Russia schedules elections in annexed Ukrainian territories for September 10th.

Russia plans to hold elections in the four Ukrainian provinces it claims to have annexed in less than three months, despite ongoing conflict in the region. The Ukrainian military reported progress in its counteroffensive, with air defenses shooting down all 20 Iranian drones launched by Russia overnight. The International Atomic Energy Agency visited the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and said it could be kept safe for some time despite the Kakhovka Dam disaster. The feud between the leader of the Wagner Group of mercenaries and Russian Defense Ministry leaders may come to a head on July 1. Top US defense officials urged about 50 supportive countries to provide Ukraine with military aid, while NATO has seen no indication Russia has changed its nuclear posture. A group of African leaders plans to meet with Putin and Zelenskyy to unveil a peace proposal that could include the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.