TOP HEADLINES

• The United States said it would resume flights to the International Space Station with Russia, despite its attempts to isolate Moscow over its offensive in Ukraine. "To ensure continued safe operations of the International Space Station, protect the lives of astronauts and ensure continuous U.S. presence in space, NASA will resume integrated crews on U.S. crew spacecraft and the Russian Soyuz," U.S. space agency NASA said in a statement.

• Britain's foreign office summoned Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin to express "deep concern" over reports of the death of a British aid worker. "I am shocked to hear reports of the death of British aid worker Paul Urey while in the custody of a Russian proxy in Ukraine. Russia must bear the full responsibility for this," Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said. READ MORE BELOW

• Russian opposition activist Andrei Pivovarov was sentenced to four years in prison by a court in southern Russia for cooperating with a banned pro-democracy group, his supporters said. Pivovarov, 40, is the former executive director of Open Russia, a now disbanded pro-democracy group established by exiled tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. 

• The head of Russia's space agency, who has made headlines with his bombastic statements and support for Moscow's Ukraine offensive, has been relieved of his duties and will get a new job, the Kremlin said.

• Russian missiles struck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine, killing at least 23 people including three children, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called "an open act of terrorism". ​​Russia's defense ministry said the cruise missile strike on Vinnytsia was directed at a building where top officials from Ukraine's armed forces were meeting foreign arms suppliers. READ MORE BELOW

• German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn pledged to accelerate efforts to transport grain out of Ukraine by land, with sea exports still stalled by Russia's offensive in the country. "We believe we will be able to considerably ramp up the system in the next few weeks, so that we can really succeed in transporting as much (grain) out of Ukraine as the capacity of the railways will allow," Sigrid Nikutta, the head of Deutsche Bahn's freight transport division, told public broadcaster ZDF.

• The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the ban on Russian clubs from European competitions for the coming season and Russia's exclusion from international tournaments, as a result of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. 

• Russia's defense ministry said a "final document" designed to unblock grain exports from Ukrainian ports will be ready "soon", following negotiations with Kyiv in Turkey this week. Ukraine is also hurrying to clinch a deal with Russia, Turkey and the United Nations next week to export grain via its Black Sea ports, a senior Ukrainian official source said on Friday.

• The European Union has "shot itself in the lungs" with ill-considered economic sanctions on Russia, which, unless rolled back, risk destroying the European economy, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

• The EU will target Russian gold exports in its next sanction package and seek to "close exit routes" for those bypassing its earlier packages, an EU commissioner said. The EU has so far approved six sanction packages against Russia, the last one passed in June imposed a ban on most Russian oil imports.

IN DETAIL

UK aid worker's death: 'Russia must bear the full responsibility'

Russia bears "full responsibility" over the reported death of Paul Urey, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, after Moscow-backed separatists in Ukraine said the captured Briton had died in detention.

"I am shocked to hear reports of the death of British aid worker Paul Urey while in the custody of a Russian proxy in Ukraine," she said. "Russia must bear the full responsibility for this."

Darya Morozova, a representative of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said on the messaging app Telegram that Urey "died on July 10" and that he had diabetes.

Truss said that Urey "was in Ukraine to try and help the Ukrainian people in the face of the unprovoked Russian invasion.

"The Russian government and its proxies are continuing to commit atrocities.Those responsible will be held to accountable. My thoughts are with Mr Urey's family and friends at this horrendous time," added the minister, who is in the running to become the UK's next leader.

Non-governmental organizations describe Urey as a humanitarian who worked as an aid volunteer in Ukraine.

Moscow-backed separatists insist Urey was a "professional" soldier and took part in conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Ukraine.

Morozova, the breakaway region's ombudsperson, said that the Briton took part in fighting in Ukraine and also recruited and trained mercenaries before his capture in April.

Urey, born in 1977, was a Type 1 diabetic and needed regular insulin doses, according to his mother Linda Urey, who had earlier said his family was "extremely worried."

Morozova said he suffered from a number of chronic diseases and was also "in a depressed psychological state."

"Despite the severity of the alleged crime, Paul Urey was given appropriate medical assistance," she said. "However, taking into account his diagnoses and stress, he died on July 10." 

Morozova also accused the International Committee of the Red Cross of refusing to provide Urey with necessary medicine.

According to humanitarian organization Presidium Network, Urey was a well-travelled humanitarian who worked for eight years in Afghanistan.

Vinnytsia attack: 'An open act of terrorism'

Russian missiles struck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine, killing at least 23 people including three children, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called "an open act of terrorism."

The charred remains of upturned cars surrounded by burnt debris were seen in images distributed by officials next to a business gutted by a fire with brown smoke billowing nearby.

In his daily address to the nation, Zelenskyy confirmed the toll and said it was likely to rise, with dozens still missing and many hospitalized in critical condition. 

"No other state in the world poses such a terrorist threat as Russia," a somber Zelenskyy said. "No other state in the world allows itself to destroy peaceful cities and ordinary human life with cruise missiles and rocket artillery on a daily basis."

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "appalled" by the attack, while the EU slammed it as an "atrocity." Both called for accountability.

And Zelenskyy led a moment of silence before urging European and International Criminal Court officials to open a "special tribunal" into Russia's offensive.

"I believe it is inevitable that International Criminal Court will bring accountability to those guilty of crimes under its jurisdiction: war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide."