A Roundup of the Top News Stories with Volodymyr Orlov: The Attack on Kyiv, Monaco, NABU, and “Flamingo”

Massive combined attacks on Ukraine and the situation in the regions

On the night of July 2, Russia launched a large-scale combined missile and drone strike on Ukrainian territory, with 13 regions coming under fire. Kyiv suffered the most damage, with dozens of strikes and falling debris reported, causing massive fires and the destruction of residential buildings. In addition to the capital, Odesa, Poltava, and the Sumy region were hit by missile strikes. A powerful strike with guided aerial bombs (KABs) was also recorded in Kharkiv, killing one child and injuring dozens of people. Units of the State Emergency Service and municipal services continue to work at the impact sites, and search-and-rescue operations are ongoing.

Assassination Attempt on a Ukrainian Businessman in Monaco

On June 29, the Principality of Monaco experienced its first-ever explosion, which investigators have classified as an attempted murder. As a result of the incident, Vadym Yermalayev, a Dnipro-based real estate developer and one of Ukraine’s wealthiest individuals—who has been subject to National Security and Defense Council sanctions since 2023—suffered burns and shrapnel wounds. The perpetrator fled the scene. Speculation has emerged in the media about a possible link between the attack and the activities of fraudulent call centers, as the businessman’s eldest son had previously been implicated in an international case involving such operations, was detained in Cyprus, and extradited to Estonia. Officially, this connection has not yet been confirmed; however, journalists note that in February, another Dnipro resident, Igor Komarov—who was also linked to call centers—was killed in Bali under similar circumstances.

NABU Steps Up Investigations into Members of Parliament

Recently, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine has significantly stepped up its investigations into members of parliament. Among the most high-profile recent cases are the issuance of a notice of suspicion to Mykola Tyshchenko, proceedings against Yulia Tymoshenko, and the completion of the pre-trial investigation in the cases of Anna Skorokhod and Oleksandr Kachny. In addition, Serhiy Kuzminykh was detained immediately upon his return to Ukraine, and a new journalistic investigation was published regarding Vyacheslav Medyanyk. Such a concentration of criminal cases on the eve of important votes regarding the very functions of NABU itself raises questions among experts regarding the integrity of the evidence and the possibility that it is being used as a tool to influence the legislative branch.

Ukrainian “Flamingo” Missile Strikes Secret Plant in Russia

Ukrainian defense forces carried out a successful attack on the Russian full-cycle enterprise “Titan-Barikady,” where launchers for the “Iskander,” “Yar,” “Topol,” and the new “Oreshnik” missile. At least five Ukrainian “Flamingo” cruise missiles were fired at the facility, most of which hit their targets. The General Staff reported that three workshops were destroyed, after which a massive fire broke out at the plant. The “Flamingo” missile has been in serial production since last August and is considered the most successful domestic development in the current arsenal.

Abnormal betting activity on Polymarket regarding a change of power in Russia

The online prediction platform Polymarket has recorded a sharp increase in trading volume surrounding the question of whether Vladimir Putin will remain head of state until the end of 2026. In just a few days, platform users wagered approximately $12 million in cryptocurrency on this prediction, which is an unusually high figure for political issues. At the same time, Forbes published an article by columnist Melik Kaylan, who drew parallels with the regime collapses in Russia in 1917 and 1991, which occurred following failed military campaigns, and noted that all the preconditions for a repeat of such a scenario currently exist in Russia.

New Verification Rules for Internally Displaced Persons

Starting July 1, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine will begin monthly checks to verify the actual whereabouts of internally displaced persons. If an IDP stays abroad for more than 90 consecutive days, their IDP certificate will be revoked. Additionally, the Pension Fund of Ukraine will conduct automatic checks of citizens’ income and assets; based on the results, assistance may be terminated if they do not meet the criteria. At the same time, for individuals unable to work, the income threshold has been raised to 10,380 hryvnias per person; the deadlines for restoring documents lost due to the war have been extended; and payments to citizens without income will continue automatically.