Australia has delivered its first tranche of M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a £119m package to help Kyiv in its war against Russia.
Ukraine has taken possession of most of the 49 tanks and the rest have been lined up for delivery in the coming months, said defence minister Richard Marles.
"The M1A1 Abrams tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion," he said.
As the war continues, Russian forces staged a mass drone attack on the Black Sea port of Odesa early on Saturday, setting ablaze at least one multistorey apartment building and killing one resident.
Mayor Hennady Trukhanov said the number of injured were being counted. He said earlier that at least 20 drones had converged on the city, a frequent target of Russian attacks.
Meanwhile, Kyiv’s European allies have welcomed the EU’s 18th sanctions package targeting Moscow’s oil and gas industry.
French president Emmanuel Macron said the package was “unprecedented”.
When asked about the sanctions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia had built a certain immunity to Western sanctions and adapted to them.
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Key Points
- Russian drone attack kills one in Odesa
- Australia delivers Abrams tanks to Ukraine
- Zelensky says he and Trump are considering a drone 'mega-deal'
- EU agrees its 'strongest yet' 18th sanctions package against Russia
- Ukraine welcomes EU sanctions, 'more to be done': new PM
How the EU aims to put the squeeze on the Russian economy?
07:18
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine targets Moscow’s energy and financial sectors to limit its ability to fund war in Ukraine.
Key measures include a lower oil price cap, Nord Stream transaction ban, more shadow fleet sanctions, and a full ban on Russian bank deals.
“We are striking at the heart of Russia's war machine,” EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X.
The measures are intended to ramp up pressure on Russia amid flagging peace negotiations, as well as targeting companies and countries that allow Moscow to evade existing sanctions.
More here.
In pics: People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian drone strike
07:00
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
UK sanctions Russian spies who ‘targeted Britain'
06:30
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Britain has hit more than a dozen Russian spies with a wave of sanctions, targeting those it accused of running a “sustained campaign” of malicious activity against the UK.
The Foreign Office named 18 officers from Russian spy agency the GRU, as well as hitting three of its units with measures aimed at cracking down on Vladimir Putin’s increasing aggression abroad.
It said the military intelligence officers targeted were “responsible for spreading chaos and disorder on Putin’s orders”, and included those who had targeted the family of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.
Archie Mitchell reports.
Germany's Merz casts doubt on Ukraine's EU entry by 2034
05:59
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
German chancellor Friedrich Merz yesterday cast doubt on the possibility of Ukraine joining the European Union by 2034, saying accession was unlikely to come at a point affecting the bloc's medium-term finance plans, which run to 2034.
"For us, the absolute top priority is, first and foremost, to do everything possible to end this war," Merz said after a meeting with Romanian president Nicușor Dan in Berlin.
"Then we'll talk about the reconstruction of Ukraine... but that's going to take a number of years ... It will probably not even affect the EU's current medium-term financial outlook," the chancellor said.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in Kyiv in February that Ukraine could join the EU before 2030 if the country continues reforms at the current speed and quality.
EU leaders have also said accession to the EU would be the most important security guarantee for the future of Ukraine.
In pic: Ukrainian air defences deployed against Russian drones
05:36
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Condoleezza Rice says Trump's new stance on Putin could be a 'turning point'
05:31
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Condoleezza Rice, the former US secretary of state, said she believed last week was a "turning point" in the US and European stance towards Ukraine and Russia, which could potentially end the war.
Ms Rice said US president Donald Trump "is angry with Putin because he has, in effect, made the president look bad".
Speaking at the annual Aspen Security Forum, Ms Rice added: “I think the best news that we could possibly give to the Ukrainian people is that the United States and Europe have finally aligned around the idea that Vladimir Putin will not be stopped with words. He will only be stopped if he believes that he can go no further, he can win no further."
UK to join EU's price cap on Russian crude oil
05:26
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The UK has announced it would join the price cap move on Russian crude, saying it would deal a blow to Moscow's oil revenues used to finance the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
"The UK and its EU allies are turning the screw on the Kremlin's war chest by stemming the most valuable funding stream of its illegal war in Ukraine even further," British finance minister Rachel Reeves said at a G20 meeting in South Africa.
