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AFP: "The offensive is not fast, that's a fact. But nevertheless, we are advancing, not retreating, like Russians," Zelensky told reporters alongside Czech President Czech leader Petr Pavel. "We now have the initiative," he said.

The Insider: Russian propagandists have infiltrated Serbian institutions, universities, and media, says political scientist Aleksandar Djokic.

NY Times: Russian troops have placed machine gun nests on the roofs of power units at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, the head of the country’s state nuclear company said, the latest claim that Russian forces are fortifying defenses at the facility.

FT: Albatross, the company operating on a key site for Russo-Iranian collaboration, has produced reconnaissance drones for President Vladimir Putin’s defence ministry, with roughly 50 delivered for combat in eastern Ukraine.

AFP: UNESCO on Thursday condemned the bombing of a historic building in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv and expressed "its sincere condolences" to the families of five victims.

Le Monde: Wagner's mercenaries face uncertain future in Africa. Back under Moscow's control after a short-lived mutiny, the paramilitary group holds highly valuable assets in Africa, where its model has proven successful.

Bloomberg: Romania said it will host a regional hub for the training of F-16 fighter jet pilots, which will also be available to the Ukrainian military.

NBC News: A group of former senior U.S. national security officials have held secret talks with prominent Russians believed to be close to the Kremlin — and, in at least one case, with the country’s top diplomat — with the aim of laying the groundwork for potential negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Ministry of Defence: Finland will deliver more defence materiel to Ukraine, the President of the Republic decided on the matter on 6 July 2023 on the proposal of the Government. This will be the 17th package of defence materiel to Ukraine, including anti-aircraft weapons and ammunition, among other items.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Finland will continue to impose restrictions on the travel by Russian citizens on the basis of a government resolution issued on 6 July 2023. Non-essential travel by Russian citizens to Finland and through Finland to the rest of the Schengen area will continue to be restricted for the time being. At the same time, restrictions will be tightened for business travellers, property owners and students.

POLITICO: From national hero to drug-addled, bewigged zero: the Kremlin’s propaganda machine has turned against Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin.

WSJ Exclusive: Bulgaria is nearing an agreement to sell two Russian-made nuclear reactors and other critical equipment to Ukraine’s state-owned atomic energy company as Europe moves to roll back Moscow’s hold on the continent’s power supplies.

Reuters: Russia and Ukraine announced a prisoner of war exchange on Thursday involving the return of 45 soldiers from each side.

AFP: Ukraine said Thursday that "tension" around the Moscow-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was "decreasing," after Kyiv and Moscow accused each other this week of plotting provocations at the atomic facility.

CNN: Washington should crank up the pressure on Moscow as Putin is confronted by a powerful one-two punch of military and economic failures, former CIA director David Petraeus tells CNN. “Putin is in a very, very difficult situation,” Petraeus said in a phone interview. “We need to continue to tighten the screws.”

Bloomberg: Finland is planning to retaliate after Russia on Thursday announced the expulsion of nine diplomats and ordered the closing of Finland’s consulate in St. Petersburg.

Meduza: According to Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Belarusian service, three camps in Belarus that have been used to train and equip mobilized Russian soldiers are being dismantled. They were able to make this determination by analyzing satellite imagery from Planet Labs.

The Guardian: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has changed how Germany views security and made Berlin realise it failed to listen to eastern European allies who warned of threats from Moscow, Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, has written in the Guardian.

Reuters Exclusive: Raiffeisen Bank International is delaying plans to leave Russia, three people familiar with its position said, as Austria steps up its defence of long-standing ties with Moscow.

CNN: Russian soldiers captured in trench warfare say they never expected to be on the front line.

worth mentioning

Russian rouble hits 15-month low after Wagner mutiny

Romanian port key for Ukraine grain faces overflow as Black Sea deal on edge

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