Russia launched two Kh-59/69 guided missiles and 122 drones against Ukraine overnight on July 15, the Ukrainian Air Force said.

According to the BBC Russian Service, Ukraine’s Air Force said that as of 8:30 a.m., air defence systems had shot down 101 drones.

Authorities in the Sumy region reported that three people were killed and 20 injured in an air strike.

Officials in the Odesa region said three people were killed and eight injured in an attack on the morning of July 15. The region has been subjected to large-scale strikes for five consecutive days.

In the Zaporizhzhia region, one person was killed in a drone strike.

According to the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, one person was killed and two others were injured in an attack in the Kryvyi Rih district.

Another person was killed in a drone attack in the Chernihiv region.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said a 67-year-old man was killed and another person injured in a Russian air strike in the Mykolaiv region.

In Kharkiv, seven people were injured in a guided aerial bomb attack.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed 93 Ukrainian drones between 8:00 p.m. on July 14 and 7:00 a.m. on July 15 over six Russian regions, including the Moscow region, Crimea, and the skies over the Azov and Black seas.

The governor of the Voronezh region said one person was injured and three private homes were damaged.

The governor of the Rostov region said debris from a falling drone damaged the roof of a private house, adding that no casualties were reported.

Ukraine was the main recipient of German arms exports in the first half of 2026, with Germany approving a record €13.87 billion in exports of military equipment and defence-related products during the period, according to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs.

“According to preliminary data, export licences for military equipment worth approximately €13.87 billion were granted in the first half of 2026. Ukraine was the main recipient country,” the ministry said in a statement published on its website.

Sam Chatto, the grandson of Princess Margaret, has announced his engagement to his girlfriend, British-Armenian artist Eleanor Ekserdjian.

Sharing the news on Instagram, Chatto wrote:

“I’m really delighted to say that Ellie and I are engaged. And we couldn’t be happier. I proposed with a porcelain ring which I made.”

The couple have been together since 2021. Both are graduates of the University of Edinburgh.

In 2022, Chatto and Ekserdjian visited Armenia. As part of their collaborative project, Imagined Landscapes, the couple spent nearly a month travelling across the country, exploring Armenia’s historical and cultural heritage as well as its unique architectural landmarks.

Chatto, a ceramic artist, and Ekserdjian later presented the works inspired by their journey in an exhibition showcasing the outcome of their month-long project.

Ekserdjian comes from a distinguished family with deep roots in the arts and academia. Her father, David Ekserdjian, is a renowned art historian and Distinguished Professor of the History of Art and Film at the University of Leicester.

Her grandfather, Colonel Noubar Martin Ekserdjian, belonged to one of the prominent Armenian families of the Ottoman Empire. He also served as an executive of the Iraq Petroleum Company, founded by Calouste Gulbenkian.

Ekserdjian’s mother, Susan Moore, is an art critic for the Financial Times.

Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan received Satu Koivu, the newly appointed Head of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA), at the Ministry of Defense headquarters.

According to the Armenian Ministry of Defense, the sides discussed issues related to the activities of the European Union Mission in Armenia.

Sargsyan congratulated Koivu on her appointment as Head of the European Union Mission in Armenia and wished her success in carrying out the mission.

The Armenian government has included on the agenda of its July 16 meeting the ratification of the Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation with the United States on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project.

Under the non-reportable draft decision, the government proposes approving the draft law on the ratification of the agreement.

The framework agreement was signed in Washington on June 1, 2026, and in Yerevan on June 4, 2026.

The draft decision also provides for referring the agreement to the Constitutional Court to determine whether the obligations enshrined in it are in conformity with the Constitution of Armenia.

If the Constitutional Court finds the agreement’s provisions to be consistent with the Constitution, the government’s legislative initiative will be submitted to the National Assembly in accordance with the established procedure.

Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan will be appointed as the government’s representative before the Constitutional Court.

According to the explanatory note accompanying the draft law, its adoption will ensure the completion of the procedures required for the entry into force of the Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation between Armenia and the United States on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project.

The draft law was prepared by the Armenian Foreign Ministry and is in line with the government’s priority of comprehensively advancing relations with the United States.

