For today, links to four reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, the Cradle, and the Moscow Times; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 7-31-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, SYRIA, IRAN and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Kyiv mourns after deadliest attack in a year kills 31 people in Ukraine, including 5 children, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — The Ukrainian capital Kyiv observed an official day of mourning today, a day after a Russian drone and missile attack on the city killed 31 people, including five children, and injured more than 150, officials said. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine approves law restoring independence of anti-graft watchdogs following backlash, by Joanna Kakissis and Polina Lytvynova | NPR  KYIV — After a public outcry and pressure from the European Union, a new law is now in force in Ukraine restoring the independence of state agencies investigating corruption. Click HERE to read. 

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Russia records 300,000 Ukrainian losses since start of 2025. From the Cradle. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in 2025, Russian media reported today, citing weekly Defense Ministry reports. READ MORE . . .

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Putin praises troop advances, says Russia ramping up missile output despite Trump’s peace demand. From the Moscow Times. President Vladimir Putin today claimed that Russian forces were making significant advances along the front line in Ukraine and announced increased missile production, days after U.S. President Donald Trump called on him . . . READ MORE . . .

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