Military aid from the US, strikes on Dnipro and Kharkiv, and Trump's plan to end the war: highlights for July 3

Investigation by hromadske: Strategic port sold to company linked to pro-Russian businessman

The founder of the company that bought the Ust-Dunaisk International Trade Port from the State Property Fund of Ukraine is a business partner of pro-Russian Odesa businessman Andrii Ivanov, who now lives in Serbia.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the port became a strategic asset for a time, as the ports of Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson shut down.

US allocates new aid package to Ukraine

The White House has announced another $150 million military aid package for Ukraine, which includes HAWK missiles, ammunition for HIMARS systems, artillery shells, and more.

Shelling

On the morning of July 3, Russians attacked Dnipro with missiles and strike drones. Five people were killed and 53 injured, four of them in serious condition.

In Kharkiv, 14 people were injured in air strikes, including a baby.

Moreover, in the Kharkiv region, the Russian military attacked the village of Borova, leaving one dead and one wounded. The occupiers struck the village of Ruska Lozova in the Kharkiv region with guided aerial bombs: two civilians were injured, one of them in serious condition.

In Poltava region, one person was killed in a Russian strike.

Near Toretsk, the occupiers attacked an evacuation vehicle: two paramedics were injured.

Politico: Trump's plan includes territorial concessions

Citing two national security experts associated with US presidential candidate Donald Trump's entourage, Politico writes that the politician is considering talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on “NATO non-expansion” and how much of the seized territory of Ukraine the Kremlin can keep.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if Trump has a plan to end the Russian-Ukrainian war, he should share it. However, he warned that any proposal should not violate Ukraine's sovereignty.

The head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, also emphasized that Ukraine is not ready to give up its territories, but is ready to listen to advice on establishing a “just peace”.

Intelligence officers stopped a metallurgical plant in Russia

On the night of July 1, officers of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Foreign Intelligence Service attacked the Oskol Ugarov Electrometallurgical Plant in the Belgorod region. This is the only full-cycle metallurgical enterprise in Russia.

After the attack, all electric arc furnaces at the plant stopped, as the metal froze.

Reuters: NATO agrees annual funding for Ukraine

NATO members have agreed on annual funding of 40 billion euros for Ukraine, Reuters reports, citing an unnamed European diplomat.

NATO leaders are expected to sign the pledge at a summit in Washington on July 9-11.

Ukraine receives $2.2 billion from the IMF

Ukraine has received a $2.2 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund. The transferred amount should help the Ukrainian government finance critical budget expenditures, social benefits, and salaries for doctors and teachers.

Man curses veteran doctor with prostheses in Odesa

In a veterinary clinic, a man cursed at doctor Oleksii Prytula, a veteran of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, when he apparently saw that he was wearing prostheses. The visitor wanted the vet to come to his dog.

Later, a video of the man apologizing appeared online. He says he did not see that the vet was wearing prostheses. The doctor said he did not accept the apology.

Tyshchenko remains under round-the-clock house arrest

On July 3, the Kyiv Court of Appeal left MP Mykola Tyshchenko under house arrest. The politician tried to appeal against the preventive measure imposed on him on June 25 after a conflict with a former military officer in Dnipro.

The lawyers said that there were not enough MPs in the parliament, to which the judge replied: “There are also not enough judges, but we are working somehow.”

Bloomberg: China, Russia working with Russia to develop analog of Shahed drone

Bloomberg, citing European officials, writes that Chinese and Russian companies are developing a drone analogous to Iran's Shahed attack drone. This indicates that Beijing is preparing to transfer lethal weapons to Moscow, as Western officials have previously warned, the journalists say.

Other important news of the day:

• More than 100 Ukrainian prisoners were executed in Russian prisons. The ICC is involved in the investigation of torture.
• The U.S. State Department has announced the conditions under which Washington will allow U.S. weapons to strike deep into Russian territory.
• Ukrenergo predicts when to expect easing of power outage schedules.
• The occupiers want to secretly bury teenagers from Berdiansk Tyhran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khahanov, who were killed by Russians.