00:11 Ukraine awaits decisions from the US, UK and France "with anticipation"
Ukraine May Expect Further Long-Range Weapons Delivery to Sustain Defense Against Russian Aggression
In his evening video address, President Zelensky said: "We are also eagerly awaiting decisions from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France on long-range capabilities - decisions that will bring us closer to a just peace." For a long time, Ukraine had been trying to persuade Germany to supply Taurus long-range missiles, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected this.
22:17 Ukraine Suspects 28 Officials of Embezzling Defense Budget Funds
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, together with the State Investigation Bureau, the National Police, and the Security Service of Ukraine, conducted a special operation to expose the organizers and participants in criminal schemes involving the embezzlement of funds for Ukraine's defense. The total damage to the state amounts to over 1.5 billion Hryvnia, approximately 33,000 Euros. Employees of the Ministry of Defense, military units, joint ventures, regional military administrations, city councils, and directors of companies in many regions of Ukraine are involved. As a result of the investigation, 28 persons were suspected, including 9 members of organized criminal groups.
20:57 Ukrainian Forces Allegedly Enter Belgorod
Ukrainian troops appear to have entered the Russian oblast of Belgorod while the invasion of the oblast of Kursk continues, Ukrainian media reports citing a video. In the video, five uniformed men with blue armbands stand in front of a building, one of them saying, "I wish you health. The 252nd Battalion is in the village of Poroz, Belgorod Oblast. Glory to Ukraine!" The soldiers in the video hold the battalion flag and a Georgian flag, and a sign behind them reads "Porozovsky Village Club." According to the Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, the project VoxCheck confirmed that the video was filmed in Poroz, three kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
20:22 Zelensky Wants to Exert Pressure on the Aggressor with Kursk Offensive
A few days after the start of Ukraine's incursion into Russian territory in Kursk, President Volodymyr Zelensky directly addresses the attack. Defense Minister Oleksandr Syrskyy reported to him about "the advancement of the war into the territory of the aggressor," Zelensky said in his evening video address. Ukraine is proving "that it is truly capable of upholding justice and building exactly the pressure that is needed - pressure on the aggressor." Neither Zelensky nor the military in Kyiv provided further details on the current status of the Ukrainian troops' advance into Russian territory. In recent days, Zelensky had only made indirect references to the attack towards Kursk.
19:44 Russia to Receive Hundreds of Ballistic Missiles from IranRussia is set to receive hundreds of Fateh-360 and other ballistic missiles from Iran in the near future, following a December 2023 agreement between Moscow and Tehran, according to intelligence sources cited by Reuters. The sources say that dozens of Russian military personnel are currently being trained in Iran on the Fateh-360 short-range ballistic missile system. Iran is one of Russia's closest allies, and the two countries have deepened their military and political cooperation since the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Notably, Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed kamikaze drones since the beginning of the war. In February, Reuters also reported that Tehran had sent "a large number of high-performance ballistic ground-to-ground missiles" to support Moscow's invasion.
18:36 Iskander Missile System Reportedly Kills 15 Ukrainian Commanders in Border AreaAccording to the Russian news agency TASS, the Iskander-M missile system struck a unit of the 22nd mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the border area of Kursk. The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that 15 members of the unit's command staff were killed. "The strike was carried out by a calculation of the operational-tactical missile system Iskander-M. The missile carriers hit a reconnaissance post where the combat post of a unit of the 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the AFU was located in the border area of the Kursk region. As a result, the command staff of the 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the AFU, consisting of 15 people, was destroyed," the ministry said.
17:55 Russia Evacuates 76,000 Civilians in KurskAmid heavy fighting as Ukrainian forces push into Russian territory, the regional civil defense has already evacuated tens of thousands of people. Around 76,000 civilians have been evacuated from the border area and placed in other regions of Russia, the civil defense said, according to the state news agency TASS. There were no reports from either the Russian or Ukrainian side about the actual fighting. Ukrainian reconnaissance reported that Russia had begun moving a Marine infantry brigade from the occupied Crimean peninsula to the Kursk region, with some of the vehicle column reportedly destroyed en route. The reports cannot be independently verified. The entire Kursk region was under rocket alert. The acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, warned on the Telegram platform about the possible dangers and urged the population to seek shelter as much as possible.
17:28 Minsk accuses Kyiv of "criminal acts"Following the alleged incursion of Ukrainian combat drones into Belarusian airspace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Minsk has warned of a potential escalation of the conflict. Such "criminal acts" could lead to a radical escalation of the situation and are a "dangerous attempt to expand the current conflict zone in our region," the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the state agency Belta. Belarus will use its right to self-defense and will respond appropriately to any provocation or hostile actions. Alexander Lukashenko had previously reported the alleged downing of several Ukrainian aerial targets. Air defense has been put on high alert because about ten flight objects from Ukraine have entered Belarusian airspace in the east of the country in the Kostjukowitschy region, Lukashenko said about the incident the previous evening.
