World

At least 20 killed on July 25; Tokaïev calls on Putin to 'freeze' Ukraine conflict

Herz — World Desk · 25 July 2026 at 22:38 · 30s summary · 4 min read

The essentials

At least 20 people were killed on July 25, 2026 in Ukraine and Russia, according to authorities from both countries. At a Kazakhstan-Russia forum in Omsk, Siberia, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev publicly called on Vladimir Putin to stop fighting and freeze the Ukrainian conflict — a televised statement extremely rare from a Moscow ally. According to pro-Russian authorities, a Ukrainian strike killed 12 people including 4 children at a tourist camp in occupied Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine struck an oil refinery in Tyumen, Siberia, 1,700 km from Moscow, and a weapons plant in Kirov. The UN reported a 37% increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine in the first half of 2026.

At least 20 killed on July 25, 2026, similar death toll to previous day
Kazakh ally Tokaïev publicly urges Putin to freeze conflict at Omsk forum
12 dead including 4 children at Kyrylivka tourist camp in occupied Zaporizhzhia, pro-Russian authorities say
Ukraine strikes oil refinery in Tyumen, Siberia and weapons plant in Kirov again
UN reports 37% rise in civilian casualties across Ukraine in first half of 2026

What we know

At least 20 people were killed on July 25, 2026 in Ukraine and Russia, according to authorities from both countries, according to France 24. On the previous day, 21 people had died in similar circumstances.

At a Kazakhstan-Russia cooperation forum in Omsk, Siberia, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev publicly called on Vladimir Putin to "stop" the fighting and "freeze" the Ukrainian conflict — a statement broadcast on television, extremely rare from a Moscow ally. Putin responded that he would inform him of the "details."

incomprehensible to many, including us
— Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev describing the "roots" of the war, forum in Omsk, July 25, 2026

Tokaïev has never expressed support for the invasion of Ukraine despite his alliance with Moscow.

Strikes on July 25

Pro-Russian official Evgeny Balitsky reported that a Ukrainian attack on the village of Kyrylivka — on the Sea of Azov coast in occupied Zaporizhzhia region — hit a tourist camp, killing 12 people including 4 children and wounding 19 others. Kyiv did not respond immediately.

Zelensky announced that a Russian drone struck a postal facility in Sumy (northeastern Ukraine), killing 3 drivers.

Russian local authorities reported 2 deaths in the border region of Belgorod and 1 death in the occupied part of Kherson region. Two other people were killed by Russian strikes in southern Ukraine.

Ukraine strikes deep into Russian territory

Zelensky claimed a strike on an oil refinery in the Siberian region of Tyumen, 1,700 km from Moscow. A second strike targeted a plant in Kirov supplying components for Russian weapons — the day after a first attack on the site that killed 5 people.

In Yekaterinburg, a drone alert interrupted a national athletics competition. Wildberries, a Russian online retail company founded in 2004, evacuated its staff for the third time in a week — the building sustained no damage.

Context: daily violence intensifies

The UN warned of a 37% increase in the number of civilians killed or wounded in Ukraine in the first half of 2026.

On July 24, Russia fired at least 10 ballistic missiles at Kyiv — Ukrainian air force intercepted only one in three. A missile struck a weapons exhibition in the western suburbs of the capital, killing at least 10 people and wounding around 100 others. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko opened an investigation for war crimes.

Ukrenergo, the Ukrainian national company responsible for electricity transmission on the high-voltage network, reported damage in 5 regions following the July 24 strikes.