The EU yesterday agreed an 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, including measures aimed at dealing further blows to the Russian oil and energy industry.
The EU will set a moving price cap on Russian crude at 15 per cent below its average market price, EU diplomats said, aiming to improve on a largely ineffective $60 cap that the Group of Seven major economies have tried to impose since December 2022.
"The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X.
"We will keep raising the costs, so stopping the aggression becomes the only path forward for Moscow."
Russia 'intercepts Ukrainian drones' headed for Moscow
04:51
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russian air defences intercepted drones heading for Moscow in a series of attacks, mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.
Mr Sobyanin said 13 drones had been downed or destroyed after midnight, but made no mention of casualties or damages. He said specialists were examining fragments where they had landed.
A tally of his posts showed 10 more drones were intercepted or destroyed in the previous 11 hours.
Russia's defence ministry on Telegram said its air defence units had downed 87 Ukrainian drones in different areas across central, western and southern Russia in a period of nearly five hours. Forty-eight of the drones were downed in Bryansk region, on the Ukrainian border.
The acting governor of Rostov region, on Ukraine's eastern border, said Ukrainian drones had triggered fires or knocked down power lines in a number of districts.
In pic: Russian drone strikes apartment in Odesa
04:24
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Australia delivers Abrams tanks to Ukraine
04:10
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The Australian government this morning said it delivered M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a A$245m ($160m) package to help the country defend itself against Russia in their ongoing war.
Australia, one of the largest non-Nato contributors to Ukraine, has been supplying aid, ammunition and defence equipment since Moscow invaded its neighbour in February 2022.
Ukraine has taken possession of most of the 49 tanks given by Australia, and the rest will be delivered in coming months, said defence minister Richard Marles.
The "M1A1 Abrams tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion," Mr Marles said in a statement.
The tanks formed part of the A$1.5bn ($980m) that Canberra has provided Ukraine in the conflict, the government said.
Australia has also banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, including bauxite, to Russia, and has sanctioned about 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.
Russian drone attack kills one in Odesa
04:02
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
At least one person has been killed in a Russian drone attack on Odesa, the governor said.
"The enemy launched a massive attack on Odesa with strike drones. Despite the active work of our air defense forces, there is damage to civilian infrastructure," Odesa Oblast governor Oleh Kiper said early this morning on Telegram.
"All authorized services have started working on eliminating the consequences of the attack. Information regarding casualties is being clarified," Mr Kiper said.
In full: How the EU aims to put the squeeze on the Russian economy with new sanctions package
03:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
EU’s 18th sanctions package against Moscow explained:
UK says sanctioned more than 20 Russian spies, hackers and agencies
03:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Britain on Friday said it had sanctioned more than 20 Russian spies, hackers and agencies over what it called a “sustained campaign of malicious cyber activity” to destabilise Europe.
The foreign ministry said it was sanctioning three units of the Russian military intelligence GRU agency and 18 of its officers, including those it said were involved in targeting strikes against Mariupol during the war in Ukraine, and spying on former agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia before they were targeted in a Novichok poisoning in 2018.
Poland welcomes EU sanctions against Russia
02:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Poland welcomes the 18th EU sanctions package against Russia.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@PolandMFA) July 18, 2025
Initiated under the Presidency of the Council of the EU and concluded by the Danish, this package hits Russia’s war machine with powerful sectoral measures and targeted individual listings.
Europe works together.
Russia warns it “does not accept threats” after Trump’s ultimatum
02:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Russia’s foreign ministry has said that Moscow "did not accept threats" after US president Donald Trump said he would give Moscow 50 days to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine or face sanctions.
Mr Trump announced on Monday a toughened stance against Russia over its war in Ukraine, setting out the ceasefire ultimatum and promising a fresh wave of missiles and other weaponry for Kyiv.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, said yesterday that Trump's decision to supply Ukraine with new missiles was a signal to "continue the slaughter" and a rejection of peace initiatives.
"An unprecedented number of sanctions and restrictions have been imposed on our country and our international partners. There are so many of them that we view the threat of new sanctions as mundane," Ms Zakharova said.
