The war in Ukraine has entered another week of intense violence and strained diplomacy, as Russian missile strikes killed dozens, new military appointments were announced in Kyiv, and global leaders prepared for a crucial NATO summit in The Hague.
In one of the deadliest attacks in recent months, Russian missile strikes on southeastern Ukraine devastated the city of Dnipro, killing 17 people and injuring more than 200. Dozens of buildings and infrastructure facilities were damaged in the assault, further straining Ukraine’s civilian emergency response systems. Another Russian attack claimed two more lives in the city of Samara.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the escalating violence by naming Hennadii Shapovalov as the new commander of Ukraine’s ground forces. Shapovalov will also be tasked with overseeing international military recruitment as part of a renewed mobilization campaign. Meanwhile, Russian forces claimed to have captured the village of Dyliivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region — a move that underscores Moscow’s steady push through the embattled Donbas area.
In a post on X, Zelensky voiced frustration over the lack of progress toward a ceasefire, stating that Moscow remains uninterested in any negotiations. “The Russians once again openly and absolutely cynically declared they are ‘not in the mood’ for a ceasefire,” he wrote. “Russia wants to wage war. This means the pressure the world is applying isn’t hurting them enough yet.”
Overnight, Russia said it intercepted dozens of Ukrainian drones across various regions, including Voronezh, near the border with eastern Ukraine. The increasing number of drone incursions and missile attacks signals a new phase of warfare marked by more advanced and relentless aerial campaigns.
Diplomatic tensions also dominated headlines ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague. The White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Zelensky during the summit — their second attempt following a missed meeting earlier this month at the G7 summit in Canada, which Trump left abruptly.
Trump stirred controversy during his flight to Europe by refusing to offer a clear endorsement of NATO’s core Article 5 clause, which guarantees collective defense. “Depends on your definition. There’s numerous definitions of Article 5,” he said aboard Air Force One, though he added, “I’m committed to being their friend.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte sounded the alarm ahead of the summit, warning that the alliance’s military advantage is “being aggressively challenged by a rapidly rearming Russia, backed by Chinese technology and armed with Iranian and North Korean weapons.” In response, member states are preparing to support a proposal to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP over the next decade — a move seen as both a deterrent against Russian aggression and a strategic concession to satisfy Trump’s long-standing demands.
Financial aid to Ukraine also remains a key focus. The Netherlands, host of the NATO summit, unveiled a new €175 million ($203 million) assistance package that includes drone detection radars. This comes on the heels of a €500 million ($580 million) bilateral deal to co-produce 600,000 drones with Ukraine — highlighting Europe’s growing investment in Kyiv’s drone warfare capabilities.
As both military action and international negotiations intensify, the conflict shows little sign of slowing, leaving the region — and the world — bracing for whatever comes next.
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
