Kyiv Post

Головна спортивна подія чотириріччя напередодні кульмінації. Вже цієї неділі світ дізнається ім’я нового володаря Кубка світу з футболу. Поки планета застигла в очікуванні вирішального протистояння, організатори готують революційну розважальну програму, а футбольні статисти розбирають феноменальні досягнення першого фіналіста — збірної Іспанії, яка вже вписала своє ім’я в історію.

Russia’s strategic Engels-2 air base was reportedly struck and set ablaze in the early hours of Thursday, according to Russian monitoring channels and local media. Residents of the neighboring cities of Saratov and Engels reported numerous low-flying drones followed by a succession of powerful explosions. Videos published by local Telegram channels captured the sound of drone engines overhead and blasts near the military airfield. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.

The departure of Ukraine’s 35-year-old defense chief, Mykhailo Fedorov, has raised questions about the future of critical wartime reforms. Fedorov left office on Wednesday as part of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s sweeping government reshuffle following the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Appointed on Jan. 14 with a clear mandate to modernize the Armed Forces, his exit after only six months marks the sudden end of one of Ukraine’s boldest experiments in wartime military management.

Russian forces attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles in the early hours of Thursday, triggering explosions and fires in two districts of the Ukrainian capital. Air-raid alerts were declared in Kyiv and several other regions due to the threat of Russian ballistic weapons, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Ukraine’s Air Force warned that missiles were heading toward the capital.

Bulgaria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova has explained Sofia’s  withdrawal from the “Coalition of the Willing,” arguing that diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine have not yet been fully used. Speaking during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, Petrova-Chamova sought to reassure Ukraine that Bulgaria’s departure from the coalition did not amount to an end to all forms of support. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.

Збірна Аргентини вириває путівку до фіналу чемпіонату світу з футболу 2026 року, здолавши свого найпринциповішого суперника — збірну Англії. Рахунок матчу 1:2 За Англію забив Ентоні Гордон на 55 хвилині. Підписуйтесь на наш Viber-канал. За Аргентину — Енцо Фернандес на 86 хвилині та Лаутаро Мартінес на 90+2 хвилині. У боротьбі за омріяний кубок тріумфаторка минулого Мундіалю Аргентина зустрінеться з Іспанією 19 липня о 22:00.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) repelled 235 clashes with Russian forces along the front line as of 10 p.m., with the heaviest fighting concentrated in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka sectors. Russian forces carried out 52 airstrikes using 170 guided aerial bombs, deployed 6,001 kamikaze drones, and conducted 2,273 shelling attacks on Ukrainian troop positions and settlements throughout the day, according to the General Staff of the AFU on Wednesday.

Ukrainian activists are calling for protests against President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to dismiss now-former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. According to Financial Times’ chief correspondent in Kyiv, Christopher Miller, a rally is planned on Thursday ahead of an expected parliamentary vote to approve a new cabinet. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.

President Volodymyr Zelensky honored soldiers, medics, energy workers and other civilians with state awards on Ukrainian Statehood Day, personally presenting the Order of the “Golden Star” to the mother of a fallen Hero of Ukraine who received the title posthumously.

Mykhailo Fedorov was dismissed as Ukraine’s defense minister on Wednesday, following the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, a decision that came amid President Volodymyr Zelensky’s broader reshuffle of the Cabinet. Members of parliament Olha Vasylevska-Smahliuk and Yaroslav Zhelezniak said Zelensky is expected to nominate Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko for the post, RBC-Ukraine reported.