Ukraine says Russian strikes kills three in the east
A man riding a bicycle beneath anti-drone nets in Orikhiv, in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, on July 15.
KYIV - A combined Russian strike on the afternoon of July 15 killed three people in eastern Ukraine, local authorities said, after US President Donald Trump gave Moscow 50 days to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.
Russia has been stepping up its summer offensive campaign as Washington-mediated ceasefire talks stall, claiming more ground in eastern Ukraine while pounding it with combined drone, artillery and missile strikes.
'Two dead and two injured: law enforcement officers recorded the consequences of another enemy attack in the Kupiansk district,' the Kharkiv region prosecutor's office said on social media, adding that the victims were 67 and 69 years old.
Regional authorities in Sumy said a 50-year-old local resident had died after 'the enemy fired artillery at the outskirts of the Velykopysarivska community'.
Elsewhere on the front line, Russian forces claimed two more villages in the Donetsk region, increasing the pace of their advance.
A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's western city of Voronezh wounded 27 people, local officials claimed on July 15.
Mr Trump said he had
struck a deal with Nato to supply American air defence systems and weapons to Ukraine and threatened Russia with tariffs and sanctions, as he grows frustrated with Russian leader Vladimir Putin for rejecting a ceasefire and instead intensifying attacks. AFP
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an hour ago
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Nearly 1,800 young people received counselling between January 2024 and March 2025. HPB and the Ministry of Education will also soon start a year-long virtual cessation counselling pilot for all secondary schools, slated to kick off in July. Meanwhile, medical practitioners and public healthcare institutions have been told to record all suspected and confirmed etomidate-linked vaping cases. In a circular dated July 9, MOH and HSA said medical practitioners should also get patients to surrender their e-vaporisers and consider sending their urine samples for testing. Schools have also sent advisories to parents through Parents Gateway, an app that connects parents and schools on key administrative matters. The advisory provides warning of the dangers of vaping and how parents can protect their children. Secondary school teacher Lim (not his real name) said he has received e-mails from his school's student management committee to look out for vapes. 'Metal detectors have been used during bag checks, but that only happens if there is a tip-off or when we have a valid reason to be suspicious that the particular student possesses a vape,' said Lim. Mr Gopal Mahey, senior counsellor at the Centre for Psychotherapy, said more parents and their children have reached out for help in dealing with addiction to vaping. He said many clients had initially assumed that vaping was a safer or 'cleaner' alternative to cigarettes. 'With substances like etomidate or even tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and amphetamines being laced into the same devices, the risks have escalated dramatically.' 'I've had clients who shared that they unknowingly inhaled drug-laced pods because a friend had handed it to them at a party,' said Mr Gopal. He said the young people are still navigating through their formative years and may be seeking belonging and approval from others. 'If we don't intervene strongly now, with compassion, clarity and consequence, we risk watching this generation inhale their way into a new form of dependency, and by the time many seek help, it's already taken root. 'The window for prevention is narrow but it's still open,' he said.
