Saturday, July 18, 2026
Entire Mountain Collapses In China, 13 Buildings Buried, Hundreds Missing
Protests against Fedorov's dismissal continue across Ukraine for a second day
"Protests against the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov entered a second day,
with demonstrations taking place in Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities, public broadcaster Suspilne reported on July 17.
About 200 people gathered in Kyiv's Ivan Franko Square, organizers said. Protesters also called for the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and demanded that lawmakers return to work." Pravada
About 200 people gathered in Kyiv's Ivan Franko Square, organizers said. Protesters also called for the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and demanded that lawmakers return to work." Pravada
Sternenko alleges pressure on soldiers over support for Fedorov protests; President’s Office responds
"Ukrainian senior military commanders are pressuring soldiers not to support protests over Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal, not to interact with the media and not to make public
statements, volunteer and blogger Serhii Sternenko said in a Telegram post on July 17.
Sternenko shared what he said were messages sent to him by soldiers.
“On the order of the commander-in-chief, a telegram has been sent to military units banning interaction with the media, public appearances, interviews and statements,” one message he quoted said. “If violations are discovered, internal checks and investigations should be launched, and those responsible should be held accountable based on the results.” NV
Sternenko shared what he said were messages sent to him by soldiers.
“On the order of the commander-in-chief, a telegram has been sent to military units banning interaction with the media, public appearances, interviews and statements,” one message he quoted said. “If violations are discovered, internal checks and investigations should be launched, and those responsible should be held accountable based on the results.” NV
Ukraine strikes Russian patrol ship, oil refinery and Kerch terminal
Iran strikes Syria for first time since Middle East war began
"Iran struck Syrian territory for the first time since war erupted in the Middle East in February
2026, Reuters reported, citing a Syrian military source and Iranian state media on July 17.
Iranian media claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the U.S. Special Operations command center at Al-Tanf in eastern Syria, allegedly in retaliation for the deaths of Iranian personnel in a U.S. strike on the city of Iranshahr.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the claim. A Syrian source told the news agency that Iran had carried out a strike near the Al-Tanf base but did not hit the installation itself. The source also said the attack caused neither casualties nor material damage." NV
Iranian media claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the U.S. Special Operations command center at Al-Tanf in eastern Syria, allegedly in retaliation for the deaths of Iranian personnel in a U.S. strike on the city of Iranshahr.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the claim. A Syrian source told the news agency that Iran had carried out a strike near the Al-Tanf base but did not hit the installation itself. The source also said the attack caused neither casualties nor material damage." NV
Major M7.3 earthquake hits offshore Chiapas, Mexico, hazardous tsunami waves forecast
Explosive strombolian eruptions at Mayon volcano, Philippines
Strong M6.4 earthquake hits South Sandwich Islands region
100 combat clashes on front line
"The Russian army has attacked the positions of the Defense Forces of Ukraine 100 times.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna direction, the invaders tried 10 times to break through the defenses in the areas of Kozacha Lopan, Lyman, Izbytske, and Synelnykove, two clashes are ongoing.
In the Lyman direction, 13 enemy attempts to advance were recorded in the areas of Novoselivka, Drobysheve, Lyman, Ozerne, and Yampil, four clashes are ongoing.
In the Sloviansk direction, the invaders attempted to advance 19 times near Kryva Luka, Zakitne, Rai-Oleksandrivka, and Riznykivka, one clash is ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk direction, the defenders successfully repelled five enemy attacks in the areas of Malynivka and Nykyforivka.
In the Kostiantynivka direction, the invaders tried eight times to break through the defenses in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, and Rusyn Yar.
In the Pokrovsk direction, twenty-three attempts were recorded by the Russians to push the Defense Forces from their occupied positions in the areas of Sofiivka, Toretske, Bilytske, Novo Donbas, Bilozerske, Shevchenko, Hryshyne, Myrne, Vasylivka, Serhiivka, Udachne, and Molodetske, one clash is ongoing.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian warriors successfully repelled one attack in the area of Berezove.
In the Huliaipole direction, the enemy attacked seventeen times in the areas of Tsvitkove, Hirske, Olenokostiantynivka, Vozdvyzhivka, and Charyvne, four clashes are ongoing.
