Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

The US Department of State has approved the sale to Ukraine of two military aid packages worth $322 million. “The Department of State has decided to approve the possible sale to the Government of Ukraine of foreign military means of the HAWK Phase III missile system, support systems, and related equipment in the amount of approximately $172 million,” the statement said. Our  country will also buy Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and maintenance equipment for these combat vehicles worth approximately $150 million.

The Lithuanian defense technology company RSI Europe has handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces hundreds of Shpak drones, designed to carry out long-range, precision strikes using various types of explosive charges.

“Just imagine: guided bombs dropped by russia on a residential complex (Kharkiv), medical and educational institutions in Ukraine. russia seeks nothing but destruction and war,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Baiba Braže.

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President of the European Commission Ursula von Der Lyen and President of the European Council Anthony Kosta have called on Chinese leader Xi Jinping to put pressure on russia to end the war against Ukraine and not to provide any material support to the russian military-industrial complex.

In May 2025, the accumulated financial result (profit minus loss) decreased by 38.7 % to 1.76 trillion rubles. Compared to April, when the profit of the enterprises was 2.93 trillion rubles, the figure decreased by 40.2 %.

russia, one of the world’s largest exporters of sunflower oil, reduced supplies in the first half of 2025 by 38 % compared to the same period last year.

Against the background of enormous losses of manpower in Ukraine, the funeral business in the rf showed a 16 % growth over six months. Demand for funeral services remains stable due to demographic factors. In January–April, the market grew by 12.7 % to RUB 39.5 billion.

Domodedovo Airport announced the threat of bankruptcy a month after the nationalization.

The state duma has passed in the final reading a law obliging cellular operators to block funds on subscribers’ accounts and suspend services upon request of law enforcement agencies.

To increase the birth rate, which this year is breaking anti-records for more than 200 years, the russian government has created “demographic special forces”. This was announced by the speaker of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko. According to her, thanks to the “special forces” of officials, “we managed to make family-centeredness a national cause”.

russia’s international reserves decreased by $1.6 billion from July 11 to July 18.

With the Central Bank’s high interest rate and the inaccessibility of financial instruments for automobile purchases, the market declined by almost 40 % in the medium-duty truck segment, by 30 % – in the light commercial vehicle segment, and by 60 % – in the bus segment in the first half of the year.

Only 20 % of russians assess their financial situation as good.

On July 22, state duma mp from “United russia” Mikhail Tarasenko took part in voting on 11 draft laws, although at the same session the speaker announced his death. An hour after Tarasenko pressed the button for the last time, Volodin announced that the deputy died at the age of 77. “Let’s honor the memory of our colleague, a comrade who had been working with us in this hall since 2007,” Volodin said. He added that the mp was “seriously ill” and fought, but “the disease was stronger”.

The Novosibirsk branch of the Liberal Democratic Party of russia has nominated 42-year-old Danil Shargan, a veteran of the war in Ukraine, for the city council. Shargan is a defendant in a case of torture of children, and his case has been pending in court since June 2025. According to the prosecution, from November 2023 to March 2024, he systematically beat his wards on the head with wooden sticks in a sports camp for children, causing the children to “suffer physical pain and mental suffering”.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys has said he has asked US representatives to help release Lithuanian citizens imprisoned in belarus.

The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (VSAT) has purchased multi-purpose helicopters and UAVs to guard the border with belarus and Kaliningrad region of the rf.

The Polish Sejm has voted to extend the temporary restriction on the right to apply for asylum at the border with belarus.

The Government of Estonia has made personal sanctions against belarus, in particular against self-proclaimed president lukashenko, indefinite. Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsakhkna has emphasized that the belarusian regime’s violence against belarusians, human rights violations and its participation in russia’s aggression against Ukraine have not changed, so it is necessary to continue implementing the existing sanctions. The total list of sanctioned individuals includes 273 people, including belarusian officials, judges, security forces, propagandists and people close to lukashenko.

Minister of Economy of belarus Chebotar explained the weakness of the industrial sector by “the delay in agricultural work and the decline in activity in russia, which accounts for most of the foreign trade.”

In belarus, potatoes have risen in price 2.99 times over the past year and a half, with a 13.38 % increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages. In 2024, prices for potatoes increased by 31.17 % (by 5.90 % for food and non-alcoholic beverages in general), and in the first half of 2025 – by 127.80 %, or 2.28 times (by 7.06 %). In June 2025, potatoes rose in price by 35.40 %, second only to beets (+35.92 %).

The total area of commissioned housing for belarusian citizens registered as the needy decreased by 33.6 % over four years. The amount of housing commissioned with the use of state support was by 44.4 % less over the same period.