Konstantin Sokolov, a Russian-born private equity investor based in Chicago, will serve as chairman of the U.S. State Department’s new Tripp+ enterprise fund, which will oversee more than $200 million designated for the Central Asia trade corridor, including investments in transportation, energy infrastructure and critical minerals.

The Guardian reported the news, noting that the State Department has confirmed Sokolov’s appointment.

The Tripp+ enterprise fund, where Sokolov serves as founder and chairman, takes its name from the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project. According to The Guardian, a State Department spokesperson said the $201 million fund is authorized to make equity investments, provide loans and grants promoting strategic private-sector development in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The spokesperson said the fund would comply with applicable statutory requirements, including annual reporting and independent audits to ensure transparency and accountability, as well as applicable grant provisions, including conflict-of-interest requirements.

The Guardian recalls that during his visit to Yerevan in February, U.S. Vice President JD Vance described the Tripp+ fund as part of a “historic transformation” that would “open up a whole new world of trade, transit and energy flows.”

Sokolov is a major shareholder in Viva Armenia, the country’s largest telecommunications company. He also holds positions with the Northern Pillar Energy Consortium, a clean energy and fiber-optic undersea cable initiative connecting Europe and Africa, and serves as chairman of Pelagos Data Centres.

He is also the founder of IJS Investments, a Chicago-based private equity firm specializing in “future-ready” energy and telecommunications, and Gotthard Investment AG, a Zurich-based private equity firm focused on financial services, energy and global real estate.

The Guardian also notes that following the preliminary peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan brokered by the White House in August 2025, the Trump administration has taken unprecedented steps to deepen ties with Armenia by committing $9 billion to boost the country’s nuclear energy sector and selling $11 million worth of U.S.-made reconnaissance drones to the Armenian government, marking the first-ever U.S. sale of military technology to Armenia.

Festival tourism continues to grow in Armenia, with an increasingly diverse calendar of events held across the country each year. The Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economy supports numerous festivals throughout the year, placing particular emphasis on promoting Armenia’s regions.

Speaking at a press conference, Diana Karapetyan, Head of the Marketing and Promotion Department at the Tourism Committee, said festival tourism plays an important role in the development of the country’s tourism sector.

“Festival tourism is of great importance for the development of the industry. We place particular emphasis on festivals held in Armenia’s regions, as they contribute to the balanced development of local communities. Hosting festivals outside the capital has a tangible positive impact on those communities,” Karapetyan said.

She noted that local communities look forward to these festivals because they attract large numbers of visitors. Hotels and guesthouses benefit from the increased demand, while residents have the opportunity to sell their handmade products, agricultural produce and other local goods. Karapetyan added that improving local infrastructure is equally important, noting that the government continues efforts to upgrade roads, street lighting and other essential facilities.

With the support of the Tourism Committee, 12 tourism festivals will be held across Armenia by the end of the year.

Among them is Yeghegis Fest, dedicated to nature, honey and music, which will take place in the village of Hors in Vayots Dzor Province. The festival will feature performances by brothers Arsen and Artur Safaryan and the Lav Eli band.

On August 1, the Barbecue Festival will take place in the northern town of Stepanavan.

Mehak Apresyan, President of the Armenian Tourism Federation, said the festival is being held for the 13th time and has become one of Armenia’s most anticipated tourism events.

“Every year, the festival demonstrates just how eagerly it is awaited by both local communities and visitors. We have tourists who travel to Armenia specifically to attend the Barbecue Festival. It provides an excellent opportunity not only to showcase Armenian cuisine but also to introduce visitors to the tourism potential and cultural heritage of the local community,” Apresyan said.

Another major event on the calendar is GYUMRI DALAN FEST-2026, which will take place in Gyumri on August 7–9.

Lilit Tovmasyan, Head of the Culture and Youth Affairs Department of the Gyumri Municipality, said the festival was first launched in 2019 and is returning after a lengthy break.

“This is more than just a music festival. Through it, we aim to showcase Gyumri’s cultural and public spaces. Three of the city’s largest and best-preserved dalans have been selected as festival venues,” she said.

The festival will open with performances by the Uru and Kangun bands, followed by the rock band Tiezerk, while Kuchi Blues will close the event.

The festival calendar will continue with the Navasard Armenian-Iranian Cultural and Culinary Festival, which will be held on August 10–11 in the Sisian community of Syunik Province.

From August 14 to 21, HAY-AT JAZZ will travel to Yeghegnadzor, Goris, Vanadzor, Tavush and Dilijan.

On September 5, aviation enthusiasts will gather in the Kotayk Province town of Yeghvard for Armenia Air Fest, while the Arts and Crafts Festival will be held the same day in Dilijan.

The Armenia International Music Festival is scheduled for September 9 in Yerevan.

The 4th International Watercolor Festival “Colors of Armenia” will take place in Gyumri on September 18–20, while the THÉÂTRONS Festival, an international Francophone performing arts festival, will open on September 28.

Wine lovers will gather in Areni for the Areni Wine Festival on October 3, while from October 6 to 11 visitors will have the opportunity to discover Armenia from above during the International Ballooning Festival.

Karapetyan said the diversity of the festival calendar is one of its greatest strengths, allowing everyone to find events that match their interests.

“It is evident that festivals like these bring tourists to Armenia. In many cases, visitors from different countries travel to Armenia specifically to attend a particular festival, which is both encouraging and gratifying. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” she said.

Presenting tourism statistics for the first half of the year, Karapetyan said Armenia welcomed 1,041,598 tourists between January and June, representing a 14.8% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

The largest numbers of visitors came from Russia, Georgia and Iran. The top ten source markets also included China, Germany, the United States, Ukraine, Italy, France and India.

Social programmes implemented in Sisian are easing the daily challenges faced by residents. Within the framework of the EU-funded “Partnership for Syunik: Enhanced Community-Based Social Services” project, People in Need, the WINNET Goris Development Foundation, and Armenian Caritas have implemented several initiatives in Sisian in cooperation with local partners.

Deputy Head of Sisian Municipality, Anna Karapetyan, noted that the municipality had previously conducted a detailed assessment of local social needs. This was particularly important, given the large geographic area of the community and the dispersion of settlements.

“Our 36 urban and rural settlements are geographically quite distant from one another, and not all villages had public transport connecting them to Sisian town. Based on this issue, as well as the number of persons with disabilities, it was proposed to establish a social taxi service for people with mobility impairments. Thanks to the EU, we acquired an adapted vehicle that provides dignified and safe mobility of persons with disabilities and the serves the needs of socially vulnerable families,” said Karapetyan.

She added that priority access to the social taxi service is given to people with first-degree disability due to mobility impairments or those with severe functional limitations, as well as members of vulnerable families or households in difficult life situations.

Currently, 17 people use the social taxi service in Sisian. The project is designed so that transport is provided after assessing the purpose of travel. Priority destinations include medical and educational institutions, non-formal education centres, and locations providing social rehabilitation, psychosocial, socio-cultural, socio-economic, and legal counselling services.

“Those who need it, use the social taxi service completely free of charge. They are from both Sisian town and nearby villages. The municipality covers their transport costs. We had a good opportunity when People in Need announced the sub-grant scheme, and we implement our idea through this grant. Within the structure of the Sisian Transport Municipal Non-Commercial Organisation, both the driver and his assistant are already employed. Future operational costs will be covered by the municipal budget,” Karapetyan explained.

According to her, Sisian Municipality is the first in Armenia to introduce a social taxi service for its residents. She noted that the introduction of this service has helped change public perceptions and build greater trust in both the municipality and the state, as vulnerable groups are no longer left behind.

One of the main destinations for the Sisian social taxi service is the Goris Rehabilitation Centre, where transportation has become more accessible and convenient for local residents. The Armenian–French rehabilitation centre, “Sante Armeni”, operates with European Union funding.

Lena Dallakyan learned about the centre through relatives living in Goris; she is very satisfied with the services provided to her three-year-old son Her child, who was unable to stand at nine months of age, has shown significant improvement since attending the centre. Dallakyan brings her child twice a week. Initially, they used regular taxis, which were costly, but since the introduction of the social taxi service, the avoid this financial burden.

Kristine Harutyunyan also learned about the centre through relatives. She has been bringing her three-year-old child there for nearly two years. The child also had mobility issues but has now started walking following treatment. Kristine hopes that, thanks to the speech therapist’s support, the child will also begin to speak more freely. Previously, she also had to pay significant amounts for taxi transport from Sisian, but the social taxi has made travel much easier.

