IMAX Bans Russian Film Screenings Within Russia, Chain Owner Says

"IMAX has banned Russian cinemas from screening Russian movies within Russia after
leaving the country over its invasion of Ukraine, the head of a major cinema chain said Tuesday." MoscowTimes

American public changing mood on Ukraine - poll

"While 53% of US adults agree that Washington should continue to support Kiev “until all Russian forces are withdrawn from territory claimed by Ukraine,” 28% are undecided, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday. Doubts about continuing to pump weapons and other aid into Ukraine are especially prevalent among independents, at 37%, while 18% of Americans oppose the shipments altogether.

The survey suggests waning support for US involvement as the conflict drags on, contributing to surging inflation on the home front. In fact, 40% of Americans now agree with the statement that “the problems of Ukraine are none of our business, and we should not interfere.” That compares with 31% when the same question was asked in April.

Moreover, 59% of survey respondents, including 69% of Republicans, agree with the statement that “given the current economic crisis, the US cannot afford to lend financial support to Ukraine.” About half (51%) still support providing weapons to Ukraine, down from 73% in April. Just 26% support sending US troops to Ukraine, down from 39% in April." RT

22 reported killed in Independence Day attack in Ukraine

"Russian forces Wednesday launched a rocket attack on a Ukrainian train station on the
embattled country’s Independence Day, killing 22 people." AP

Biden Orders Airstrikes On 'Iran-Backed' Groups In Syria

"Biden ordered airstrikes on Iran-backed groups in Syria on Tuesday, following a series of  reported attacks on a remote US base in eastern Syria and which appeared to also target ground allies being trained by American special forces." ZH

Biden announces nearly $3bn in US military aid to Ukraine

"The United States has announced nearly $3bn in new military aid to Ukraine, with President
Joe Biden saying the assistance aims to help the country defend against Russia’s invasion “over the long term” as the war entered its seventh month." AlJazeera

Civilians ‘fleeing Kyiv amid fears of attack’; explosions reported across Dnipro

"Many civilians leaving Kyiv amid fear of Russian attack, says Zelenskiy adviser ... Dnipro mayor confirms explosions in the city." Guardian

Russian FSB Identifies Alleged Dugina Assassin

"The Russian Federal Security Service ("FSB") has claimed that the assassination of Dugina

was committed by a covert operative of Ukraine. The FSB has identified Natalia Vovk as the alleged assassin. "As a result of a complex of urgent operational-search measures, the Federal Security Service has solved the murder of Russian journalist Darya Dugina, born in 1992," the FSB announced, going on to emphasize the culpibility of the Ukrainian government by stating that "the crime was prepared and committed by the Ukrainian special services[.]"

According to the FSB's investigation, Vovk entered Russia in July before situating herself in the same apartment building that Dugina resided in. Vovk would then follow Dugina to the festival in which the explosive device that led to her death was planted. Vovk, who was accompanied by her 12-year old daughter, fled to Estonia following the assassination, according to Russian intelligence. Following her identification, Russian law enforcement agencies declared their intent to seek her extradition." ZeroHedge

Zelensky warns against putting neo-Nazis on trial

"There will be no more peace talks with Russia if captured Ukrainian Neo-Nazis are subjected
to a “show trial,” the country's President Vladimir Zelensky has claimed.

The authorities of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) have previously said that they are planning tribunals for suspected war crimes committed by Ukrainian troops, including members of the Azov Battalion, whose ranks include fighters with openly neo-Nazi views." RT

Four more ships leave Ukraine, Turkey’s defence ministry says

"Four more ships carrying foodstuffs have left Ukraine’s ports, Turkey’s defence ministry
says.

That brings the total number of vessels to leave Ukraine’s Black Sea ports under a United Nations-brokered grain export deal to 31." AlJazeera

Moscow says missiles destroyed depot

"Russia’s defence ministry says that sea-based Kalibr missiles destroyed an ammunition depot
containing missiles for US-made HIMARS rocket systems and other Western-made anti-aircraft systems in Ukraine’s Odesa region." AlJazeera

Daughter of top Putin ally Alexander Dugin, who pushed for Ukraine invasion, killed by car bomb outside Moscow

"The daughter of a Russian political philosopher was killed in a car bomb Saturday night that was meant for him, officials said. Russian criminal investigators said they were investigating her death as a murder.

Daria Dugina, the daughter of Alexander Dugin, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and strategist behind Russia’s ongoing war effort in Ukraine, was killed when a bomb meant for him detonated in their vehicle." FOX

Attack targets Russia’s Black Sea HQ

"A drone was shot down over the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in annexed Crimea
– the second such attempted attack in less than a month." AP

Stars: Nearly identical coffee shop chain replaces Starbucks in Moscow

"After Starbucks closed its stores in Moscow following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February, a close facsimile is now opening in its place.

The name -- Stars Coffee -- and the logo, a twin of the Starbucks mermaid wearing a Russian kokoshnik headdress instead of a crown, are practically the same. " EuroNews

Ukrainian Southern Counteroffensive ‘Unlikely’ as Russia Bolsters Forces

"A significant Ukrainian offensive to recapture Russian-occupied territories in its southern
regions is seen as increasingly unlikely by experts as Moscow moves reinforcements to the area and Kyiv re-focuses on targeting Russian military capacity in the rear." MT

Finland says Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated its airspace

"Two Russian MiG-31 fighter jets are suspected of violating Finnish airspace near the coastal
city of Porvoo on the Gulf of Finland.

The suspected jets were westbound, the defence ministry’s communications chief Kristian Vakkuri said, adding the aircraft were in Finnish airspace for two minutes." AlJazeera