INSIDE RUSSIA
Russian Navy Begins ‘July Storm’ Drills
The Russian Navy has started the “July Storm” drills in the waters of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the Baltic and Caspian Seas, the Russian Defense Ministry informed.
“From July 23 to July 27, under the general leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Aleksandr Moiseev, the operational exercise of the Navy ‘July Storm’ is being conducted in the waters of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the Baltic and Caspian Seas, with the involvement of forces from the Northern, Pacific, Baltic fleets and the Caspian flotilla,” the ministry said in a statement.
The exercises involve:
Over 150 warships & support vessels
120 aircraft
10 coastal missile systems
950 military/special vehicles
More than 15,000 troops
OUTSIDE RUSSIA
India counters EU pressure on Russian oil
New Delhi has said the bloc needs to have a clear perception of the global energy situation
India has denounced the European Union’s pressure tactics against New Delhi for importing and refining Russian oil, arguing that it prioritises its own energy security.
When questioned by the media at a press briefing on Wednesday about Brussels’ 18th package of sanctions against Moscow, which directly targeted an Indian refinery, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the bloc needed to have a clear perception of the global energy situation.
“We have been clear that so far as energy security is concerned it is the highest priority of the government of India to provide energy security for the people of India and we will do what we need to do with regard to that,” Misri stated.
“On energy-related issues also, as we have said previously, it is important not to have double standards and to have a clear perception of what the global situation is in so far as the broader energy market is concerned and where the providers of energy goods are located and where they are going to come from and who needs energy at what point in time,” he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Reuters reported that two tankers had not loaded fuel from the sanctions-hit Indian refinery as scheduled.
”We do understand that there is an important and serious security issue that is confronting Europe, but the rest of the world is also there,” Misri said. “It is also dealing with issues that are existential for the rest of the world, and I think it’s important to keep balance and perspective when talking about these issues.”
Moscow has emerged as India’s key oil supplier since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, accounting for nearly 40% of India’s crude imports. New Delhi, in parallel, has become a major exporter of refined fuels to Europe since 2023.
Moscow backs new defense deal with African state
The agreement with Togo reportedly proposes joint military training, participation in exercises, and cooperation on medical support
The Russian government has approved a draft law to ratify a military cooperation agreement with Togo, TASS reported on Tuesday, citing meeting documents. The decision by the government commission on legislative activity comes as Moscow deepens defense ties in West Africa, where French influence has waned in recent years.
The deal includes provisions for joint military training and exercises, Vladimir Gruzdev, a member of the commission and chairman of the Board of the Association of Lawyers of Russia, told the agency.
According to Gruzdev, the pact also provides for emergency medical assistance between the Russian and Togolese militaries. He described Togo as a strategically positioned partner, calling it the most “organized and equipped” country in Tropical Africa.
“For example, the busiest seaport in the West African region is located on its territory,” he stated.
Moscow has stepped up its military engagement in Africa in recent years, with President Vladimir Putin saying last November that several countries across the continent are increasingly seeking its security support.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—Togo’s West African neighbors—have severed defense ties with former colonial power France and expelled French troops over alleged aggression and their failure to contain surging jihadist insurgency in the Sahel region.
The three countries have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and turned to Russia – praised by their leaders as a reliable partner – for security cooperation to counter militant violence that has claimed an estimated 10,400 lives in the region in 2024.
Togo is increasingly facing cross-border violence, with 10 attacks and 52 deaths recorded in 2024 – the highest since records began, according to the Global Terrorism Index. Last July, around 100 fighters from the al Qaeda-linked Group for Support of Islam and Muslims launched a large-scale attack on a military post near the Burkina Faso border, reportedly killing a dozen Togolese soldiers.
In April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s support for the AES bloc, affirming that Russia is ready to help strengthen the joint Sahel forces, boost the combat readiness of each country’s military, and assist in training armed forces and law enforcement personnel.
SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE
Russia Offers Ukraine to Hand Over 3,000 Bodies of Soldiers: Presidential Aide Medinsky
Statement by the Russian Delegation Following the Russia-Ukraine Negotiations in Istanbul
All humanitarian agreements from the second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine have been fulfilled.
The second unprecedented large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine has been completed.
Russia proposed that Ukraine form three working groups to operate online.
The Ukrainian side has agreed to consider the proposal on establishing working groups.
Russia suggested that Kiev declare short-term ceasefires (24-48 hours) to evacuate the wounded and retrieve soldiers’ bodies.
