Russia strikes Ukraine's gas facilities for third consecutive day as Zelenskyy faces protests

Russia has attacked Ukraine's state-owned energy company Naftogaz's gas production facilities in the northeastern Kharkiv region for three consecutive days, the company said on Tuesday. The strikes come as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains under pressure over his dismissal of a popular defence minister.

In Kyiv, rare wartime protests against Zelenskyy's decisions continued for a fifth night outside the presidential office. Demonstrators demand the reinstatement of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Rumours are swirling that Zelenskyy may agree to some of the demands.

In other news, Hamish Falconer has been appointed as UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's new lead on European relations, replacing Nick Thomas-Symonds. Falconer, a former diplomat who served in the Foreign Office and Department for International Development, was elected as an MP in 2024.

A gas tanker carrying propane to the Ukrainian port of Reni was struck in the Black Sea overnight, injuring three seafarers. The vessel, the Gas Lisbon, was hit approximately 20 nautical miles off the Romanian coast. Romania's President Nicușor Dan said the strike was likely part of Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The ship was carrying over 3,790 tonnes of propane from Alexandria, Egypt.

The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia has launched more ballistic missiles against Ukraine in July so far than it is believed to produce each month, indicating it is dipping into stockpiles.