According to parents, the rehabilitation centre and the social taxi service have created real opportunities for families in Sisian. At the centre, children work with qualified specialists, including a kinesiotherapist, speech therapist, and psychologist. After attending sessions, the children have become more active, responsive, and engaged with their surroundings.

Speaking to Armenpress, Shushanik Mirumyan, President of the Darman Social and Health NGO, referred to the “Children’s Dream” programme, through which living conditions were adapted in 17 households with children.

“Unfortunately, the homes of persons with disabilities are often not adapted to their needs. They spend most of their time at home, and this creates additional difficulties not only for them but also for their caregivers. As a result, their full integration into society becomes quite challenging,” she said.

Within the framework of the “Partnership for Syunik: Enhanced Community-Based Social Services” project, the Public Consultation and Research Centre (PCRC) and the Darman NGO conducted a survey of home conditions for persons with disabilities in Goris, Sisian, and Kapan communities. A total of 112 families were assessed, international best practices were reviewed, and a methodology was developed for improving and adapting housing conditions for persons with disabilities in Armenia.

The study received significant attention, was included in Syunik’s five-year development plan, and is currently being considered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs as a potential new type of social service.

The “Partnership for Syunik: Enhanced Community-Based Social Services” project is implemented by People in Need within the framework of the EU Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative, in cooperation with the WINNET Goris Development Foundation and the Armenian Caritas. 

The Resilient Syunik – Team Europe Initiative is a joint programme involving the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, ten EU Member States (Austria, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden), and Switzerland. This initiative promotes sustainable socio-economic development in the Syunik region. 

Researchers participating in an international scientific collaboration involving leading research institutions from several countries, including the A.I. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory (formerly the Yerevan Physics Institute), have measured the frame-dragging effect with unprecedented precision. The findings have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature.

The announcement was made by Armenia’s Higher Education and Science Committee.

Among the co-authors of the paper, “LARES-2 satellite measures frame-dragging effect around the Earth,” is Professor Vahagn Gurzadyan, Head of the Center for Cosmology and Astrophysics at the A.I. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory.

The paper presents the results of an analysis of data collected by the LARES-2, LAGEOS, and GRACE satellites. Based on these data, the researchers succeeded in measuring the frame-dragging effect with unprecedented precision. Predicted by Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, the phenomenon describes how the rotation of a massive body-in this case, the Earth-affects the structure of the surrounding spacetime.

The findings confirm the predictions of the general theory of relativity in the vicinity of Earth, achieving a level of precision approximately ten times greater than that of previous measurements.

Beyond its significance for fundamental physics, the research also has important practical applications for more precise studies of Earth’s gravitational field and tidal phenomena. The results have attracted widespread attention from the international scientific community as well as science news outlets.

The Center for Cosmology and Astrophysics at the A.I. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory is participating in the LARES satellite program, a collaborative initiative involving the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the European Space Agency (ESA), and several leading scientific institutions. As part of the program, the LARES-2 satellite was launched into space in 2022.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has said he looks forward to continuing joint efforts to strengthen Lithuania-Armenia relations and support Armenia’s European agenda.

Budrys made the remarks in a post on X in response to a post by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan congratulating him on his reappointment as Lithuania’s foreign minister.

Mirzoyan wrote:

“Warmest congratulations, dear friend Kęstutis Budrys, on your reappointment as Lithuania’s Foreign Minister! I highly value our close ties and look forward to continuing our cooperation to deepen the Armenia–Lithuania partnership and advance Armenia’s European agenda. Wishing very success!”

Responding to Mirzoyan’s post, Budrys wrote:

“Dear Ararat Mirzoyan, thank you for your warm wishes. I deeply appreciate our friendship and cooperation, and look forward to continuing our joint efforts to further strengthen Lithuania-Armenia relations and support Armenia’s European agenda.”

On June 23, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė resigned following changes within the governing coalition. The coalition was reshaped after the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party decided in early June to end its cooperation with the Dawn of Nemunas party, accusing it of pursuing populist policies. The Democrats for Lithuania party subsequently joined the coalition, prompting what was described as a “government reset.”

On June 25, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda nominated Mindaugas Sinkevičius, leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, for the post of prime minister. Lithuania’s parliament approved the nomination on June 30.

Sinkevičius subsequently reappointed Kęstutis Budrys as foreign minister.