make hard decisions that could lead to "political suicide".

He warned that Mr Zelenskyy may have to launch a referendum in Ukraine if a territorial compromise with Russia is put on the table.

"The coming months will be very difficult for Volodymyr Zelenskyy," he said.

"Will he have to continue the war with new deaths and destruction, or consider the possibility of a territorial compromise with Putin?"

"Whatever move he makes, our president risks political suicide. Let's be honest, we have to win the war, but the situation is getting more and more difficult. It depends on the help that comes from the allies. It would be a nightmare if we had to fight for two more years."

13:31:05

More than 270 Telegram channels targeted by Russian hackers

More than 270 Ukrainian Telegram channels have been hacked today, news outlets in the country have reported.

Hackers sent a message to Ukrainians telling them to "lay down their arms", according to Suspilne.

Messages also appeared accusing Volodymyr Zelenskyy of starting the war, it said.

In a Facebook post, Ukraine's state security service said the cyberattack was carried out by the Russian FleepBot service.

"On July 21, mass publication of messages of a provocative nature was recorded in a number of well-known Ukrainian Telegram channels that used the FleepBot software to post news," it wrote.

"We would like to once again emphasize the danger of using any software of the aggressor country."

FleepBot is a Telegram tool that allows users to schedule posts to go out automatically.

13:00:01

Russia launches 'double tap' attack on rescue workers

Russian forces have launched a "double tap" attack on first responders in Sumy, the Ukrainian state emergency service has said.

Emergency workers had been dealing with the aftermath of an overnight missile attack on the northeastern city when they came under fire.

They were extinguishing one of five fires at a residential building at the time, the service said.

No casualties have been reported.

The "double tap" tactic, which has been used by Russia throughout the war, sees an area come under a second attack shortly after an initial strike.

In several cases, the second attack has come while rescuers are trying to help those who have been injured.

In March, more than 20 people were killed in the southern city of Odesa in a "double tap" attack.

At the time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described it as a "despicable act of cowardice".

12:30:01

The 'new axis of powers' - how worried should we be?

By Lara Keay, news reporter

The establishment of the "axis powers" in the 1930s paved the way for the Second World War.

Agreements signed between Germany, Italy, and Japan in 1936 united them in their expansionist interests and hatred of Western allies.

Amid Russia's war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and China's repeated threats of invading Taiwan, some security and military analysts say we are on a similar path again and that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are the "new axis powers".

The last time a similar term was used was in 2002 by former US President George W Bush, describing Iran, Iraq, and North Korea, as an "axis of evil" in the wake of 9/11.

Ahead of a new UK defence review, former defence secretary and NATO leader Lord Robertson described Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea as a "deadly quartet".

There have also been warnings more than one of them risks triggering a third world war within the next five years.

Here Sky News looks at the risk they pose and how it could affect life in the UK...

12:00:01

Donetsk residents left without water, says Ukrainian organisation

People living in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region have been left without water, a Ukrainian organisation has said.

The region was illegally annexed by Russia in 2022, but is not fully controlled by Moscow.

When Russian troops occupied the area, they attempted to build a pipeline to pump water from the River Don to the region.

But the Ukrainian Centre of National Resistance has said the pipeline has stopped working due to a power outage.

It claimed there had been ongoing issues with the system due to fighting in the region, but repairs have taken months and the situation has "worsened".

"Due to the power outage in Russia, the pumping stations of the newly built canal have failed, and the water supply has stopped completely," it said.

11:28:49

Russian troops capture two settlements in Ukraine - state media

Russian troops have captured two settlements in Ukraine, state media has reported.

The village of Rozivka, in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, and PishchaneNizhne in the northeastern Kharkiv region have both been taken, according to the reports.

TASS news agency said both villages were captured in one day.

It quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying: "As a result of successful actions, units of the West group of troops liberated the settlements of Rozivka in the Luhansk People's Republic and Pishchane Nizhne in the Kharkiv region, and also occupied more advantageous lines and positions."

Russia illegally annexed Luhansk and three other regions (Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia) in 2022.

The international community still recognises the areas as part of Ukraine.

Kharkiv has been one of Russia's targets since the early days of the war, but the region became more of a focal point in May when Moscow's forces launched a cross-border incursion.

Ukrainian officials have previously said the incursion had been contained, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the Kharkiv advance had been "halted" in an address to world leaders earlier this week.

