Ukraine war briefing: Russian soldiers ‘survive no more than 30 minutes on the battlefield’

WorldPolitics
17 Jul 2026 • 2:40 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Ukraine war briefing: Russian soldiers ‘survive no more than 30 minutes on the battlefield’

  • President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after six months, following a public dispute with General Oleksandr Syrskyi, which led to protests in Ukrainian cities.
  • Zelensky is appointing Yevhenii Khmara, acting head of Ukraine's SBU domestic security service, as acting Defence Minister, highlighting his “experience with technological combat operations”.
  • Sir Keir Starmer, on his final visit to Kyiv as Prime Minister, reaffirmed the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine and pledged €300m (£254m) to help acquire 16 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets.
  • CIA chief John Ratcliffe said that Russian recruits on the Ukrainian battlefield have an average life expectancy of 20 to 30 minutes, attributing this high attrition rate to AI-powered drones.
  • Russian and Ukrainian attacks on civilian areas in towns and cities killed ⁠at least 13 people yesterday, local officials said.

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