Editor's observe: This can be a growing story and is being up to date.
Throughout a cellphone name with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated "Russia will proceed to pursue its objectives" within the struggle towards Ukraine, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov stated.
The hour-long dialog between the 2 presidents targeted on Russia's struggle in Ukraine and the scenario within the Center East, in keeping with Ushakov.
"Trump as soon as once more emphasised the necessity to finish navy hostilities as quickly as attainable. Vladimir Putin famous that Russia continues to hunt a political negotiated resolution to the battle," Ushakov stated.
"Our president stated that Russia will pursue its objectives, particularly addressing the foundation causes that led to the present scenario, and won’t again down from these aims."
Talks in Istanbul will stay bilateral between Russia and Ukraine – Ushakov<p>Russian dictator's aide Yuriy Ushakov acknowledged that the subsequent spherical of talks in Istanbul will probably be bilateral between Russia and Ukraine. Washington's participation on this course of will not be anticipated.</p>
A noon explosion within the middle of Russian-occupied Luhansk killed Manolis Pilavov, the town's former Russian-installed mayor, Russian state information company TASS reported on July 3.
Pilavov headed the occupation administration of Luhansk metropolis from December 2014 till stepping down in November 2023. He had been needed in Ukraine since 2015 on expenses together with trying to violently overthrow the constitutional order and violating Ukraine's territorial integrity.
The blast occurred round midday native time, in response to TASS. Three individuals have been reportedly injured, considered one of them in severe situation.
Ukraine has not commented on Pilavov's reported loss of life. Explosions focusing on collaborators and occupation officers have change into extra frequent in latest months.
Pilavov, born in 1964, held a number of posts within the native Luhansk administration earlier than Russia occupied elements of Ukraine's jap Luhansk Oblast in 2014.
He served as a metropolis council member representing the now-banned pro-Russian Get together of Areas and later actively supported the native Russian occupation administration.
Ukrainian authorities say Pilavov participated in separatist propaganda occasions and inspired assist for Moscow's proxy occupation buildings shortly after Russian-backed militants took management of elements of Luhansk Oblast in 2014.
Luhansk stays below Russian occupation, with its metropolis middle and authorities establishments managed by Kremlin-installed proxies.
An explosion occurred in Odesa amid a ballistic missile menace<p>An explosion was recorded in Odesa after a ballistic missile menace was introduced. Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov confirmed the data.</p>
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
A deputy commander of Russia's navy has been killed in a Ukrainian strike in Kursk Oblast, a Russian official confirmed on July 3.
Major General Mikhail Yevgenyevich Gudkov was killed alongside his deputy and several other Russian soldiers, Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of Russia's Primorsky Krai, said in a post on social media.
According to Russian milbloggers, 22 people in total were killed as a result of a Ukrainian HIMARS strike in Russia's Kursk Oblast bordering Ukraine. Kyiv has yet to comment on the attack.
Gudkov was appointed deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy in March 2025. Prior to that, he led the 155th Separate Marine Brigade, which has been involved in combat operations against Ukraine.
Ukraine has accused the 155th Separate Marine Brigade of committing numerous war crimes. According to the country's Air Assault Forces, members of the brigade are responsible for executing prisoners of war and humiliating captured Ukrainian soldiers.
Gudkov held the titles of Hero of Russia and Hero of Primorye, Russia's far eastern region where he previously served, Kozhemyako said.
HIMARS, whose prowess became a popular motif of internet memes, was a game-changer for Ukraine when they first arrived in the summer of 2022.
Initially supplied with GMLRS rockets with a range of around 70 kilometers, they allowed Ukraine to target Russian forces on the other side of the front line far more accurately than they had previously.
In the fall of 2023, the U.S. began supplying Kyiv with an older model of ATACMS – fired from HIMARS launchers – with a range of around 165 kilometers, greatly increasing the range that Ukraine could strike within.
Russia's high-ranking military officials have been killed on a regular basis throughout the full-scale invasion — a recent report from BBC Russia identified ten generals 10 generals and 524 lieutenant colonels and colonels.