Ukraine-Russia war - latest updates (2024)

FAQs

What is happening between Ukraine and Russia? ›

Ukraine faces twin challenges of fighting Russia and shifting political sands in the US. After almost 30 months of war with Russia, Ukraine's difficulties on the battlefield are mounting even as its vital support from the United States is increasingly at the mercy of changing political winds.

How many troops are in the Russia Ukraine war? ›

Ukraine has around 500,000 troops, including active-duty, reserve and paramilitary troops, according to analysts. By contrast, Russia has almost triple that number, with 1,330,000 active-duty, reserve and paramilitary troops — most of the latter from the Wagner Group.

What language is spoken in Ukraine? ›

The official language of Ukraine is Ukrainian, a Slavic language, which is spoken regularly by 88% of Ukraine's population at home in their personal life, and as high as 87% at work or study. It is followed by Russian which is spoken by 34% in their personal life.

Is there still fighting in Ukraine? ›

Fighting has been raging in Ukraine for two years since Russia's invasion, with Moscow's forces edging forwards in recent weeks after months of virtual stalemate. Here are the latest developments: Russian forces have made advances north and north-east of Kharkiv, the second biggest city in Ukraine.

Why do Russia and Ukraine not get along? ›

Relations between the two countries became hostile after the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, which was followed by Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, and the war in Donbas, in which Russia backed the separatist fighters of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic.

What is the name of the Ukraine president? ›

Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy (born 25 January 1978) is a Ukrainian politician and former entertainer who has been serving as the sixth president of Ukraine since 2019, including during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine ongoing since 2022.

How much land has Russia lost to Ukraine? ›

By 11 November 2022, the Institute for the Study of War calculated that Ukrainian forces had liberated an area of 74,443 km2 (28,743 sq mi) from Russian occupation, leaving Russia with control of about 18% of Ukraine's territory.

How strong is Russia's military compared to NATO? ›

Russia's military power

It has 1.32 million active military personnel, according to Statista, but only about 4,814 military aircraft compared with Nato's combined 22,308, and 781 military ships compared to Nato's 2,258.

How much do Russian soldiers get paid? ›

The starting wage for them is 160,000 roubles a month, ($1,792 or £1,408), which in Russia is seen as a good salary. It is around three-and-a-half times the national average, according to official Russian government figures. The average monthly wage earned by Russians is 71,419 roubles a month ($756 or £639).

What type of food do Ukrainians eat? ›

The most famous traditional Ukrainian dishes are borshch, varenyky, holubtsi, Chicken Kyiv, banosh, and syrnyky, and it surely is not an exhaustive list. Borshch (sometimes written as borsch, borsht, bortsch, or borshch) is a sour soup with distinctive red colour.

What religion is Ukraine? ›

In Ukraine the dominant religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity (over 88% of religious population) and about 15,8% of the religious population in Ukraine are Catholics (mostly in Western Ukraine). In addition, nearly 500,000 Muslims and 400,000 Jews are estimated to live in Ukraine.

How do Ukrainians say "hi"? ›

The most popular phrase is “pryvit” – which is the equivalent of “hi” or “hello” in Ukrainian.

How safe is Kyiv? ›

Is Kyiv safe right now? Kyiv is not considered a completely safe city due to the constant threat of rocket attacks from Russia. However, many foreign tourists continue to visit the capital of Ukraine.

Why did Russia invade Ukraine? ›

Putin said the operation was to "protect the people" of the Russian-controlled breakaway republics. He falsely claimed that they had "been facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by the Kyiv regime."

Does Russia own Crimea? ›

The Soviet fleet in Crimea was also in contention, but a 1997 treaty allowed Russia to continue basing its fleet in Sevastopol. In 2014, the peninsula was occupied by Russian forces and annexed by Russia, but most countries recognise Crimea as Ukrainian territory.

What is the dispute between Ukraine and Russia? ›

The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014. Following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, Russia occupied and annexed Crimea from Ukraine and supported pro-Russian separatists fighting the Ukrainian military in the Donbas War. These first eight years of conflict also included naval incidents and cyberwarfare.

When did the Ukraine and Russia war start? ›

When did Ukraine gain independence? ›

Ukraine became independent when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. This started a period of transition to a market economy, in which Ukraine suffered an eight-year recession. Subsequently however, the economy experienced a high increase in GDP growth until it plunged during the Great Recession.

When did the Russian Revolution start? ›

The February Revolution (known as such because of Russia's use of the Julian calendar until February 1918) began on March 8, 1917 (February 23 on the Julian calendar). Demonstrators clamoring for bread took to the streets of Petrograd.

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