Key Points and Summary – Russia has brutally escalated its attacks on Ukraine just days after President Trump shortened his peace ultimatum to just 10-12 days.
-A recent missile strike on a Ukrainian training camp killed three soldiers and wounded 18, following attacks that killed 21 civilians at a prison and medical facility.
-The Kremlin remains defiant, with former President Dmitry Medvedev warning Trump’s ultimatum is a “step towards war” with the U.S.
-In a rare bright spot for Kyiv, Ukrainian special forces conducted a successful amphibious raid, capturing territory and destroying a Russian radar station in Kherson.
Russian Strike on Ukraine Training Camp Deepens Crisis
Three Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 18 wounded following a missile strike on a training camp, Ukraine’s Ground Forces confirmed late Tuesday.
The attack marks a continued escalation by Moscow against Ukraine’s military infrastructure, just days after US President Donald Trump issued a sharply reduced deadline for Russia to make “progress” toward ending the war, or face severe economic consequences.
21 Civilians Killed Earlier this Week
A Ukrainian Ground Forces training unit was hit by the missile barrage on 29 July amid a wider increase in Russian attacks. It comes just days after the killing of21 civilians when a prison and medical facility were hit in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro respectively.
It comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Moscow over the war. Trump — speaking in Scotland earlier this week — issued an ultimatum to Vladimir Putin: come to the negotiating table within 10 to 12 days, or face sweeping new US sanctions and tariffs. “I’m disappointed in President Putin,” Trump said, voicing frustration over Russia’s repeated ceasefire violations. “We thought we had settled numerous times. And then Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv… with bodies lying all over the street.”
Kremlin Stands Firm on Ukraine
Yet the Kremlin is unmoved. Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and now deputy head of the Security Council, dismissed Trump’s threat as naïve. “Russia isn’t Israel or even Iran,” Medvedev wrote on X, warning that ultimatums risk dragging America deeper into the war.
Other Russian officials echoed the message, stressing that Moscow sees no incentive to engage in negotiations.
Indeed, Russia’s behavior on the battlefield suggests it is digging in. On 28 July, Ukrainian special forces launched a rare and daring amphibious assault on the Tendra Spit — a narrow island off the coast of Kherson oblast — capturing the territory and raising the Ukrainian flag.
Ukrainian military intelligence claimed to have destroyed a Russian electronic warfare complex and radar station during the operation. Ukrainian casualties: none. Russian losses remain unclear.
Trump Pressures China and India
Meanwhile, Trump’s team has also been ramping up pressure on Russia’s enablers. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned China that continued purchases of sanctioned Russian oil could soon trigger 100% tariffs under legislation pending in Congress. The US is also threatening “secondary sanctions” against other Russian oil customers.
But Trump’s gamble is high-risk. While he claims US oil production can offset market disruptions, global energy volatility remains a potent wildcard.
And with the Kremlin openly defying American deadlines, it remains to be seen whether economic pressure alone can alter Russia’s calculus — or whether the war in Ukraine is entering a darker new chapter.
One thing is clear: missile strikes on military camps and civilian sites alike are not the actions of a regime preparing to make peace.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
Fighter Jet Fails
Russia’s Su-57 Felon Stealth Fighter Is a Waste of Rubles
Jim
July 30, 2025 at 10:29 am
I’m tired of hearing of Ukrainian civilian casualties from war supporters. Why?
Because the terrorist regime in Kiev has no compunctions about killing & murdering Russian civilians.
Since the violent coup in 2014 and the break away of the Donbas, Kiev has engaged in a campaign of terrorism.
Most egregious? The random shelling into Donetsk City before the invasion, roughly eight years of random shelling leading to over 10,000 civilian deaths.
Random shelling into civilian areas is terrorism pure & simple.
And, I could list a dozen other instances of killing civilians on purpose, not as collateral damage by errant munitions or proximity to military forces, but rather where the first purpose was to kill civilians and sow fear among the populace and induce political/psychological changes in the populace.
That’s terrorism.
Terrorists deserve death!
Get to know it.