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

The IMF Executive Board has completed the first review of the new program for Ukraine under the Extended Fund Facility, paving the way for our country to receive approximately $690 million from the IMF in the coming days.

Spain will support the restoration and modernization of Ukraine’s air navigation infrastructure. To this end, a series of agreements has already been signed to modernize Ukraine’s air traffic control system in accordance with European standards.

UNESCO is considering adding “Chersonesos of Taurica” in the temporarily occupied Crimea to the list of World Heritage sites under threat  due to military actions and climate-related factors.

Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz and new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andy Burnham have  agreed to continue providing comprehensive support to Ukraine and to increase pressure on russia.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Poland Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has  stated that there has recently been an increase in russian activity near Poland’s airspace.

Minister of Defence of Latvia Raivis Melnis has ordered the deployment of radar systems and drone detection equipment along the border with the rf  by the end of September to significantly strengthen border defenses against unmanned aerial vehicles.

The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) has decided to terminate the current  EUR 2 million grant to the Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia after the rf’s pavilion resumed operations in a limited format at the Venice Biennale this spring.

For the sixth consecutive month, the bank of russia has been selling gold from its reserves to cover the federal budget deficit, which has reached nearly 6 trillion rubles over the past six months. In June, the central bank’s gold reserves – the fifth-largest in the world – decreased by another 0.3 million troy ounces, or by 9.33 tons, and have fallen  by 1.4 million ounces, or by 43.5 tons, since the beginning of the year.

In July, the russian population’s inflation expectations  stood at 14.7%. This figure rose by 2.3% compared to June. The observed annual inflation rose from 14.2% to 15.1%. One of the factors contributing to the acceleration of inflation in June was a 7% increase in petrol prices.

Revenue from russia’s mineral extraction tax on crude oil – the main source of budget revenue from the oil industry – will decline by 18% in July 2026.

russians withdrew another 500 billion rubles in cash from banks over two weeks. On average, banks were losing cash at a rate of more than 1 billion rubles per hour.

The amount of government support for small and medium-sized businesses in russia fell by nearly 14% in the first half of the year.

A quarter of housing under construction in the rf   has faced financing problems.

The labor shortage in russia’s hotel and restaurant industry stands at 25–30% of the staffing level.

Business travel activity in January–June 2026 fell by 15% compared to the same period last year. This is due to the general economic slowdown and businesses’ efforts to cut costs.

Foot traffic at russian shopping centres has fallen by a quarter over the past seven years. Their  foot traffic is by  27% lower than in 2019.

The government of the rf has allowed bandits, members of organized crime groups, and smugglers to enter into contracts with the ministry of defense.

In July, russian exporters will ship 1.5 million tons of wheat abroad – by one-third less than in the same month last year (2.1 million tons) and half the average for the past five years.

In at least 25 regions of russia, public transportation operators have raised fares, while in another 10 regions, they have reduced the number of trips or changed their schedules.

russia’s  auto market has begun to shrink amid the fuel crisis. From June 22 through  28, sales of new passenger cars totaled 25,900 units – by  16.2%  fewer than the previous week. The decline also affected the commercial vehicle segment. Sales of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) fell by 10% compared to the previous week – to 1,338 units. Sales of trucks fell by 15.6% – to 1,010 vehicles. Year-on-year, LCV sales decreased by 19.2%, while truck sales fell by 6.6%.

Amid an acute fuel crisis and a shortage of diesel fuel, the ministry of agriculture has suggested that russian farmers consider using furnace fuel – which is typically used in steam boilers and industrial furnaces – as well as diesel fuel with a higher sulfur content (meeting “Euro-2” and “Euro-3” standards).

Authorities in chelyabinsk region have deployed police officers to monitor lines at filling stations in order to “ensure order and safety”.  chelyabinsk region is now the 13th  region in the rf to have deployed siloviki to monitor the situation at filling stations.

In volgograd, police detained five local residents who were recording a video message to the head of russia’s investigative committee, complaining that local officials are allowed to fill up their petrol tanks without restriction.

deputy head of the “united russia” faction andrey isaev has compared russians dissatisfied with the fuel crisis with  “offended teenagers”.