"After a week of chaos, scandal and protest, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged the effectiveness of sacked ex-Defence MinisterFedorov and announced his appointment to an expanded national security role with real powers.
Following a wave of public debate, a press conference by Fedorov a day after he was dismissed as part of a surprise governmentreshuffle, caused widespread debate and tension in Bankova as thousands took to the streets to protest against the decision. In his six months on
the job, the former tech entrepren€showed himself to be highly effective and began to turn the tide on the battlefield – something he himself pointed out with a list of 22 achievements he posted online in his farewell message on social media.
Under pressure from volunteer groups, business leaders of Ukraine's western allies, Zelenskiy changed his stance again and publicly praised Fedorov’s record at the Ministry of Defence on July 18, announcing that he would return to government in a new more powerful role. At the end of last week, Zelenskiy offered Fedorov a job as advisor, but that was refused as Fedorov said he wanted the authority to continue his reforms of the venally corrupt and highly inefficient Defence Ministry.
The Presidential Office said an agreement on Fedorov’s future had been reached after he rejected a conventional advisory position, insisting that he needed executive authority if he was to continue his military reforms." msn
"At least seven people have been injured, with residential buildings damaged and set ablaze in Kyiv as a major Russian ballistic missile attack targeted Ukraine's capital overnight.Seven people have been injured, with six hospitalized and one treated at the scene. Another five people were rescued from damaged buildings, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported.
A series of explosions was first heard in Ukraine's capital at around 1:30 a.m. local time as air raid sirens sounded across central and eastern Ukraine.
Several rounds of explosions were then heard at around 1:47 a.m. and 1:54 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground.
More explosions were reported at approximately 2:09 a.m. and 2:13 a.m. local time, with dozens of missiles reported within the span of just an hour." KI
"For the civilians of Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, queuing for food is becoming anever more dangerous necessity.
Increasingly, however, the threat is from armed raids by the very group that claims to protect them: Hamas.
Palestinians told The Telegraph how in recent days, groups of terrorists had stormed food distribution points and refugee shelters to tighten their grip on Gaza and terrorize civilians." msn
"A strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 73 km (45 mi) from Estado de Chiapas State, Mexico, in the morning at 11.26 am local time (GMT -6). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was felt by many near the epicenter." VD
"A strong magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean near the coast of Estado de Chiapas State, Mexico, in the evening at 8.18 pm local time (GMT -6). The quake had a very shallow depth of 19.6 km (12 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD
"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit 10.3 km (6 mi) away from Huancayo, Junin, Peru, in the evening at 9.24 pm local time (America/Lima GMT -5). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD
"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred in the South Atlantic Ocean 165 km (103 mi) from Antarctica in the afternoon at 4.50 pm local time (GMT -3). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD
"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
"At 9:08 a.m. near Wujiang Sanqiao in Hanjiadong Subdistrict, Pengshui County, Chongqing, a mountain slope that appeared solid suddenly collapsed with a deafening roar. Massive rocks poured down like a flood, swallowing more than a dozen residential buildings below. Some were buried under the landslide, while others fell directly into the Wujiang River. Dust filled the sky, with sounds of impacts and explosions echoing one after another, creating a scene that looked like the end of the world." CO
"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
"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 publicstatements, 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
"Ukraine's Defense Forces struck two tankers, a tugboat, the Svetlyak patrol ship, the Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery, an oil terminal and other Russian military facilities." NV
"Iran struck Syrian territory for the first time since war erupted in the Middle East in February2026, 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
"A major earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.3 struck offshore Chiapas, Mexico at 14:48 UTC. The agency is reporting a depth of 15.2 km (9.4 miles). EMSC is reporting M7.3 at a depth of 25 km (15.5 miles). According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), hazardous tsunami waves are forecast for some coasts." W
"Mayon volcano remained under Alert Level 3 on July 15, 2026, after PHIVOLCS recorded 187 volcanic earthquakes, 398 rockfalls, 10 pyroclastic density current signals, and SO2 emissions averaging 9 028 tonnes/day from the volcano in Albay, Philippines." W
