Putin approves record military budget as EU officials visit Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a budget plan that raises military spending for 2025 to a record 13.5 trillion rubles (over $145 billion), up from 28.3% to 32.5% of the national budget. This decision comes as EU officials, including new European Council President Antonio Costa, visit Kyiv to show support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict. In recent attacks, three people died in Kherson from a Russian drone strike, and 24 were injured in a missile strike in Dnipro. Ukraine reported that 32 out of 78 Russian drones were destroyed overnight.