Day 1,235 of the Russia-Ukraine war: A Summary of Major Developments

By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda Updated at 1806 EAT on Sunday 13 July 2025

Ukrainian officials reported that overnight Russian airstrikes on Saturday killed at least two people in the western city of Chernivtsi and injured 38 others across the country. The attacks damaged civilian infrastructure in multiple regions, stretching from Kharkiv and Sumy in the northeast to Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi in the west.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence stated that it targeted facilities within Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, including sites in Lviv, Kharkiv, and Lutsk, as well as a military airfield.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine noted that June recorded the highest monthly civilian casualty figures in three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 wounded.

Meanwhile, in Russia, one person was killed when a shell hit a private home in the Belgorod region, according to regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged “unconditional support” for all actions taken by Moscow in Ukraine, according to statements made during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The two officials met in North Korea, where Lavrov also held talks with his counterpart, Choe Son Hui, in the city of Wonsan. North Korean state media reported that both sides issued a joint statement affirming mutual support for the protection of their national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Lavrov also warned the United States, South Korea, and Japan against forming alliances “directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia.”

Meanwhile, in Europe, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico said his government hopes to secure guarantees by Tuesday from the European Union and its partners to protect Slovakia from potential fallout if Russian gas imports are phased out.

Slovakia has been blocking the EU’s proposed 18th sanctions package against Russia, objecting to a provision that would end all Russian gas imports by 2028.

The country relies heavily on Russian gas through a long-term deal with Gazprom valid until 2034, and fears shortages, price hikes, and possible legal repercussions if the supply is abruptly cut.

In a related development, Russia blamed Western sanctions for the breakdown of its 2022 agreement with the United Nations aimed at facilitating the export of Russian food and fertilizers. The three-year deal was designed to stabilize global food prices but has since collapsed, according to Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv is “close to reaching a multilevel agreement” with the United States for additional Patriot air defence systems and accompanying missiles. He added that Ukraine is also ramping up domestic production of its own interceptor systems.

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