Zelensky eyes replacing Defense Minister Fedorov
President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering replacing Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
It remains unclear whether Fedorov would be appointed to another government position or who could succeed him. One Ukrainian official said Zelensky and Fedorov recently held a private meeting, adding, "Fedorov and the President spoke alone; no one else heard them. That's why I don't know, and neither do the others."
Fedorov remains one of Ukraine's most trusted politicians. According to a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll conducted in May 2026, 50% of respondents said they trusted him, while 21% said they did not. One lawmaker from Zelensky's Servant of the People party told the Kyiv Independent that replacing Fedorov could prove controversial, saying, "Fedorov hasn't even been in office for a year. He's not the worst defense minister. At least he's not just a money-grabber."
Fedorov's office declined to comment. His adviser, Ukrainian activist and fundraiser Serhii Sternenko, claimed the minister had recently faced "information attacks" on Telegram after confronting corruption within the Defense Ministry.
Ukraine claims that it struck 15 more Russian vessels as the Sea of Azov campaign, totalling 105 ship strikes
Ukraine struck 15 Russian vessels overnight on 13 July as part of its campaign against Russia's maritime logistics in the Sea of Azov, Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Major Robert Brovdi, known by the callsign "Madyar," said.
According to Brovdi, the strikes targeted seven tankers, five cargo ships, one ferry, and two tugboats, bringing the total number of Russian vessels reportedly hit between 6 and 13 July to 105. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims or assess the extent of the damage.
"The peninsula's transshipment infrastructure is being stung every night, traffic through the strait has stopped, and cargo unloading has been reduced to a minimum," Brovdi wrote on Telegram, referring to logistics routes through the Kerch Strait serving occupied Crimea.
Brovdi also said Ukrainian forces struck 11 energy facilities across occupied Crimea and other Russian-occupied territories overnight, including nine electrical substations, the Kuban-Crimea power link, and a gas pumping station. He further claimed that Ukrainian forces destroyed five Russian air defense systems, including an S-400 Triumf launcher, a Tor-M2 system, a Pantsir-S1 system, and two Nebo-U radar systems.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Svyrydenko resigns
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has submitted her resignation to the Verkhovna Rada, with lawmakers expected to consider the motion in the coming days, according to Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.
Stefanchuk said the resignation would be reviewed in accordance with the established parliamentary procedure and thanked Svyrydenko for her service. "I am grateful to Yuliia for her work as head of the government during an exceptionally difficult time for our country, for her contribution to strengthening the economy, supporting the people and advancing Ukraine on its path towards the European Union," he wrote on Facebook. "I wish her every success in her future endeavours."
Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition launched in Paris
Ten European countries, including Ukraine, announced the creation of the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition following its first meeting in Paris on 13 July. The initiative aims to strengthen Europe's ability to defend against ballistic missile threats.
The founding members — Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom — said in a joint declaration that they are launching "a purely defensive Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition" and will "work at pace to develop an Anti-Ballistic capability."
The coalition said Europe requires "a global solution of integrated missile defence architecture" to counter future missile threats and that the initiative will complement existing national and European missile defence systems. Members also pledged to combine their defense industries, research, and operational experience to build a shared anti-ballistic capability, while drawing on Ukraine's battlefield experience defending against Russia's full-scale invasion.
The coalition remains open to additional countries that share its objectives.