"The language of ultimatums, blackmail, and threats is unacceptable to us. We will take all necessary steps to ensure the security and protect the interests of our country,” she added.
Who are the key ministers in Ukraine's new government?
01:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Yulia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister
Economist who rose from deputy minister to economy minister and first deputy PM since 2019. Led talks with the US on minerals and reconstruction investment. Tasked with driving economic potential and ramping up arms production.
Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy PM
In charge of digital transformation, innovation, science and technology. Helped develop military tech through state-backed private sector projects.
Denys Shmyhal, Defence Minister
Former PM since 2020, now overseeing the merged defence and strategic industries ministry. Controls around 36 per cent of GDP spent on defence, with responsibility for weapon production and international arms cooperation.
Taras Kachka, Deputy PM for EU Integration
Former trade representative involved in talks with the U.S. on minerals and with the EU on agriculture trade.
Oleksii Sobolev, Minister for Economy, Environment and Agriculture
Heads a newly merged ministry vital to Ukraine’s export-led economy. Focused on new markets and recovery opportunities.
Svitlana Hrynchuk, Energy Minister
Previously ecology minister and deputy energy minister, with a background in energy policy and climate change.
Ukraine's new prime minister announces full audit of public spending
01:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Ukraine's newly appointed prime minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has said that her government would be launching a full audit of public finances to achieve "real savings" and that large-scale privatisations should be accelerated.
Ms Svyrydenko, who was voted in by parliament earlier in the day, said on X that her priorities in the role would be to ensure reliable supplies to the army and to expand domestic weapons production.
Zelensky appoints new security council head
Saturday 19 July 2025 00:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Ukraine's Zelensky has appointed former Defence Minister Umerov as Secretary of National Security and Defence Council, according to a decree posted Friday.
The council has a coordinating role on issues of national security and defence under the president and comprises the country's top political, security and defence chiefs.
EU sanctions target Russia's banking, energy, industry: von der Leyen
Saturday 19 July 2025 00:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
I welcome the agreement on our 18th sanctions package against Russia.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 18, 2025
We are striking at the heart of Russia's war machine.
Targeting its banking, energy and military-industrial sectors and including a new dynamic oil price cap.
The pressure is on.
It will stay on until…
In pictures: Aftermath of a Russian drone attack in Dnipro this week
Friday 18 July 2025 23:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Explained: Which areas do the latest sanctions apply to?
Friday 18 July 2025 23:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
The European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine targets Moscow’s energy and financial sectors to limit its ability to fund war in Ukraine.
Here’s a look at the key measures:
- A moving price cap on Russian crude oil at 15 percent below market price.
- A ban on importing petroleum products made from Russian crude, excluding imports from Norway, Britain, the US, Canada and Switzerland.
- A further 105 shadow fleet vessels banned.
- Transactions related to Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines will be banned.
- A full ban on all transactions with Russian financial institutions.
- A ban on transactions with Russia’s sovereign wealth fund.
- Lowered threshold for sanctions on financial and credit institutions circumventing sanctions.
Moscow will withstand new EU sanctions, escalate strikes: Medvedev
Friday 18 July 2025 22:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has predicted the Russian economy would withstand the European Union's latest sanctions package and said Moscow would intensify its strikes against Ukraine.
In a post on his official Telegram channel, Medvedev said the new sanctions would do little to alter Russia's stance on the conflict, just as previous rounds of sanctions had failed to make an impact.
Zelensky and Trump's potential drone 'mega-deal'
Friday 18 July 2025 22:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky are considering a deal that involves Washington buying battlefield-tested Ukrainian drones in exchange for Kyiv purchasing weapons from the US.
The Ukrainian president said his latest talks with Mr Trump focused on a deal that would help each country bolster its aerial technology.
Ukrainian drones have been able to strike targets as deep as 800 miles (1,300 km) into Russian territory.
“The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal,” Mr Zelensky told the New York Post.
The Ukrainian leader said drones were the key tool that has allowed his country to fight off Russia's invasion for more than three years.