Ukrainian forces launched a cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast in August 2024, making it the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign troops since World War II. The move was intended to disrupt a planned Russian offensive targeting Ukraine's Sumy Oblast and to relieve pressure on the Donetsk front.
Since then, Ukraine claims it has inflicted 63,402 Russian troop casualties in the oblast, including 25,625 killed and 971 captured. Ukrainian forces also say they have destroyed or damaged over 5,664 pieces of Russian military equipment in the area.
Russia retook most of the lost territory during a renewed offensive in March 2025, supported by North Korean troops.
Mobilization of Moldovan residents into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: the Middle for Countering Disinformation warned about one other Kremlin pretend<p>Russian TG channels are spreading a pretend "doc" in regards to the mobilization of individuals with twin citizenship, together with Moldovan, in Odesa and the area. The Middle for Countering Disinformation refuted this info, mentioning grammatical errors and a solid decree.</p>
Ukrainian drones struck a Russian ammunition depot in occupied Donetsk Oblast in a single day on July 3, setting off a sequence of big explosions, Ukraine's State Safety Service stated on July 3.
"Beginning at 10 p.m., explosions rang out on the depots, adopted by a strong secondary detonation of ammunition and a fireplace," the SBU stated in a publish on social media.
In keeping with the SBU, the ammunition depot is situated within the occupied Ukrainian metropolis of Khartsyzsk, close to Donetsk, which is "of essential strategic significance, as it’s utilized by the Russians as a rear base."
"The enemy has positioned command posts, logistics facilities, and ammunition depots there. All of them are official navy targets," the assertion added.
Unconfirmed movies posted to social media present a fireplace already burning adopted by a big explosion and shockwave.
In the meantime in Russian-occupied Khartsyzsk. – 1 main Russian munitions depot. pic.twitter.com/uAhnqQONYw
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) July 2, 2025
Elsewhere on July 3, Ukraine confirmed strikes on the Energia manufacturing facility in Russia's Lipetsk Oblast in a single day, a facility that produces parts for missiles and drones, together with batteries for the Iskander missile system and cruise missiles.
Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Counter-Disinformation Heart at Ukraine's Nationwide Safety and Protection Council, confirmed the strike, calling Energia "one of the vital important targets for Russia."
Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Unbiased)
In keeping with Kovalenko, the power manufactures batteries for missile steering and glider modules, together with for the Iskander system and cruise missiles.
Ukraine's navy often strikes navy targets in Russian-occupied territories and deep inside Russia in an try and diminish Moscow's combating energy because it continues its struggle towards Ukraine.
On the night of June 30, Ukraine equally struck a command publish of the eighth Mixed Arms Military of the Russian Armed Forces within the Russian-occupied a part of Donetsk Oblast.
Russia has for months centered its offensive efforts on the embattled city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast and has not too long ago been escalating makes an attempt to interrupt by way of to neighboring Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a area that has not but seen fight.
Russia introduced the demise of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Gudkov<p>Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Mykhailo Gudkov, who was answerable for the actions of the marines, died within the Kursk area.</p>
Editor's notice: It is a growing story and is being up to date.
A Russian strike on Poltava, central Ukraine, killed two folks and injured 11 others on the morning of July 3, native and navy officers stated.
The assault, which occurred round 9 a.m. native time, sparked fires and broken civilian infrastructure, in accordance with Governor Volodymyr Kohut and Ukraine's Land Forces.
In accordance with the assertion of Ukraine's Land Forces, one of many strikes prompted a hearth on the Poltava conscription workplace, a neighborhood navy facility. A separate strike close to the Poltava conscription workplace set hearth to a personal residential property, authorities stated.
Emergency providers are on-site, responding to the aftermath. The navy stated additional particulars about these affected might be offered as they change into accessible.
Russian strike on Poltava: penalties proven<p>One of many fires that broke out in Poltava on account of the morning Russian assault has been localized. 2 individuals died, there are injured, 10 had been rescued.</p>
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
