Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- Ukraine and the EU agreed on a drone deal to combine Ukraine’s expertise with the bloc’s industrial capacity
- European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced the deal during a visit to Kyiv
- Russian strikes have hit the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions in southern Ukraine
- Three people were killed in Odesa and at least four others were injured
- Officials said civilian, industrial and port infrastructure came under attack
Here is a roundup of DW’s coverage of developments regarding Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday, July 15:
Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google. Then tap the “Star” or “Preferred” to keep DW News at the top of your feed.
Skip next section Ukraine and EU seal blocwide drone production deal07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Ukraine and EU seal blocwide drone production deal
Ukraine and the European Union have agreed on a new “drone deal” combining Kyiv’s battlefield expertise with the EU’s industrial capacity to expand production.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the agreement during a speech in Kyiv marking Ukraine’s Statehood Day.
“We need to combine our strengths,” she said. “This deal will bring together Ukrainian ingenuity and Europe’s industrial scale.”
Ukraine has built a sophisticated drone industry since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, transforming a sector in which it previously had limited expertise.
Kyiv has already signed similar agreements with individual countries. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed three more at last week’s NATO summit in Ankara, bringing the total to nine. The deal involves countries and companies across the EU.
“The knowledge you have gained on how to work drone and anti-drone systems is truly unique,” von der Leyen told Zelenskyy.
“We must tap into this together. Because we know the threats that Europe faces in this area — we have seen incursions and alerts across many member states,” she added.
Von der Leyen said the EU could offer Ukraine vast technological and industrial capacity, as well as secure production sites.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5H8hDSkip next section Von der Leyen’s visit ‘shaped by one central theme’07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Von der Leyen’s visit ‘shaped by one central theme’
Katharina Kroll in Kyiv
A blue sky with light clouds hung over Kyiv Wednesday as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stepped off an overnight train at the central railway station.
She was welcomed with flowers by Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign affairs minister, before beginning a packed day.
Von der Leyen arrives in a city that has been under some of the heaviest Russian bombardments of the war in recent days. Residential buildings have been hit, fires have broken out across the capital, and civilians have been killed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to present von der Leyen with the Order of Europe, a distinction recently established by the president as part of Ukraine’s Constitution Day commemorations. The award recognizes outstanding personal contributions to supporting Ukraine’s strategic course toward full membership in the European Union.
The entire visit appears to be shaped by one central theme: the growing integration of Ukraine and the European Union.
As Kyiv continues its push toward EU membership, Brussels has responded with the opening of the second negotiation cluster steps in the accession process.
Several EU member states insist that accession rules must be applied strictly. In particular, concerns remain over corruption and the implementation of rule-of-law reforms.
Still, the political message from von der Leyen is expected to repeat what she said during her first visit shortly after the start of the war, that “Ukraine belongs to the European family.”
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5H8JNSkip next section Russian guided bombs kill 3 in Sumy region07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Russian guided bombs kill 3 in Sumy region
A Russian attack has killed at least three people and wounded 17 others in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region.
Regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov said Russian forces launched six guided aerial bombs during the daytime assault.
One bomb struck near medical facilities, while others appeared to hit infrastructure, according to preliminary information.
“Three people were killed and 17 were wounded,” Hryhorov said.
He said a woman and a man were among those killed. A third victim suffered such severe injuries that authorities were initially unable to determine the person’s gender.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H8PjSkip next section Von der Leyen visits Kyiv with focus on defense ties07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Von der Leyen visits Kyiv with focus on defense ties
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has arrived in Kyiv for her 11th visit to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Von der Leyen said she would unveil new initiatives to bring the EU and Ukrainian defense industries closer together and accelerate production.
“It’s a special moment,” she wrote on X after arriving in the Ukrainian capital. “Ukraine has built a strong military momentum. The tide is turning.”
“I will announce new initiatives to integrate our defense industries. So we can produce more, and faster,” she said.
“We will also discuss accession and preparations for this winter.”
The EU is advancing accession negotiations with Kyiv, although Ukraine is not expected to complete the process before the next decade.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also due to present von der Leyen with the Order of Europe.
Her spokeswoman said the award recognizes “outstanding personal merit in helping Ukraine defend its independence and the security of all of Europe.”
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5H7oVSkip next section Russian strikes on Odesa kill 307/15/2026July 15, 2026
Russian strikes on Odesa kill 3
Russian forces have struck port and residential infrastructure across Ukraine’s southern Odesa and Mykolaiv regions, killing three people and injuring at least four others.
The attack on Odesa hit residential buildings, killing three people and leaving three more with moderate injuries, city military administration chief Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram. The wounded were taken to the hospital.
Odesa regional Governor Oleh Kiper said Russia’s “massive” combined drone and missile assault had continued for a fifth consecutive day, targeting civilian, industrial and port infrastructure.
In the neighboring Mykolaiv region, a Russian drone strike on port facilities injured one man early on Wednesday, regional Governor Vitaliy Kim said.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed carrying out a combined attack on the Odesa region using air-launched precision weapons and combat drones.
Moscow said it targeted fuel storage tanks and loading facilities allegedly used by the Ukrainian military at the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk, as well as a drone production site.
Odesa has repeatedly come under Russian attack because of its strategic role as a major Black Sea port. Civilians have frequently been killed in strikes on the city since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H7j9Skip next section Welcome to our coverage07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Richard Connor | Wesley Rahn Editor
Thank you for joining us as we bring you the latest developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
First, let’s take a look at what happened on Tuesday, when Russia launched another major attack on Kyiv, firing ballistic missiles and drones at the Ukrainian capital.
Air defenses intercepted five ballistic missiles, but other weapons struck the city, damaging warehouses and a school and starting fires in at least two districts.
Ukraine, meanwhile, carried out long-range drone attacks on two Russian oil refineries.
One strike targeted an industrial facility in Salavat, in the republic of Bashkortostan, more than 1,400 kilometers from the front. Russian officials reported fires and smoke but said there were no casualties.
At sea, Ukraine said it struck tankers and cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov, in the latest strikes on Russian commercial shipping. Moscow’s Agriculture Ministry said “alternative shipping routes” were being sought.
In Paris, around 500 troops from countries belonging to the “Coalition of the Willing” marched in the annual Bastille Day parade.
Ukrainian troops were cheered along the Champs-Elysees, while Ukrainian and French pilots flew Mirage 2000B fighter jets overhead. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders.
The display followed a summit at which Ukraine and nine partner countries announced plans to develop a shared European shield against ballistic missiles, as Kyiv seeks additional protection from intensifying Russian attacks.
Ukraine also entered a period of political change after parliament approved Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko’s resignation. President Zelenskyy ordered the government reshuffle, saying Ukraine needed to adjust its political strategy to meet new challenges. He had not yet named her replacement.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5H7itShow more posts
About The Author
