Russia captured two villages near the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border

Russian forces have occupied the villages of Zelenyi Kut and Novoukrainka in Donetsk Oblast near the border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the monitoring platform DeepState reported on July 5. According to the platform, Russian troops are attempting to advance further west and intensify pressure near the front-line village of Dachne.

While Ukraine has deployed reinforcements, DeepState noted that Russian units, taking advantage of superior numbers and persistent infantry assaults, have breached some defensive lines. The Ukrainian military has not officially confirmed the loss of the settlements, though Russia’s Defense Ministry previously claimed control of Novoukrainka as early as June 29 — a claim not independently verified at the time.

Ukraine’s military had earlier dismissed reports of Russian advances into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast as disinformation, stating that a small Russian reconnaissance group briefly entered Dachne, took staged photos, and was subsequently neutralized.

Military spokesperson Viktor Trehubov previously reported growing Russian activity in the Novopavlivka sector, warning that Moscow was attempting to cross into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Analysts from DeepState said Russia likely sees such an incursion as symbolically and propagandistically important, while Ukraine considers holding the regional boundary a strategic imperative.

Russia seeks to involve Laos in the war against Ukraine

Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) reported on July 5 that Russia is trying to involve Laos in its war against Ukraine under the guise of humanitarian aid. According to HUR, Moscow is arranging the deployment of around 50 Laotian military engineers to Kursk Oblast, supposedly to assist in demining operations.

HUR claimed this effort is part of Russia’s strategy to legitimize the presence of foreign troops on its soil while using them to support the war. Laos is also reportedly offering free rehabilitation services to wounded Russian soldiers.

Earlier this year, Ukraine briefly captured about 1,300 square kilometers of territory in Kursk Oblast during a cross-border offensive, but later lost most of it in a Russian counteroffensive, allegedly backed by North Korean troops.

Russia has increasingly relied on foreign personnel, including fighters from North Korea, Asia, and Africa. An investigation in April by Important Stories identified over 1,500 foreign fighters from 48 countries serving with Russian forces.

Laotian authorities have not publicly responded to the report. Laos maintains close ties with both Russia and China.

Dutch intelligence collected proofs of Russia's use of chemical weapons against Ukraine

Dutch intelligence services have gathered evidence confirming Russia's large-scale and systematic use of banned chemical weapons in its war against Ukraine, according to comments made to Reuters by Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans.

Brekelmans indicated that Russia’s increasing reliance on chemical agents is deeply concerning and called for stronger international sanctions. He said the pattern shows a troubling normalization and standardization of chemical weapons use in the conflict.

Peter Reesink, Head of Dutch military intelligence, stated that the conclusions were based on independent intelligence and extensive Ukrainian battlefield data. He noted that more than 9,000 incidents involving chemical agents have been documented, with over 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers exhibiting symptoms and at least three deaths linked to such weapons.

Reesink also pointed out that Russia has ramped up its chemical weapons program—expanding research, recruiting scientists, and instructing soldiers on how to use toxic agents. He emphasized that this reflects an organized and large-scale initiative rather than ad-hoc battlefield improvisation.

He explained that the use of agents like chloropicrin has become "almost standard operating procedure," with Russian forces deploying improvised chemical munitions such as gas-filled light bulbs and modified projectiles. Chloropicrin, a banned choking agent under the Chemical Weapons Convention, causes severe irritation and can lead to respiratory distress and internal burns.

Reesink stressed the urgency of exposing these actions and increasing international pressure, including sanctions and exclusion of Russia from global organizations like the OPCW’s Executive Council, to deter continued violations.