In the Orikhiv direction, the Defense Forces stopped two enemy attempts to advance in the areas of Novoandriivka and Prymorske." Ukrin
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna direction, the invaders tried 10 times to break through the defenses in the areas of Kozacha Lopan, Lyman, Izbytske, and Synelnykove, two clashes are ongoing.
In the Lyman direction, 13 enemy attempts to advance were recorded in the areas of Novoselivka, Drobysheve, Lyman, Ozerne, and Yampil, four clashes are ongoing.
In the Sloviansk direction, the invaders attempted to advance 19 times near Kryva Luka, Zakitne, Rai-Oleksandrivka, and Riznykivka, one clash is ongoing.
In the Kostiantynivka direction, the invaders tried eight times to break through the defenses in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, and Rusyn Yar.
In the Pokrovsk direction, twenty-three attempts were recorded by the Russians to push the Defense Forces from their occupied positions in the areas of Sofiivka, Toretske, Bilytske, Novo Donbas, Bilozerske, Shevchenko, Hryshyne, Myrne, Vasylivka, Serhiivka, Udachne, and Molodetske, one clash is ongoing.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian warriors successfully repelled one attack in the area of Berezove.
In the Huliaipole direction, the enemy attacked seventeen times in the areas of Tsvitkove, Hirske, Olenokostiantynivka, Vozdvyzhivka, and Charyvne, four clashes are ongoing.
In the Orikhiv direction, the Defense Forces stopped two enemy attempts to advance in the areas of Novoandriivka and Prymorske." Ukrin
Friday, July 17, 2026
Ukrainian media defy court ban, publish forbidden report on top official's brother
"Several Ukrainian media outlets on July 17 defied a court ban by publishing an investigative report on the brother of Oleksiy Sukhachov, head of the State Investigation Bureau.
According to the report, Oleksiy Sukhachov’s brother Oleksandr has bought 143 apartments at a price far below their market value, with each apartment being sold at the price of a smartphone. The construction of the apartment buildings involved has been investigated by Oleksiy Sukhachov’s State Investigation Bureau, raising questions about a potential conflict of interest.
The bureau denied the accusations of wrongdoing.
On July 6, a Ukrainian court banned the Anti-Corruption Action Center, the media outlet Slidstvo.info and journalist Alina Stryzhak from publishing the investigative report.
But Maksym Savchuk, a journalist at Slidstvo.info and a co-author of the investigation, said on July 17 that he had not been banned from publishing the report. He added that he had sent the investigation to other media outlets for publication.
“The (court) order does not apply to me — and I co-authored the investigation,” he wrote on Facebook. “So I have both the moral and legal right to share the text, which Alina and I worked on together, with other media outlets.”
The report was published by Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Ukrainska Pravda, Hromadske, Toronto TV, Suspilne, Mezha.net, Bihus.info, NV.ua, Graty, and NGL.media.
From 2018 to 2020, Oleksandr Sukhachov, a businessman, acquired 143 apartments in Kharkiv, although he does not own most of them now, according to the investigation.
He bought the apartments at book value, far below market prices, the media outlets reported.
In 2018 Sukhachov bought 30 apartments for a total of Hr 1 million ($39,300 at the 2018 exchange rate) at prices ranging from Hr 24,600 to Hr 48,900 per apartment ($932 to $1,856).
The same year, he also purchased another 28 apartments for a total of $33,000.
The apartments were sold by Parkovy-2, a company owned by lawyer Ivan Kozikov at the time. Currently the same housing project is owned by real estate developer Stroy City.
The Kyiv Independent has requested comment from Stroy City and will publish its response once it is received.
In 2021 the police investigated allegations that the buildings in which Sukhachov bought the apartments had been built illegally.
According to Ukraine's court registry, in 2021 the police also found company seals belonging to Oleksandr Sukhachov during searches at Stroy City offices.
In 2022 the case was transferred from the police to the State Investigation Bureau. No one has been charged in the case.
