New Himars and Javelin from the USA and Kharlan will fight for bronze at the Olympics. Main events for July 29.

President Zelensky visited the front line and congratulated the Special Operations Forces soldiers on the holiday

On the Day of Special Operations Forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the forward command post of the SOF in the Kharkiv direction near Vovchansk, congratulated the soldiers on the holiday, and awarded them state honors.

The President awarded the soldiers with state honors, including two Heroes of Ukraine, and granted the 142nd training center of the SOF the honorary title "named after General-Khorunzhiy Vsevolod Zmyenko".

Zelensky and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky listened to the report of the Commander of the Special Operations Forces Oleksandr Trepak on the strategy for the SOF development and the completed and planned tasks.

The US announced a new aid package for Ukraine: what it will include

The US announced a new security aid package for Ukraine worth up to $200 million under the special presidential authority program. This was reported by the White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby. The security aid will include air defense means, Himars artillery ammunition, mortar shells, and Javelin anti-tank missiles.

Ban on transit of Lukoil's oil: Fico threatened Ukraine

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, during a meeting with the Ambassador of Ukraine Myroslav Kastran, threatened Ukraine with consequences if Kyiv does not restore the transit of Russian Lukoil's oil.

During his address, the Slovak Prime Minister mentioned that he discussed the issue of Lukoil's deliveries with the Ambassador of Ukraine. The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar and State Secretary Marek Eshtok.

"If the transit of Russian oil through Ukraine is not restored soon, Slovnaft will not continue diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine, which covers one-tenth of Ukrainian consumption," he stated.

Kharlan confidently advanced to the Olympic semi-final

Olga Kharlan continues to win at the 2024 Olympic Games. In the quarter-finals, the Ukrainian defeated Hungarian Anna Marton with a score of 15:7.

The bout was entirely controlled by our fencer. Now, to win an Olympic medal, she will need to secure one victory in the two remaining matches.

Later it became known that Kharlan lost in the semi-finals of the 2024 Olympics in saber fencing to Frenchwoman Sarah Balzer. The French representative won the bout with a score of 15:7.

However, Kharlan's path at the 2024 Olympics continues. Today at 21:50, the fencer will fight for the bronze medal. Her opponent is not yet known.

An explosion occurred at Germany's largest chemical plant, there are casualties

Today, July 29, an explosion occurred at Germany's largest chemical plant BASF, injuring 14 people.

A huge cloud of smoke formed over Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg) and Ludwigshafen (Rhineland-Palatinate). A firefighting brigade is engaged at the BASF plant. According to the company, environmental monitoring machines are operating on the plant's territory and beyond. City authorities and firefighters issued a warning about the danger due to the release of combustion products. According to a preliminary report, smoke gases were released as a result of the fire.