“We will be ready to share this experience with America and other European partners,” he said. Ukraine was also in talks with Denmark, Norway and Germany, Mr Zelensky said.
Russian air defences intercept 10 Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow, mayor says
Friday 18 July 2025 21:56
,
Tara Cobham
Russian air defences on Friday intercepted or destroyed 10 Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow, mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.
Sobyanin, writing on Telegram, made no mention of casualties or damage in his accounts of air defence activity over nearly 10 hours over the course of the day.
Ukraine has for some time launched drones against long-distance Russian targets, many associated with energy. In one attack last month, dubbed "Operation Spiders Web," Russian long-range military aircraft were targeted at several air bases.
Russia's military has in recent weeks intensified its attacks by swarms of drones and missiles against Ukrainian cities.
US reorders arms deliveries to free up more Patriots for Ukraine, according to reports
Friday 18 July 2025 21:55
,
Tara Cobham
US president Donald Trump's administration has moved Germany ahead of Switzerland for the next Patriot air-defense systems off the production line, which will allow Germany to send two Patriots it already has to Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday citing three US officials.
The report could not immediately be independently verified.
How Ukraine’s drone-infested front is slowing Russia’s advance
Friday 18 July 2025 21:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Kremlin calls US remarks 'hostile'
Friday 18 July 2025 21:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Russia views recent comments by a top US general about NATO’s purported ability to swiftly capture the Russian Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad as hostile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
General Christopher Donahue, the US Army Europe and Africa commander, said NATO could seize Kaliningrad “from the ground in a timeframe that is unheard of and faster than we’ve ever been able to do”, according to Defense News.
UK says sanctioned more than 20 Russian spies, hackers and agencies
Friday 18 July 2025 20:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Britain on Friday said it had sanctioned more than 20 Russian spies, hackers and agencies over what it called a “sustained campaign of malicious cyber activity” to destabilise Europe.
The foreign ministry said it was sanctioning three units of the Russian military intelligence GRU agency and 18 of its officers, including those it said were involved in targeting strikes against Mariupol during the war in Ukraine, and spying on former agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia before they were targeted in a Novichok poisoning in 2018.
ICYMI: Trump threatens Russia with sanctions and tariffs if peace with Ukraine is not reached in 50 days
Friday 18 July 2025 20:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Ukraine MPs react to sanctions: 'finally!'
Friday 18 July 2025 19:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Finally! The EU has approved the long-awaited 18th sanctions package against russia. It delivers a serious limitations to russia’s energy, banking, transport, technology sectors, the shadow fleet, and sanctions evasion schemes via third countries.
— Yevheniia Kravchuk (@kravchukev) July 18, 2025
Thank you, EU, for your… pic.twitter.com/RmibiLVoSi
Deputy PM Stefanishyna as new US envoy: Zelensky
Friday 18 July 2025 19:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Olha Stefanishyna, a deputy prime minister responsible for Euro-Atlantic integration, would become the country's new ambassador to the United States, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
Zelensky wrote on Telegram that he had appointed her as the special presidential representative to the US so that she could develop relations with Washington while the procedures necessary for her appointment took place.
Ms Stefanishyna has served as Ukraine's minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration since 2020, during which time Ukraine began its accession process to the EU.
What are Patriot missiles and why does Ukraine need them?
Friday 18 July 2025 18:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Preparations are underway to quickly transfer additional Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, Nato's top military commander has said.
Alexus Grynkewich's pledge comes as Ukraine suffered some of the heaviest Russian attacks of the war so far. The Ukrainian air force said Moscow launched 400 Shahed and decoy drones, as well as one ballistic missile on Wednesday night.
“Preparations are underway, we are working very closely with the Germans on the Patriot transfer”, General Grynkewich told a conference in the German city of Wiesbaden.
“The guidance that I have been given has been to move out as quickly as possible.”
Jabed Ahmed reports:
Russia’s hybrid attacks won’t go unanswered: EU's Kallas
Friday 18 July 2025 18:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Russia’s hybrid attacks won’t go unanswered.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) July 18, 2025
The EU, UK & partners continue to take coordinated action, including with sanctions.