Later the case was sent back to the police and closed, and then resumed again." KI
According to the report, Oleksiy Sukhachov’s brother Oleksandr has bought 143 apartments at a price far below their market value, with each apartment being sold at the price of a smartphone. The construction of the apartment buildings involved has been investigated by Oleksiy Sukhachov’s State Investigation Bureau, raising questions about a potential conflict of interest.
The bureau denied the accusations of wrongdoing.
But Maksym Savchuk, a journalist at Slidstvo.info and a co-author of the investigation, said on July 17 that he had not been banned from publishing the report. He added that he had sent the investigation to other media outlets for publication.
“The (court) order does not apply to me — and I co-authored the investigation,” he wrote on Facebook. “So I have both the moral and legal right to share the text, which Alina and I worked on together, with other media outlets.”
The report was published by Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Ukrainska Pravda, Hromadske, Toronto TV, Suspilne, Mezha.net, Bihus.info, NV.ua, Graty, and NGL.media.
From 2018 to 2020, Oleksandr Sukhachov, a businessman, acquired 143 apartments in Kharkiv, although he does not own most of them now, according to the investigation.
He bought the apartments at book value, far below market prices, the media outlets reported.
In 2018 Sukhachov bought 30 apartments for a total of Hr 1 million ($39,300 at the 2018 exchange rate) at prices ranging from Hr 24,600 to Hr 48,900 per apartment ($932 to $1,856).
The same year, he also purchased another 28 apartments for a total of $33,000.
The apartments were sold by Parkovy-2, a company owned by lawyer Ivan Kozikov at the time. Currently the same housing project is owned by real estate developer Stroy City.
The Kyiv Independent has requested comment from Stroy City and will publish its response once it is received.
In 2021 the police investigated allegations that the buildings in which Sukhachov bought the apartments had been built illegally.
According to Ukraine's court registry, in 2021 the police also found company seals belonging to Oleksandr Sukhachov during searches at Stroy City offices.
In 2022 the case was transferred from the police to the State Investigation Bureau. No one has been charged in the case.
Later the case was sent back to the police and closed, and then resumed again." KI
Wildfire smoke forecast, air quality alerts due to pollution from Canadian, Minnesota fires
"Heavy smoke from wildfires blazing in Canada and Minnesota is engulfing large swaths of the Midwest and Northeast U.S. this week, impacting air quality as millions of people are exposed to hazardous levels of air pollution.
Hundreds of wildfires are burning in Canada, and winds are carrying the smoke southeast. Multiple wildfires are raging in northern Minnesota.
High levels of fine particulate matter in the air from smoke can be unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups such as children and people with heart or lung conditions.
Detroit and Washington, D.C., ranked among the world's most polluted major cities on Friday, as air quality alerts stretched from Minnesota to parts of the East Coast. Chicago had also been near the top of the list Friday morning before conditions began to improve.
Minnesota officials issued an air quality alert that extends into the weekend for much of the state, with very heavy smoke across the state's northeastern corner. Air quality levels in northeast Minnesota reached hazardous levels, making it unsafe for everyone." CBS
High levels of fine particulate matter in the air from smoke can be unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups such as children and people with heart or lung conditions.
Detroit and Washington, D.C., ranked among the world's most polluted major cities on Friday, as air quality alerts stretched from Minnesota to parts of the East Coast. Chicago had also been near the top of the list Friday morning before conditions began to improve.
Minnesota officials issued an air quality alert that extends into the weekend for much of the state, with very heavy smoke across the state's northeastern corner. Air quality levels in northeast Minnesota reached hazardous levels, making it unsafe for everyone." CBS
Wartime Protests Across Ukraine As Zelensky Moves To Oust Defense Chief
"Wartime protests have broken out in Ukraine in the wake of President Zelensky sacking his
popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov - which is reportedly in process but not finalized yet.
The 35-year old defense chief was only six months into his tenure, and is widely hailed as a reformist innovator who has turned the tide of war, having overseen a strategy of punishing wave after wave of devastating drones on Russian energy infrastructure.
The NY Times on Thursday said that "thousands of people took to the streets of cities across Ukraine on Thursday to protest" his dismissal." ZH
The 35-year old defense chief was only six months into his tenure, and is widely hailed as a reformist innovator who has turned the tide of war, having overseen a strategy of punishing wave after wave of devastating drones on Russian energy infrastructure.
