In a major blow to Russia’s military leadership, Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, was killed in a Ukrainian strike in Russia’s Kursk region, a top Russian official confirmed on July 3 as per a Reuters report.

Moscow has stepped up its drone and missile bombardments on Ukraine as peace talks stall and concerns grow over further US military support for Kyiv

The commander of Russia's 8th Army has been killed in a Storm Shadow missile attack in Donetsk. Reports are also emerging that the deputy commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet has also been eliminated,

The U.S. is halting some shipments of weapons to Ukraine amid concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much.

The move "was made to put America’s interests first," a White House spokeswoman said, as U.S. munitions have been depleted in recent years.

Russia, which has been sending massive waves of drones and missiles against Ukraine, said the U.S. move would help end the war early.