Russians continue to attack civilian vessels in blocked ports of Ukraine
Russian forces struck civilian merchant vessels in ports in Mykolaiv Oblast overnight on July 26–27, killing one person and injuring several others, according to the Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine.
The port administration said the vessels have remained trapped in Ukrainian ports since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 and have not been used for commercial shipping. It described the attack as another deliberate strike on civilian vessels and port infrastructure.
In a statement, the administration said the attacks demonstrate the systematic nature of Russia's campaign against Ukraine's maritime sector and pose a direct threat to civilian sailors. It emphasized that targeting ships unable to leave blocked ports for years underscores the continued risks facing Ukraine's port infrastructure and civilian maritime operations.
All gas stations on the way from Kharkiv to Poltava are destroyed
Russian attacks have destroyed more than 80 gas stations in Kharkiv Oblast, leaving the highway between Kharkiv and Poltava without any operational fuel stations, according to Kharkiv Oblast Council member Oleksandr Skoryk.
Skoryk said the situation is deteriorating, with the hardest-hit route being the Kharkiv-Kyiv highway, particularly the section between Kharkiv and Poltava. He said all gas stations along that stretch—including those in Valky and Chutove—have been destroyed, with the last operating station in Valky reportedly struck on July 26.
According to Skoryk, Russia has destroyed more than 200 gas stations across Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, including over 80 in Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast. Despite the losses, he said there is currently no fuel shortage. He advised drivers planning to travel the Kharkiv-Poltava route to refuel in advance, as there are effectively no opportunities to purchase fuel along the highway.
Kremlin says that it is too to comment on new peace initiatives after reported US-Ukraine ceasefire talks
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on July 26 it was "premature" for Moscow to comment on reports that the United States and Ukraine are coordinating proposals for a partial aerial ceasefire.
His remarks followed reports that Kyiv and Washington are preparing a new set of peace proposals, including an aerial ceasefire, to present to Russia. Peskov said the Kremlin could not assess the reports because they were based on media publications and that Moscow first needed to evaluate any proposals and determine whether they aligned with Russia's interests. He added that while new peace formulas may emerge, Russia's response would depend on how closely they correspond to its objectives.
On the same day, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had already communicated its ceasefire proposals directly to Russia. He said Kyiv had presented all the necessary proposals to end the war with "a worthy peace" and that Ukraine's international partners were aware of the required steps. Zelensky also said Ukraine would continue conducting long-range strikes against updated targets inside Russia to increase pressure on Moscow to return to negotiations.
Ukrainian intelligence has identified the Russian troops responsible for the drone strike on a supermarket in Chernihiv
Ukraine's military intelligence (DIU) said the Russian unit responsible for launching a jet-powered drone that struck an ATB supermarket in Chernihiv on July 26 was the Grom Kaskad Unmanned Aviation Brigade.
According to the DIU, the Geran-4 jet-powered drone hit the supermarket at 4:12 p.m., killing two people, including a 10-year-old child, and injuring 25 others, including three children. Ukrainian intelligence said the drone was launched by Combat Group No. 3 of the brigade, whose senior officer was identified as A. O. Sergunin. The drone, equipped with a video camera, was reportedly launched from a drone base in Navlia, Bryansk Oblast.
The DIU said the Grom Kaskad Unmanned Aviation Brigade operates under Russia's Aerospace Forces and specializes in long-range drone strikes, including attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine. The agency added that members of the brigade can sign short-term military contracts and receive the status of participants in Russia's war without being deployed to the front line. Ukrainian intelligence previously identified the brigade's commander as Ruslan Negrub and said efforts to identify other personnel involved in the attack are ongoing.