Russia proposed to Ukraine another prisoner exchange involving at least 1,200 military personnel from each side.
Russia offered Kiev the handover of an additional 3,000 bodies of deceased Ukrainian servicemen.
Not all residents of Kursk region “evacuated” by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to Ukraine have been returned home; around 30 remain.
The reason for the continued detention of these civilians in Ukraine remains unclear.
Indefinite medical exchanges of severely wounded and sick personnel along the frontline with Ukraine will continue.
Kiev must clarify the status of civilians from the Kursk region detained in Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine extensively discussed positions outlined in the memorandums during the talks.
The positions of Russia and Ukraine on the memorandums remain far apart.
Russia has completed work on the list of Ukrainian children provided during the previous round of negotiations.
Ukrainian children in Russia are under state supervision, receiving adequate care and safety in appropriate childcare facilities.
Russia has demanded that Kiev return Russian children taken to Ukraine.
Ukraine has been provided with a list of Russian children currently in Ukraine and EU countries.
Russia expects Ukraine to show the same level of care for Russian children as Russia has demonstrated toward Ukrainian children.
A meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine should “finalize the matter.”
For such a meeting to take place, the terms of the agreement must be finalized, and the agenda must be clearly defined.
The meeting between Putin and Zelensky must be properly prepared—a position the Russian delegation has conveyed to Ukraine.
Ukraine refuses to hand over civilians or children to Russia in exchange but demands their return.
Russia’s human rights and children’s rights commissioners are verifying the list of Ukrainian children allegedly on Russian territory.
A significant number of children on Ukraine’s list were never in Russia.
Russian Forces Take Control of Varachino Settlement in Sumy Region
Russia’s Sever group of forces took control of the settlement of Varachino in the Sumy Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
“As a result of active operations, units of the Sever group of forces have liberated the settlement of Varachino in the Sumy Region,” the ministry said in a statement.
Russia’s Tsentr group of forces has eliminated up to 405 Ukrainian soldiers over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
Ukrainian troops lost up to 405 servicepeople, an armored combat vehicle, a car, two multiple launch rocket systems and four artillery pieces, the ministry said in a statement.
The Zapad group of forces has eliminated more than 250 Ukrainian soldiers and the Vostok group has eliminated up to 200 Ukrainian troops, the ministry added.
Ukraine loses French-supplied fighter jet
The Ukrainian military has reported the loss of a French-donated Mirage 2000 fighter jet
The Ukrainian air force has reported the first loss of a French-supplied Mirage 2000 fighter jet in what officials described as an equipment failure on Tuesday evening.
France pledged six of its 26 Mirage 2000 jets to Kiev as part of a multibillion-euro military aid program supporting Ukraine in its armed conflict with Russia. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced the delivery of the first three jets in early February.
Ukrainian media reported the crash occurred in the Volyn Region in western Ukraine, far from the front line. Video circulating online appeared to show the pilot descending by parachute.
The Ukrainian military commended the pilot of the downed aircraft, saying he acted “professionally” and safely ejected. Air Force public communications chief Yury Ignat said the unidentified pilot “did everything to divert the aircraft to a safe place far from any settlement.”
“Such incidents are common all over the world,” Ignat added. “The important thing is the pilot is alive and well.”
Ukraine has previously confirmed the loss of multiple US-made F-16 fighter jets in combat. While Kiev initially asserted that Western aircraft would provide a battlefield advantage, they have largely been used for intercepting Russian long-range missiles due to a shortage of air defense systems.
The Mirage 2000 models sent by France are older and were scheduled for retirement by 2029. France also trained Ukrainian pilots to operate them.
The Ukrainian military relies heavily on foreign aid to pay and equip its forces. Denis Shmigal, the former prime minister recently appointed defense minister in a government reshuffle, said this week the military would need at least $120 billion next year. He made the statement while addressing Ukrainian ambassadors, urging them to seek additional foreign support.
Following a meeting with international arms donors Monday in Germany, Shmigal said Kiev faces a $6 billion shortfall in weapons procurement.
Russia has condemned Western arms shipments, warning they only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome.
INSIGHTS
It’s time to learn about the Russian sound you hear every time you scroll
Phonk has quietly become the soundtrack of global internet cool – even as its creators remain obscure and under-credited
Not long ago, ‘internet music’ meant something soft, silly, or ironic. Think ‘Nyan Cat’, vaporwave edits, lo-fi loops. Even TikTok’s early soundtracks leaned toward mellow, melodic moods. But in the past three years, something has shifted. Internet music got louder. Faster. Harder.
