Victorious news of 882nd day of war: Ukraine's cyber specialists target Russian banks, 'kamikaze' drones hit Russian soldiers hiding in stable

EU ambassadors approve €4.2bn tranche for Ukraine under Ukraine Facility

On Wednesday, July 24, EU ambassadors approved the allocation of another €4.2 billion to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility programme.

The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union reported the information.

"Today, Ambassadors approved the first instalment under the Ukraine Plan of the Ukraine Facility Regulation, paving the way for the transfer of nearly €4.2 bn to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation," the statement said.

The next step is for the Council of the European Union to proceed with a written procedure.

Rheinmetall to build ammunition factory in Ukraine

The German military-industrial company Rheinmetall has received an order from the Ukrainian government to build an ammunition plant, which was announced in February 2024.

This is stated on the Rheinmetall website.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the near future and be completed within a few years. Production of ammunition in Ukraine will begin within 24 months. Rheinmetall and its Ukrainian partner will be jointly responsible for the operation of the plant.

The exact value of the deal is not known, but it is said to be "in the range of three-digit million euros".

"The order underlines the confidence in Rheinmetall's expertise and manufacturing capacities. We are grateful to be able to support the country in its re-industrialization and in strengthening its defense capability," said Rheinmetall AG CEO Armin Papperger.

Ukraine's intelligence launches cyberattack on Russian banking system

Cyber specialists from Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence have been targeting Russia's banking system since morning, crippling key financial institutions.

This has been reported by Economichna Pravda, RBC-Ukraine, and NV, citing their own sources.

A massive cyberattack has paralyzed key banking institutions and payment systems across Russia. Clients of Sberbank, Alfa Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, and VTB are experiencing issues or are unable to access online banking and digital services.

"As a result of the attack, payment systems, mobile banking apps, personal accounts, and public transport payment systems have either stopped working or faced significant disruptions. Major mobile operators and internet providers in Russia are also experiencing interruptions," the report states.

Additionally, the operation of Russia's national payment systems, the SBP Fast Payment System and the NSPK National Payment Card System, has been blocked or significantly disrupted.

Russians are also massively complaining on social media about the inability to use mobile communications or mobile internet from Beeline, Megafon, Tele2, and Rostelecom.

"The Russian Federation has already acknowledged that the massive disruption in online services is the result of an attack by 'politically motivated hackers.' Meanwhile, the Ukrainian intelligence service notes that the attack is ongoing and far from over," the outlet writes.

Ukrainian 'kamikaze' drones eliminate Russian soldiers hiding in stable

Ukrainian defenders from the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade targeted Russian soldiers as they attempted to take cover in an old farm building.

“Our reconnaissance team and several FPV drones were deployed for the mission. After the initial strike, the surviving Russian soldiers ran into the stables for cover. However, accurate and powerful kamikaze drone attacks soon hit the stable, neutralizing them,” the brigade's statement said.