From our news desk:
New Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Heletey has vowed to hold "a victory parade" in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March.
Addressing parliament on July 3, Colonel General Heletey said: "Believe me, there will be a victory parade -- there will be for sure -- in Ukraine's Sevastopol."
Heletey was approved by lawmakers after being recommended by President Petro Poroshenko.
A new head of the joint chiefs of staff, Lieutenant General Viktor Muzhenko, was also appointed.
Meanwhile in eastern Ukraine, government forces pressed their offensive against pro-Russian separatists after the expiration of a 10-day cease-fire late on June 30.
In Berlin, the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France agreed on July 2 to work on another truce, with talks starting on July 5 at the latest. (ITAR-TASS and the BBC)
Excellent investigative report from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) documenting illicit sales of RPGs and other weapons to Ukraine by a Moldovan criminal group with access to Russian armories in Transdniester.
Meanwhile, in Moldova....
-- Russia and Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester say they have signed a series of agreements to minimize the impact of Chisinau's new ties with the European Union.
On July 3, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Transdniester leader Yevgeny Shevchuk oversaw the signing of agreements covering economics, trade, transport, agriculture, and science.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said fostering closer cooperation was especially important due to "regional and economic conditions becoming more complicated."
Shevchuk said Moldova's increased ties with the EU would bring more disadvantages than advantages.
Meanwhile, Russia’s agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor announced it will restrict meat imports from Moldova from July 5 over "violations of veterinary-sanitary demands and norms" -- a move the EU said looked like retaliation.
Moldova's parliament ratified the country's Association Agreement with the EU on July 2 despite Moscow's objections.
Meanwhile, in Moldova....
-- Russia and Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester say they have signed a series of agreements to minimize the impact of Chisinau's new ties with the European Union.
On July 3, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Transdniester leader Yevgeny Shevchuk oversaw the signing of agreements covering economics, trade, transport, agriculture, and science.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said fostering closer cooperation was especially important due to "regional and economic conditions becoming more complicated."
Shevchuk said Moldova's increased ties with the EU would bring more disadvantages than advantages.
Meanwhile, Russia’s agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor announced it will restrict meat imports from Moldova from July 5 over "violations of veterinary-sanitary demands and norms" -- a move the EU said looked like retaliation.
Moldova's parliament ratified the country's Association Agreement with the EU on July 2 despite Moscow's objections.
Lovely, melancholy look at rural life in Ukraine's Sumy villages bordering Russia.
Made by Ukrainian filmmaker Maria Shcherbak and shared with RFE's Ukrainian Service.