The NY Times on Thursday said that "thousands of people took to the streets of cities across Ukraine on Thursday to protest" his dismissal." ZH
Omega special forces say drone strike hit Russian Su-24 bomber in occupied Crimea
"Ukraine's Omega special forces unit said on July 16 that it struck a Russian Su-24M frontline bomber at the Saky air base in Russian-occupied Crimea.
The Su-24M is a modernized version of the Sukhoi Su-24, Soviet-designed supersonic frontline bomber that Russia uses to carry out strike missions against ground targets. The aircraft is capable of launching guided and unguided munitions and has been widely used by Moscow throughout its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to the unit, operators from Omega's combat diver division identified the aircraft as it was preparing for takeoff before carrying out the strike using drones." KI
According to the unit, operators from Omega's combat diver division identified the aircraft as it was preparing for takeoff before carrying out the strike using drones." KI
5.9 Earthquake - 42 km north of Te Anau, Southland, New Zealand
249 battles on front lines
"249 combat engagements between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front lines.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy carried out one airstrike, dropping two guided bombs, and conducted 65 shelling attacks, including one using MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces attacked 19 times in the Starytsia area and toward Izbytske, Kutkivka, Khatne, Kozacha Lopan, Hoptivka, Radkivka, Vilcha, and Bereznyky.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched three assaults on the positions of the Defense Forces in the area of Kolisnykivka and toward Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi and Novoplatonivka.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces attempted to breach the defenses 10 times, launching attacks in the areas of Novoselivka, Drobysheve, Novomykhailivka, and toward Lyman, Dibrova, and Ozerne.
In the Sloviansk sector, the Russian army launched 23 assaults toward Kryva Luka, Rai-Oleksandrivka, Pyskunivka, Mykolaivka, and in the areas of Riznykivka and Zakitne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian invaders attacked Tykhonivka once.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 20 attacks in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Ivanopillia, Stepanivka, and toward Dovha Balka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Defense Forces repelled 37 assaults by the Russian Federation’s army in the areas of Dorozhne, Hryshyne, Novopidhorodne, Rodynske, Vasylivka, Kotlyne, and toward Vilne, Novyi Donbas, Myrne, Serhiivka, and Kucheriv Yar.
On the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy launched two attacks toward Vorone.
On the Huliaipole sector, the invaders carried out 17 attacks toward Kosivtseve, Verkhnia Tersa, Tsvitkove, Charivne, Hirke, and Vozdvyzhivka.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian forces launched 10 assaults in the areas of Bilohiria, Shcherbaky, Mali Shcherbaky, and toward Novoandriivka and Prymorske." Ukrin
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy carried out one airstrike, dropping two guided bombs, and conducted 65 shelling attacks, including one using MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces attacked 19 times in the Starytsia area and toward Izbytske, Kutkivka, Khatne, Kozacha Lopan, Hoptivka, Radkivka, Vilcha, and Bereznyky.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces attempted to breach the defenses 10 times, launching attacks in the areas of Novoselivka, Drobysheve, Novomykhailivka, and toward Lyman, Dibrova, and Ozerne.
In the Sloviansk sector, the Russian army launched 23 assaults toward Kryva Luka, Rai-Oleksandrivka, Pyskunivka, Mykolaivka, and in the areas of Riznykivka and Zakitne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian invaders attacked Tykhonivka once.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 20 attacks in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Ivanopillia, Stepanivka, and toward Dovha Balka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Defense Forces repelled 37 assaults by the Russian Federation’s army in the areas of Dorozhne, Hryshyne, Novopidhorodne, Rodynske, Vasylivka, Kotlyne, and toward Vilne, Novyi Donbas, Myrne, Serhiivka, and Kucheriv Yar.
On the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy launched two attacks toward Vorone.
On the Huliaipole sector, the invaders carried out 17 attacks toward Kosivtseve, Verkhnia Tersa, Tsvitkove, Charivne, Hirke, and Vozdvyzhivka.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian forces launched 10 assaults in the areas of Bilohiria, Shcherbaky, Mali Shcherbaky, and toward Novoandriivka and Prymorske." Ukrin
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