July 3, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

Ukraine will receive more than UAH 590 million from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency Sida – Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete to strengthen cybersecurity.

Latvia’s Government will provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with 42 Patria 6x6 armored personnel carriers and other military equipment. “We continue and will continue to support Ukraine in the future – both this year and next year we will provide Ukraine with military aid in the amount of 0.25 % of the gross domestic product.,” said Minister of Defence of Latvia Andris Sprūds.

The US Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on the russian group of companies Aeza, headquartered in St. Petersburg and involved in cyberattacks in the United States and all over the world. Two related companies and four individuals who are executives of the Aeza Group have also been sanctioned.

Germany has introduced additional measures to counter russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Baltic Sea, – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the FRG has reported. On July 1, authorities of Germany began demanding from tankers to provide information on insurance coverage in case of oil pollution damage. “Our goal is clear: we are increasing pressure on the russia’s shadow fleet and protecting the Baltic Sea,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul.

President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan has called for a complete ban on the broadcasting of russian TV channels in the Republic. He called the kremlin propagandists degenerates who inflame the atmosphere, negatively affecting relations between the two countries. “The programs of these mankurts have long been closed in our country, and their entry into the country is also prohibited. However, if their state-run channels allow themselves to interfere in Armenia’s internal affairs, we must also deny them access to the homes of our citizens,” Simonyan said.

Azerbaijan has announced gradual closure of russian-language schools and transition to teaching in the Azerbaijani language. There are more than 300 schools in the country that teach in russian.

In the first half of 2025, russian gas exports to Europe almost halved to 8.33 billion cubic meters – the lowest in half a century.

Exports of liquefied natural gas from russia in January–June 2025 decreased by 4.4 % to 15.2 million tons from 15.9 million tons in the same period of the previous year.

Wage arrears have begun to rise sharply in russia: from January to March of this year, companies’ debts to employees officially increased from 0.5 billion to 1.5 billion rubles. However, according to trade unions, the figure is much higher and reaches 2.4 billion rubles. In April, the arrears amounted to RUB 911 million, and in May – to RUB 834 million. Among the largest non-payers of wages in the first quarter was DSK LLC, a road construction company based in Tver region. As of the end of March, the company owed RUB 608 million to 3,657 employees. In addition, ““Inskaya” Mine” LLC in Kemerovo region failed to pay its employees RUB 65 million on time. In March, “Rassvet” LLC in Tula region, which operates in the catering sector, owed its employees RUB 36 million. As of the end of May, the largest wage arrears were recorded in construction (RUB 776 million), manufacturing (RUB 200 million), and water supply and waste disposal (RUB 150 million). In terms of regional distribution, the most tense situation is recorded in the Urals and Siberian Federal Districts. Those are industrial areas with a high share of enterprises dependent on borrowed funds and government orders, which makes them especially vulnerable under tough financial policy.

russian coal companies continue to increase their losses, – Deputy Director of the Ministry of Energy Department Dmitry Lopatin said at a meeting of the Siberian Development Council at the Federation Council. According to him, if the situation on foreign markets, with the ruble exchange rate and interest rates, does not change, the coal industry may accumulate 300–350 billion rubles in balanced losses by the end of the year, an amount comparable to the annual budget of large regions such as Rostov region (363 billion rubles) or Novosibirsk region.

The number of new foreign models on the russian automotive market has sharply declined. In the first six months of 2025, about 20 new cars were introduced in the country, while in the same period last year there were more than 100.

Microfinance organizations that issue “payday” loans at 292 % per annum may be banned from providing loans to russians receiving benefits and social payments, as well as those who spend half of their income on paying off debts.

The shareholders of the russian hydroelectric generating state company RusHydro, the electric power company “TGK-2”, and “GAZ” PJSC have approved the recommendations of the board of directors not to pay dividends for 2024.

The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of the rb has approved a 22 % increase in prices for sending letters, parcels and postcards for both individuals and businesses.