WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE UKRAINE KYIV - THE KYIV POST DAILY - It’s Friday, July 31 2026.

 

It’s Friday, July 31 Now Trump said he’s “not sure” about giving Ukraine the license to make Patriots. Which is bad news considering the uptick in Russian missiles launched – a record 377 so far this month, with 3 out of 4 ballistic missiles slipping right through because of the Patriot shortage. Let’s hope the latest Starlink request to target Russian ballistic missile launchers won’t suffer the same fate. And as occupied Crimea’s tourism revenues go into free fall amid more explosions, the Kremlin is reportedly looking for a fall guy (pun intended), as rumors suggest Putin is soon to sack the Kremlin-installed governor. Things aren’t looking much better in Moscow either, as regional authorities released a map of available shelters, while Ukraine’s new PM ordered a new audit of those in Ukraine following public outcry over their inadequate numbers and poor condition after five years of war. As for Putin himself, his rating also took a hit despite the usual poll manipulation, illustrating the pickle he’s in. Meanwhile, Zelensky also released new estimates of war deaths that contradict his earlier accounts, while Ukraine’s new commander ordered a halt to directly reinforcing assault regiments as part of a wider reform. By Leo Chiu Your Ideas, Your Voice Join us on Telegram! Follow our coverage of the war 24/7 at @Kyivpost_official. View Ukraine War Updates Russian Aerospace Force Loves Glide Bombs It Drops on Ukraine With Impunity Big numbers of modern, foreign fighter warplanes arriving in 2027-32 probably could fix Kyiv’s problem. At present sortie rates, Russia will drop 100,000+ more glide bombs on Ukraine by then. Other war-related updates: Assassination Attempt on Top Ukrainian Commander Foiled, Khartiia Vows Battlefield Revenge SBU Says Ukraine Struck Aircraft Plant in Crimea, Russian Port, Major Oil Refinery Drapaty Orders Halt to Assault Regiment Recruitment Zelensky Reveals Ukraine and Russia’s Wartime Death Tolls Ukrainian Drones Send Crimea’s Tourism Industry Into Freefall Ukraine Downs Russian ZALA Recon Drone at Record Altitude of 21,000 Feet Moscow Region Publishes Bomb Shelter Maps as Long-Range Strike Fears Grow Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Hits Russia’s ‘Wartime Amazon’ in Volgograd and Tatarstan ANALYSIS: From Radushne to Lublin: How Russia’s North Korean Missiles Expose the West’s Air Defense Gap Crimea Bridge Closed as Explosions Rock Occupied Peninsula Russian Missile Destroys US-Owned Drone Factory in Kyiv Russian Strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Region Kill 3, Wound 10 Russia Used North Korean Missile in Radushne Strike Which Killed Family of 10 For the Record “We don’t really license equipment.” – US President Donald Trump walking back on his public announcement to grant Ukraine the license to produce the Patriot missiles Politics & Economy Why Putin’s Ratings Are Falling Despite Polling Manipulation Russian state-linked pollsters have recorded Putin’s sharpest decline since the 2022 mobilization. An opposition activist says fear, selective participation, and in-person polling may still be concealing the full scale of the drop. Other developments: EU Races to Contain New Migrant Crisis as Thousands Cross Into Spain’s N. Africa Enclave Poland Officially Confirms Russian Kh-101 Missile Crashed on Its Territory Ukraine Sends Firefighters to Help France Battle Wildfires French Delegation Visits Kyiv ReabiCentre Treating Ukrainians With Severe War Injuries Oleksiy Sobolev Appointed as Deputy Head of Presidential Office by Zelensky Koretsky Orders Urgent Inspection of All Civil Defense Shelters Russian Boxers Cleared to Compete Under National Flag and Anthem Witkoff, Kushner Expected in Kyiv for First Visit Around Independence Day ‘Reckless’ Russia Condemned as Missile with ‘Significant’ Payload Crashes in Poland Poland: Escalating Xenophobia Towards Ukrainians In Focus Patriot Shortages Let 3 Out of 4 Russian Ballistic Missiles Slip Through in July July also saw a record 377 Russian missiles launched against Ukraine – with only around half of them intercepted overall. By Kyiv Post’s Leo Chiu Thanks for reading. See you soon. Looking to share KP’s news briefing with friends? They can subscribe here. Visit Our Site

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