This week in the Russia-Ukraine war (July 12)

A snapshot of the latest news from around the world regarding the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Political developments

Sources told CNN and other media on Thursday that U.S. and German authorities earlier this year foiled a Russian plot to assassinate Armin Papperger, the CEO of German defense company Rheinmetall.

North Korea has sent military trainers to Russia, according to North Korean state media. A delegation led by Kim Il Sung Military University President Kim Geum Chol left on Monday. The two countries recently signed a pact to strengthen military cooperation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Moscow this week for a two-day visit to seek a promise from Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia would release Indians forced into active combat duty on the battlefields in Ukraine.

Military aid for Ukraine

New British Defence Secretary John Healey has pledged to increase British support for Ukraine during a visit to Odessa less than 48 hours after his appointment. This latest package includes 10 AS-90 self-propelled artillery guns and 90 Brimstone missiles.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated his commitment to provide Ukraine with £3 billion in annual military aid. Starmer also hinted that London would allow Kyiv to use its Storm Shadow missiles to attack military targets on Russian territory.

Northrop Grumman is the first U.S. company to sign an agreement to produce weapons in Ukraine, a company official said this week.

The Norwegian government has announced that it will donate six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said on Wednesday. The planes are expected to arrive this year, but an exact date was not given. Norway is replacing its old F-16s with Lockheed Martin F-35s. The Netherlands and Denmark have also announced plans to donate F-16s to Ukraine.

The delivery of the Danish and Dutch F-16s is “underway,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. Belgium expects to send the first of 30 F-16s to Ukraine this year after signing an agreement with Kyiv.

Poland, meanwhile, said it would consider deploying a squadron of MiG-29s to Ukraine if Warsaw’s allies could help supply the Polish Air Force with replacement aircraft.

Norway is also sending spare parts for Sea King helicopters to Ukraine, which will be used to maintain six aircraft donated by Germany. Norway’s Sea King fleet was in service between 1973 and 2023. The United Kingdom also plans to donate three Sea Kings to Ukraine. Norway’s decommissioned fleet has reached its maximum number of flight hours and cannot be donated, according to the government.

Western countries will supply Ukraine with additional air defense systems. Kyiv is to receive three more Patriot air defense batteries. Allies will donate Patriot components for a fourth Patriot battery. Italy will supply an additional SAMP-T air defense system. A new $225 million U.S. PDA package announced on July 11 will also supply more NASAMS and Stinger ammunition.

Ukrainian troops will soon receive 18 Bohdana 155mm self-propelled howitzers, purchased with financial support from Denmark under an agreement supporting the procurement of goods from the Ukrainian defense industry.

Battlefield Updates

The Russian military has attacked a Ukrainian air base in Poltava, a city in central eastern Poltava. The operation took place on July 3. The airfield was hit by an Islander ballistic missile. This is the second attack on a Ukrainian air base in the region within the last week.

Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure. An attack on July 11 involved two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and six Shahed drones. One missile hit the northeastern region of Sumy.

A Russian missile also hit a children’s hospital in Kyiv, killing two people and injuring over a dozen. Financial Times The investigation revealed that the Kh-101 cruise missiles used in the attack consisted of Western components.

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