One meme captures the moment perfectly: Three pirates from a Soviet cartoon strut across a beach with absurd confidence. The animation is exaggerated, the visuals low-res. But paired with a cowbell-heavy, distorted beat, it suddenly looks – incredibly – cool. The clip goes viral. The music? Pure phonk.
Today, phonk is everywhere: In gym edits, drift montages, anime cuts, sports highlights. Its raw, lo-fi rhythms have become the default soundtrack of short-form video culture. And yet, few know the names behind the sound. The tracks rack up millions of plays, but the artists remain anonymous.
There’s a reason for that: Most of them are Russian. Phonk didn’t just find a home in Russia – it was reborn there. In the absence of industry infrastructure, labels, or PR teams, the genre evolved in unexpected ways. What began as an underground echo of 1990s Memphis rap has become something new: A Russian internet-native genre reshaping global soundscapes.
From Memphis to Moscow
To trace phonk’s roots, you have to go back to Memphis in the early 1990s – a city where a new kind of rap was taking shape in bedrooms, basements, and borrowed tape decks.
Memphis rap was bleak. Dark. The lyrics were grim, even by hip-hop standards – raw accounts of street violence, poverty, drug paranoia, and death. There were no anthems, no aspirations. Just survival and menace, spat into handheld mics in airless rooms.
The sound matched the message. These tracks were muddy, lo-fi, and haunting – warped by cheap gear, copied across dying cassette tapes, soaked in static and hiss. Melodies were scarce. Basslines throbbed like threats. And then there was the cowbell: A cheap percussion hit that somehow made the darkness danceable. It became a signature – a sharp clang cutting through the murk like a flicker of light.
Though Memphis rap never broke into the mainstream, its shadow lingered. It helped shape the rise of Southern hip-hop and gave birth to entire branches of modern trap. But for a small group of producers, the real magic wasn’t in the verses – it was in the atmosphere. They stripped away the vocals, looped the beats, and amplified the distortion. That was the beginning of phonk.
An underground genre formed from the bones of Memphis rap, early phonk was rough, instrumental, and ghostlike – the sound of a memory sampled and reassembled. It lived mostly online, drifting through forums and obscure playlists.
And then, halfway across the world, someone in Russia heard it – and something clicked.
Bootleg beats and drift videos
By the early 2010s, Russian music was shifting. Rap and electronic sounds had finally gone mainstream, even among older listeners raised on Soviet pop. But inside the industry, many producers were restless. Tired of making safe, generic beats for big-name rappers, they began searching for something different. Some drifted into battle rap and small indie labels. Others stumbled onto phonk.
One of the first was Kirill Shoma. He discovered phonk online and wanted to make it – but couldn’t find any Russian-language tutorials. So he taught himself, then recorded one. That video became a kind of seed: Dozens of young producers copied his method, sharing beats made on cracked software and budget gear in makeshift bedroom studios.
Shoma wasn’t signed to any label. His tracks didn’t meet industry standards – they were too raw, too lo-fi, too niche. So he simply uploaded them online, with no licensing, no copyright protections, no monetization. But that made them perfect for creators. Russian car vloggers – especially those filming drift videos – began using his tracks. The music was fast, punchy, and copyright-safe. No strikes. No takedowns.
Soon, entire playlists labeled ‘Drift Phonk’ began to circulate. Shoma’s beats added rhythm and tension to dashboard footage and smoky turns. The genre wasn’t just a sound anymore. It became a visual language – internet-native, DIY, and made to move.
Then, in 2020, something changed. Shoma’s friends told him he was blowing up on TikTok. Curious, he opened the app – and saw that his track had been used in over 200,000 videos. The number was growing daily. He still wasn’t earning money from it. But people were listening. And the right people were starting to notice.
From viral soundtrack to independent scene
For years, no label wanted Shoma. His tracks were too raw, too repetitive, too niche. But after his TikTok explosion, that changed. A team from the international label Black 17 reached out and offered him professional collaboration – his first. He had tried before, but no one was interested. Phonk’s trademark sound seemed too rough, too amateur, too far from mainstream standards.
Later, Kiljo – a Russian producer working at Black 17 – recalled how industry experts who had passed on Shoma were kicking themselves for missing the wave.
