A Russian attack in Donetsk killed a 10-year-old boy. Negotiations will begin tomorrow in Türkiye.

A 10-year-old boy was killed and five others were injured this morning following a Russian attack on the city of Kramatorsk, in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, according to Oleksandr Honcharenko, head of the city's military administration, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. Russian forces launched a guided aerial bomb that hit the building, causing a fire, Honcharenko stated: "At 7:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. GMT), one person, a child born in 2015, was reported dead. Five other people were injured and are receiving qualified medical treatment."

A discussion of memoranda for a peaceful solution and the discussion of several humanitarian issues. According to a source in Moscow cited by RIA Novosti, the new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, scheduled for tomorrow in Turkey, will focus on these two aspects. "An exchange of views is planned on the memoranda on the vision of a peaceful solution, which the delegations have already discussed previously, and the discussion of several humanitarian issues," the Russian agency's source stated. The rival parties have already held two meetings in Istanbul. The outcome was a prisoner exchange and the handing over to Ukraine of the bodies of deceased Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen. Moscow and Kiev exchanged draft memoranda on conflict resolution. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky announced that the new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia will take place on Wednesday, after Russian sources had suggested Thursday as the date for the meeting.

On the night of July 22, explosions were heard in Odessa due to the threat of Russian drones. Fires broke out in the city, and one person was injured and others were injured. This was reported by Odessa Mayor Gennady Trukhanov, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. The attack was declared shortly before 2:00 a.m. local time and was called off at 2:38 a.m. The Russian drone strike caused fires in at least two areas of Odessa. Oleg Kiper, head of the Odessa Air Defense Service (OVA), the State Emergency Service, explained that "despite the active work of our air defense forces, damage was caused to civilian infrastructure: an administrative building and cars are on fire, and windows in residential buildings were broken." "The information about the victims is being clarified," he added.

Nearly 9,500 people previously convicted of crimes have volunteered and are serving at the front in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including 100 women. This was reported by the Ukrinform news agency, which said the Ukrainian State Criminal Executive Service announced the news on Facebook. "Approximately 9,500 convicted persons are currently serving at the front, including on the front lines. Not all of them are men: 100 women with criminal records are now serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They are typically assigned to communications, logistics, and medical support units," the statement reads. The agency also clarified that 55% of the former prisoners currently serving had previously been incarcerated for property crimes. Another 11% were convicted of drug-related offenses; 9% for causing bodily harm; 6% for road accidents resulting in injury; and 6% were convicted of murder. Deputy Justice Minister Yevhen Pikalov previously stated that 37,000 people are currently convicted and in pre-trial detention in Ukraine. Up to 30% of them could potentially be eligible to join the armed forces.

Russia and Ukraine will hold new peace talks tomorrow, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, following two previous rounds that yielded little progress in the peace process. The talks will be held in Istanbul, a Turkish government spokesperson said, the same venue for previous negotiations that failed to yield any progress in May and June. While US President Donald Trump increased pressure by giving Russia 50 days to reach an agreement or face sanctions, Zelensky spoke only hours after the Kremlin downplayed hopes of a breakthrough. His announcement of a new round of negotiations also came in the wake of Russia's latest bombing of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, which started several fires and damaged an underground bomb shelter where civilians had taken refuge. "Today I discussed with (Ukrainian Security Council chief) Rustem Umerov preparations for the exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side. Umerov said the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday," Zelensky said in his daily address on Monday. Zelensky, who proposed new talks over the weekend, added that more details would be announced later today. Russia did not immediately confirm the new negotiations.

"The meeting is scheduled for July 24. The delegations could arrive in Istanbul on July 23," a Russian source told the Tass news agency after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the third round of talks in Turkey between Kiev and Moscow is scheduled for next Wednesday. The Russian delegation will again be led by presidential advisor Vladimir Medinsky and will include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Head of the General Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

The performance scheduled for August 5th in Bologna by pro-Russian Ukrainian pianist Alexander Romanovsky has been canceled. Senator Marco Lombardo, a member of the Italian political party Azione, announced the cancellation. "The decision to cancel Romanovsky's concert in Bologna by Mayor Matteo Lepore, Unipol, and Musica Insieme is right and timely," he wrote on X. "From Caserta to Bologna, when civil society joins forces with institutions, democracy is defended from foreign interference," he added. The announcement of the concert had sparked widespread protest. Romanovsky "played on the rubble of the theater in Mariupol, a city devastated by Russian invaders, a symbol of the ferocity of the fascist-Putinists. It is unacceptable that the Municipality and Metropolitan City of Bologna are guaranteeing patronage for the performance," commented the Liberal Democratic Party of Bologna.

"The moment of truth in Ukraine will come in the next 40 days, before the expiration of US President Donald Trump's ultimatum. After that, there will be no changes until winter," Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stated today. Pevkur emphasized the urgent need to provide military assistance to Ukraine, emphasizing that only increased availability of weapons will allow Kiev to sustain Moscow's push. "Although Russia has expressed its willingness to return to peace talks, nothing seems to have changed in Moscow's behavior," the minister added, reiterating that Vladimir Putin will not agree to negotiations until he is militarily defeated by Kiev.

"Our defense requires more air systems, greater coverage of our country, including for long-range strikes against Russia," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, adding: "If Putin is so unleashed on 'shaheds' (drones, ed.) and terror, he should be left without logistics. All those who work to protect life and limit Russia's war potential are working for peace," Zelensky concluded, announcing in a video message on his social media profile that the next peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv will be held on Wednesday, as agreed with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

A new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia will take place on Wednesday, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after Russian sources had suggested Thursday as the date for the meeting. "I discussed with (Ukrainian Security Council Secretary) Rustem Umerov the preparation of an exchange and a new meeting in Turkey with the Russian side," Zelensky said on his social media channels. "Umerov said the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday," he added. (AGI)Sab