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The White House released declassified documents showing Russian government-linked actors tried to boost Donald Trump's 2020 campaign, contradicting Trump's previous denials. Trump had dismissed similar intelligence as a 'hoax' in 2020.
Ukrainian drone attacks on July 18 killed nine people and wounded over 60 across Russia, targeting warehouses and an oil depot. The strikes included a logistics center in Kotovsk, Tambov, where seven were killed and 25 injured, and an oil depot. President Zelensky said the strikes were retaliation for Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Russians have added 1.56 trillion roubles to circulation since January 2025, the biggest rise outside the pandemic, as mobile internet shutdowns to counter Ukrainian drone attacks disrupt card payments. The cash shift strains the wartime economy by complicating tax collection amid a widening budget deficit.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has flown to Moscow for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, departing Pyongyang on July 18, 2026. The visit follows strengthened ties since 2024, including a defence agreement and North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia in Ukraine.
The Kremlin denied US intelligence findings of Russian election interference, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating Russia has never interfered in other countries' affairs. China also rejected similar allegations. This follows Trump's declassification of intelligence documents and his speech alleging election vulnerabilities.
Trump's decision to lift CAATSA sanctions on Turkey for F-35 sales is expected to benefit other Russian arms buyers like India. The move signals a broader easing of restrictions under the 2017 law, which penalizes transactions with Russia's defense sector.
Russian women launched a social media backlash against lawmaker Nina Ostanina, who claimed a domestic violence law would discourage marriage. Bloggers criticized her remarks, with some vowing not to marry until the law passes. The New People party has introduced a bill criminalizing domestic abuse.
Russian enlistment offices have been summoning women on the military register since summer 2026, with some receiving unlawful summonses for reserve training. One pregnant woman received a summons in early July. The move follows recruitment drives for women as contract soldiers.
Russia submitted a bill to the State Duma allowing people accused or convicted of gang activity, nuclear materials theft, and state-secrets offenses to enlist during mobilization and wartime. The bill removes these crimes from the list of disqualifying offenses, expanding the military recruitment pool.
Ukrainian forces hit the Slavneft-Yanos oil refinery in Yaroslavl Oblast and multiple vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, including tankers and a patrol ship. The attack on the refinery sparked a fire; it is one of Russia's largest with 15 million metric tons annual capacity.