With label support, Shoma gained access to streaming platforms and formal distribution. But he wasn’t alone for long. A Russian curator at Black 17 launched a major phonk playlist on Spotify – first centered around Shoma’s tracks, then expanding to include a wide range of new artists. Many of them had learned the basics from his early tutorials.
But each phonker had their own take. DVRST, one of the most well-known names, leaned into internet nostalgia, mixing phonk beats with samples from anime, video games, and vintage commercials. His remix of the Soviet pop track ‘Komarovo’, recorded for the alt-futurist video game ‘Atomic Heart’, became a viral favorite.
SHADXWBXRN blended classic phonk elements with ambient textures, building a strong connection with his online audience.
LXST CXNTURY, by contrast, pushed toward heavier, more aggressive sounds – but kept a low profile, avoiding interviews and personal promotion.
There was no formula. No dominant style. No single voice. Just a growing cluster of independent Russian producers, each building their own version of phonk – track by track, feed by feed.
Mutation and mischief
Like most underground genres, phonk eventually hit a turning point. As more producers joined in, the genre began to mutate.
Some Russian phonkers started adding vocals – not brags or flexes, but raw emotional lyrics. It turned out that cowbells and vulnerability could coexist surprisingly well.
Others rapped about their favorite game, ‘Dota 2’ – a cornerstone of Russian internet culture. A new subgenre, Dota rap, emerged.
A few dared to touch the sacred cow: Russian pop. One remix of the ballad ‘Zima’ racked up millions of views – despite disapproval from the original artists.
Phonk had started as texture. Now, it was voice.
Global Drift
As Russian phonk gained traction online, it began echoing far beyond its point of origin. Tracks by little-known producers – some with barely a profile picture – started showing up in memes, fight montages, football promos, and streetwear ads. The sound was everywhere. The names behind it? Still obscure.
One of the most successful examples of this crossover was KORDHELL – British producer Michael Kenney – who rode the phonk wave to global visibility. Like many before him, he turned to phonk after growing tired of the constraints of commercial rap. His tracks embraced the genre’s signature darkness and repetition – and quickly became internet hits.
By this point, Russian phonk had stopped being a regional scene. It had become a global aesthetic: Minimal, aggressive, anonymous, and instantly memeable. In a way, it was the perfect genre for the algorithm – high-impact, easy to sync, emotionally blank enough to be reshaped by whatever visuals it accompanied.
And yet the cultural asymmetry remained. Clips from major European football clubs now routinely feature Russian phonk beats, often set to videos of players entering the stadium or warming up. The lyrics – if there are any – are in Russian. The artists are uncredited. But the views number in the millions.
No one is really hiding the source. But no one’s advertising it either.
Still, the producers benefit. Fans dig through track IDs, repost clips, build comment threads. A track might go viral in Istanbul or Sao Paulo, and within a day, the name behind it starts trending – on Telegram, on SoundCloud, on niche Discord servers.
Phonk, in this sense, reflects a shift in how global music works. It’s not just about contracts, tours, or chart positions. It’s about being everywhere at once – even if no one knows your name.
Nothing, suddenly everything
The rise of short-form video rewired how we consume content. Attention became instant and disposable. To survive the scroll, a clip had to hit fast, look sharp, and never slow down.
Phonk fits this rhythm perfectly. It’s fast, repetitive, atmospheric. No intros. No soft fades. Just impact. Whether it’s street drifting, gym reels, or aesthetic edits, phonk drives the visuals forward.
But the genre also plays with contrast. Put a mundane scene under a phonk track – a walk to the store, a vintage cartoon, a guy tying his shoes – and it becomes something else. Stylized. Absurd. Cool. That’s the trick: Phonk makes anything look intentional.
Maybe that’s why it traveled so well. It doesn’t demand attention. It hijacks it. It doesn’t explain. It enhances. There’s no need to know who made it, or why. In a feed, it just works.
Phonk didn’t ask for permission. It didn’t arrive through curated scenes or label deals. It slipped in sideways – through smoke, static, and memes – and took over the internet without showing its face.
And somehow, that feels fitting. Its traits – lo-fi grit, emotional blankness, dark momentum – echo a broader cultural mood: Speed without direction, visibility without identity, noise without resolution. A post-Soviet undertone in a post-algorithmic world.
I once interviewed Russian bare-knuckle boxer Denis ‘Hurricane’ Dula. When I asked why so many fighters walk out to phonk, he shrugged:
“Some pick folk songs to show their roots. I get it. But no offense – I think phonk fits better. Feels more Russian right now.”
He couldn’t explain why.
But somehow, he was right.
