Ukraine: Russia steps up bombings as Lavrov meets Kim

Russia launched 597 drones and 26 missiles in an overnight air assault on Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Aa a result, at least two civilians were killed in the western Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi, local authorities said.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who arrived in North Korea for a visit, met with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un.

Here is a roundup of the latest news on Russia's war in Ukraine on July 12, 2025:

07/12/2025July 12, 2025

Slovakia wants EU guarantees on gas before signing Russian sanctions

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said his country is hoping to find agreement with both the European Commission and EU partners regarding gas imports and Russia sanctions.

Slovakia is currently grappling with the European Commission over its proposal to halt all Russian gas imports to the bloc by 2028 before signing off on a sanctions package punishing Russia's continued war of aggression against Ukraine.

The proposal, says Slovakia, could lead to supply shortages, increased costs and eventually expose the country to breach of contract claims from Russian supplier Gazprom — with whom Slovakia has committed to major purchase contracts that do not expire until 2034.

On June 10, the Commission proposed a new package of sanctions targeting Russia's energy, financial and defense sectors.  

Fico has suggested he has no problem signing the sanctions deal and that he could do so as soon as Tuesday if agreement is reached over Slovakia's gas import concerns.

07/12/2025July 12, 2025

Russian foreign minister meets with Kim Jong Un in North Korea

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has arrived in North Korea to hold talks.

He met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the port city of Wonsan, Russia's Foreign Ministry said, but did not provide any further details.

Lavrov, who traveled from this week's ASEAN summit in Malaysia, is scheduled to remain in the country until Sunday.

During his stay — the latest high-level trip by a Russian to the hermit kingdom — Lavrov will meet with North Korean Foreign Ministry officials.

Upon departing North Korea Lavrov will travel to China, where he will attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) — an economic and security alliance consisting of Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — on Monday and Tuesday.

North Korea has grown to be one of Russia's closest allies since the launch of the war in Ukraine.

Beyond seeking to assist one another with trade and tourism projects, the two increasingly sanctioned countries have mutual defense agreements and North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

South Korean intelligence has said Pyongyang may be preparing to send more in the coming weeks.

07/12/2025July 12, 2025

Russia launches another massive overnight attack on Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha condemned overnight Russian drone and missile attacks that authorities say killed at least two people and injured 14 more in the western city of Chernivtsi, near Ukraine's border with Romania.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy  said on his Telegram account that Moscow had launched a total 597 drones and 26 missiles. 

The western cities of Lviv and Lutsk, near Ukraine's border with Poland, were also heavily damaged — with over 50 apartment, school and municipal buildings getting hit in Lviv alone. Major fires were reported as well.

Targets in central and eastern Ukraine were also hit say authorities, with damage reported in Kharkiv and Kirovohrad Oblast.

"Russia continues to escalate its terror, launching another barrage of hundreds of drones and missiles, damaging residential areas, killing and injuring civilians," wrote Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on X.

"Russia’s war machine produces hundreds of means of terror per day. Its scale poses a threat not only to Ukraine, but to the entire transatlantic community."

Sybiha urged lawmakers in the EU and US to increase sanctions on Russia to stop its arms production and thus the endless nightly onslaught of drones and missiles mainly upon the country's civilian population.

07/12/2025July 12, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Welcome to DW's coverage of the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine. 

On Saturday, we start with Russia launching yet another massive overnight air assault. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha condemned Russian "terror" and the scale that it has grown to. 

Sybhia's Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, meanwhile, has arrived in Pyongyang to meet with North Korean officials.

Stay tuned for more news and analysis.