Сeasefire would leave 25% of Ukraine under Russian control - ambassador

A ceasefire without Russia withdrawing its troops from occupied Ukrainian territories would allow Russia to strengthen its military capabilities and resume attacks on Ukraine, according to Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar. In an interview with Euronews, Bodnar criticized the idea of a ceasefire without full Russian withdrawal as short-sighted and potentially harmful.

Bodnar stated that many countries have suggested a ceasefire, but these proposals do not consider the implications of leaving approximately 25% of Ukrainian territory under Russian control. "This scenario would only serve to buy time for Russia to reinforce its military and continue its aggression against Ukraine," Bodnar explained.

Several countries, including Turkey and Hungary, which maintain diplomatic relations with Russia, have advocated for peace talks and a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. However, Bodnar emphasized that Ukraine's goal is to end the war with a complete Russian military withdrawal in accordance with international law.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously stipulated that peace negotiations require Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, a demand that Kyiv and its allies have flatly rejected.

Ambassador Bodnar highlighted that any resolution must respect Ukraine's territorial integrity as defined by international law. "Any proposal that falls short of this standard should be disregarded," he stated, reaffirming Ukraine's dismissal of Russia's preconditions for peace talks.

Bodnar also mentioned that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's recent ceasefire proposals lacked concrete details and failed to address Ukraine's core concerns during his visit to Kyiv in July.

Furthermore, the ambassador reiterated Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO, emphasizing that the country seeks membership for security and peace, not to provoke Russia or alter geopolitical dynamics. He argued that NATO is currently the only organization capable of meeting modern security demands.

Bodnar concluded by saying that if Ukraine were to join NATO, it would serve as a natural buffer between Russia and other alliance members. Meanwhile, a survey revealed that 44% of Ukrainians believe it is time to initiate formal peace negotiations with Russia, indicating a divided public opinion on the path to peace.

Ukraine downed 20 of 23 Russian aerial targets overnight

On the night of July 26, Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted 20 out of 22 Shahed-type attack drones launched by Russia, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. However, they were unable to intercept a single Iskander-M ballistic missile launched during the same period. The damage caused by the missile remains unclear.

Russia launched the drones and missile from multiple locations, including Russia's Rostov and Kursk oblasts and Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea.

One of the Shahed drones struck a residential dormitory in Nizhyn, Chernihiv Oblast, injuring one person, as reported by Vyacheslav Chaus, the regional governor. A nationwide air raid siren was issued earlier in the evening to warn of the attacks.

Drone attacks have become a daily threat in Ukraine, impacting various regions across the country. The Ukrainian Air Force's mobile fire groups were active in repelling these aerial assaults. The drones launched on July 26 were intercepted over the oblasts of Kherson, Sumy, Zhytomyr, and Chernihiv.

In recent months, Russian attacks have increasingly focused on critical Ukrainian infrastructure, particularly targeting energy facilities.

Russians hit Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi with glide bombs

Russian forces struck the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi in Kharkiv Oblast with two glide bombs on the morning of 26 July, injuring two men aged 54 and 60.