Russian fuel crisis causes rush for Chinese electric cars
A Moscow car dealership is struggling to keep up with demand for new electric vehicles from China as drivers look to sidestep a fuel crisis that has led to long queues and soaring prices across much of Russia.
Escalating Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have squeezed gasoline and diesel supplies in recent weeks, prompting restrictions in most regions.
Retail gasoline prices in some areas have climbed to among the highest levels in Europe, according to Reuters calculations.
Russia’s vast distances, harsh climate, and limited charging network have curbed the growth of its EV market. But the mounting fuel challenges are leading some motorists to make the switch.
EN Cars, which specialises in Chinese brands, is selling two to three EVs per day, compared with two to three a month just a few weeks ago, founder Yevgeniy Zabelin told Reuters on Wednesday.
“Since the fuel situation became complicated, demand has grown many times over,” he said, adding that interest was rising in both budget and premium models.
Alex Croft3 July 2026 10:30
‘We will rebuild’: Ukrainians defiant after Russia ‘unleashes hell’ on Kyiv, with deadly strikes killing 30
“We will rise up and rebuild,” was the defiant message from Ukrainians after Russia unleashed one of the biggest attacks of the war on the capital Kyiv, leaving at least 30 dead, 91 hurt and 130 buildings damaged.
The EU ambassador to Ukraine said that “Russia unleashed hell on Kyiv” in the overnight attack, with 74 missiles and 496 drones launched, according to the Ukrainian air force. Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha described the assault as a “night of horror”.
The attack caused the widest destruction in Kyiv so far this year, and was the deadliest since at least May, when 24 people were killed in a strike that brought down an apartment block. Footage and images from the city showed widespread destruction as residents were left picking up the pieces.
Residents on the ground in Kyiv tell Tom Watling of their shock following overnight onslaught of missiles and drones on the capital in ‘night of horror’
Alex Croft3 July 2026 10:01
Monaco blast suspect is a woman who has been spotted in Germany – judicial sources
The main suspect behind a bomb attack in Monaco earlier this week is a woman who has been spotted in Germany, a judicial source in Monaco said on Friday.
Three people were wounded on Monday evening in a parcel bomb explosion in the wealthy principality, which was believed to be an attack on Ukrainian-born oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev, in an incident that the authorities say was almost certainly an attack targeting the tycoon.
A woman at the residence suffered very serious injuries in the attack and was being treated in a hospital in Nice, according to Christophe Mirmand, the minister of state for Monaco. Local media reports said she underwent a lower-limb amputation.
The tycoon and a 13-year-old child suffered less serious injuries, including burns and shrapnel wounds, but remain in hospital, Mr Mirmand said.
Alex Croft3 July 2026 09:34
In pictures: Strike on Kyiv kills at least 30
Rescue workers continue to search for survivors after a missile attack in Kyiv (Getty)
Zelensky has vowed to respond to Russia’s massive bombardment (Getty)
At least 30 people were killed in the attack (Getty)
Alex Croft3 July 2026 09:01
Trump wants Ukraine war settled so ‘senseless killing’ ends, says official
A US official has said Donald Trump wants the war in Ukraine to end so the killings end, a US official said.
Trump “wants this war settled so the senseless killing ends”, the official said after 27 people were killed in Russian strikes on Kyiv.
The president “remains optimistic that we’ll ultimately get a peace deal done”, they said.
Arpan Rai3 July 2026 08:29
Putin briefed on Kyiv attack as Kremlin vows to keep pressure on Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin has been briefed by his top military commander about a massive overnight Russian strike on Kyiv, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
Peskov added that Moscow would continue to increase pressure on Ukraine in order to achieve its goals.
At least 17 people were killed in the attack, and scores wounded.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Europe of escalating tensions, and said Russia was unable to turn a blind eye to such moves.
Arpan Rai3 July 2026 08:00
Monaco identifies suspect behind assassination attempt on Ukrainian tycoon
Authorities have identified the suspect behind the parcel bombing that seriously injured a Ukrainian-origin oligarch and two others, Monaco’s prosecutor general said.
Public prosecutor, Stephane Thibault, did not reveal any detail about the individual but said an international arrest warrant is being issued to arrest the suspect.
“The suspect will be the subject of an Interpol Red Notice from this evening,” the prosecutor’s office said.
France’s Le Figaro daily, however, claimed in an exclusive report that the suspect, who was captured on CCTV wearing a black fisherman’s hat, is believed to be a Ukrainian woman in her thirties who tried to pass off as a man. The woman is registered as living in Germany, according to the paper.
A press briefing will be held shortly before noon on Friday, the public prosecutor said.
Alex Croft3 July 2026 07:40
Zelensky fumes at allies for not delivering air defence to fight deadliest Russian attack
Volodymyr Zelensky has blamed the destruction in part on a failure of allies to deliver promised air defences.
“If our partners had delivered on their promises in a timely manner, I think we could have saved more homes and lives today,” said Zelensky, who looked tired and frustrated.
“All we ask of our partners is simply to do what we’ve agreed on. We’re not even asking for more.”
Later, in his nightly video address, Zelensky said the issue of air defences would be “one of the key outcomes” of next week’s Nato summit in Turkey, as he repeated his call for the development of European air defences.
“If, of course, Nato still means anything to the allies,” he said.
“Europe must have its own sufficient capability to defend against all types of threats, including this one from Russian ballistic missiles,” Zelensky said.
Arpan Rai3 July 2026 07:20
Watch: Zelensky vow to escalate fighting after deadliest strike on Kyiv this yearZelensky vow to escalate fighting after deadliest strike on Kyiv this year
Arpan Rai3 July 2026 06:58
Kallas: Words of condemnation will not stop Russia – we need more sanctions
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, responded to Russia’s large scale attack on Kyiv, and has called for more sanctions.
She said on Thursday she would propose more sanctions against Russia following a new wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine.
“Words of condemnation alone will not stop attacks on Kyiv. Only sustained military support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Moscow can do that,” she wrote on X.
“Today, I will propose to sanction more entities supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex in response to the strikes. The more Moscow attacks civilians, the more sanctions must be imposed.”
Arpan Rai3 July 2026 06:53