We will use all available tools to protect our institutions, infrastructure, and democracies.
Statement on behalf of EU27: https://t.co/NkXJJM6rVr pic.twitter.com/5QpAGOT4Hg
ICYMI: Russia launches mass drone attack on Ukraine overnight
Friday 18 July 2025 17:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Ukraine's biggest wartime overhaul: recapped
Friday 18 July 2025 17:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
- The major cabinet overhaul aims to revitalise wartime management as prospects for peace with Russia grow dim
- The parliament appointed Ukraine's first new prime minister in five years - Yulia Svyrydenko
- Former prime minister Denys Shmyhal was appointed as defence minister
- Svitlana Hrynchuk was appointed as energy minister
- Former Svyrydenko deputies Oleksiy Sobolev and Taras Kachka will serve as minister of economy, environment and agriculture and deputy prime minister for European integration, respectively
In full: How the EU aims to put the squeeze on the Russian economy with new sanctions package
Friday 18 July 2025 16:58
,
Steffie Banatvala
EU’s 18th sanctions package against Moscow explained:
Ukraine welcomes EU's new sanctions package
Friday 18 July 2025 16:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
We welcome the European Union’s latest sanctions package and are grateful to all who have made it possible.
— Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) July 18, 2025
By targeting the ships, the banks, and the networks that sustain Russia’s war, this package strengthens the pressure where it counts.
There is more to be done. But each…
In pictures: Putin meets with Vladimir regional Governor
Friday 18 July 2025 16:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
'Ramping up economic pressure': Netherlands FM
Friday 18 July 2025 15:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Important that the 18th EU sanctions package against Russia is now a fact. We are ramping up economic pressure with robust measures - targeting Russian oil revenues by lowering the price ceiling and cutting off more Russian banks from the international banking system. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/YP6JcJAywX
— Caspar Veldkamp (@ministerBZ) July 18, 2025
Explained: Which areas do the latest sanctions apply to?
Friday 18 July 2025 15:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
The European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine targets Moscow’s energy and financial sectors to limit its ability to fund war in Ukraine.
Here’s a look at the key measures:
- A moving price cap on Russian crude oil at 15 percent below market price.
- A ban on importing petroleum products made from Russian crude, excluding imports from Norway, Britain, the US, Canada and Switzerland.
- A further 105 shadow fleet vessels banned.
- Transactions related to Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines will be banned.
- A full ban on all transactions with Russian financial institutions.
- A ban on transactions with Russia’s sovereign wealth fund.
- Lowered threshold for sanctions on financial and credit institutions circumventing sanctions.
Moscow will withstand new EU sanctions, escalate strikes: Medvedev
Friday 18 July 2025 14:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has predicted the Russian economy would withstand the European Union's latest sanctions package and said Moscow would intensify its strikes against Ukraine.
In a post on his official Telegram channel, Medvedev said the new sanctions would do little to alter Russia's stance on the conflict, just as previous rounds of sanctions had failed to make an impact.
EU's new Russia sanctions aim for more effective oil price cap
Friday 18 July 2025 14:04
,
Tara Cobham
The European Union on Friday agreed an 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, including measures aimed at dealing further blows to the Russian oil and energy industry.
The EU will set a moving price cap on Russian crude at 15 per cent below its average market price, EU diplomats said, aiming to improve on a largely ineffective $60 cap that the Group of Seven major economies have tried to impose since December 2022.
Russian troops advance on frontline and take control of three Ukrainian villages
Friday 18 July 2025 14:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Russia’s defence ministry claimed it captured three frontline Ukrainian villages as part of its slow westward push.
The report named the three captured settlements as Kamianske in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Dehtiarne in northeastern Kharkiv region, and Popiv Yar in Donetsk region, the main theatre of Russian operations.
Official Ukrainian reports of activity along the 1,000km (600 mile) front disputed part of the Russian account, particularly concerning Kamianske in the southeast.
There was no Ukrainian confirmation about Dehtiarne or Popiv Yar.
What are Patriot missiles and why does Ukraine need them?
Friday 18 July 2025 13:30
,
Steffie Banatvala