17:00 Zelensky thanks for "filling the exchange fund"Many questions remain unanswered around the Ukrainian troops' incursion into Russian territory. President Zelensky has now spoken out and thanked the soldiers who took prisoners. Ukraine needs them for future prisoner exchanges with Russia.
16:27 Ukraine attacks gas platform tower with 40 Russian soldiers in the Black SeaUkrainian naval forces claim to have killed about 40 Russian soldiers in an attack on a gas platform tower in the Black Sea. Forces from the navy and military intelligence attacked the location where the enemy had gathered personnel and equipment, Ukrainian media reported, citing the naval fleet. The occupiers were reportedly using the tower for jamming navigation signals via satellite, which would have put civilian maritime traffic at risk. "We cannot allow this," said Dmytro Pletentschuk of the online newspaper "Ukrajinska Prawda". There were no civilians on the gas platform, which is out of operation. The strike was carried out by the rocket and artillery units of the coastal forces. A heavy explosion was seen on a published video. The authenticity of the footage could not be verified by an independent source. Pletentschuk said it was not the first operation of this kind. The enemy had previously used the tower to disrupt the navigation of grain carriers, among other things.
15:49 NATO interceptors take off due to Russian reconnaissance aircraft IL-20M over the Baltic SeaA Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea region has prompted fighter jets from several NATO countries to take to the skies. To ensure airspace security in the alliance's territory, interceptors from the alert rotations in Rostock-Laage, Sweden, and the NATO mission Air Policing Baltikum took off and escorted the Russian reconnaissance aircraft IL-20M, the German Air Force said on the short messaging service X. "The aircraft was flying without a flight plan and without contact with civilian air traffic control," it added. Russia uses international airspace for military flights in accordance with existing air law. According to previous statements by the German Armed Forces, Russian military aircraft almost always fly without a transponder signal, making them invisible to civilian air traffic control. These flights approach NATO airspace without violating it. It is assumed that such flights are also used to test reactions.
15:26 Lukashenko Orders Deployment of Iskander Missile Systems and Rocket Artillery to BorderAlexander Lukashenko, the strongman of Belarus, has ordered the reinforcement of troop groupings in the tactical areas of Gomel and Mozyr on the border with the Ukrainian regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv. The Belarusian state news agency BelTA reports this, citing statements by Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin. "The Commander-in-Chief [Lukashenko] has given the order to strengthen the grouping of forces in the tactical areas of Gomel and Mozyr. Special forces, ground troops, and rocket units, including Polonez multiple rocket launchers and Iskander missile systems, have been tasked with moving to the designated areas," says Khrenin. Previously, Lukashenko had claimed that "several targets coming from Ukraine" had been shot down over Belarus.
14:49 At Least Two Children Among Dead in Russian Strike on SupermarketSince Friday, at least 18 people, including two children, have been killed and 60 more injured in several Russian attacks on Ukraine, regional authorities report. The majority of the victims were in the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, where a Russian missile hit a supermarket on Friday. By 10 a.m. local time today, at least 14 people were killed, including two children aged 9 and 11, and 43 more were wounded, the General Prosecutor's Office reports on Telegram. In other settlements in the Donetsk region, two people were killed and one more wounded in Russian attacks on Friday, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported in the early morning. More than 30 houses, an apartment building, an agricultural facility, and civilian infrastructure were damaged. In the Kharkiv region, a 80-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were killed, and four people aged between 32 and 67 were injured in Russian attacks, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
14:21 Interior Ministry Warns of Russian Interference in State ElectionsThe Federal Ministry of the Interior warns of possible manipulation attempts by Russia ahead of the upcoming state elections in Eastern Germany. "We must assume that all elections in our country are a potential target of illegitimate influence," a spokesman for the ministry told the "Handelsblatt". Russia is trying to take illegitimate influence on the public debate and political will-formation in Germany in this way. Since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, there has been an increase in disinformation by Russian official bodies, state and state-affiliated media, and government-affiliated accounts in social networks. "They use disinformation to heat up emotionally charged discussions and play societal groups against each other in a targeted manner," says the spokesman.
13:42 Luftwaffe: Russian IL-20M reconnaissance aircraft spotted off RügenA Russian reconnaissance aircraft flew into international airspace over the Baltic Sea without contacting air traffic control. German and Swedish air force aircraft, as well as NATO air policing in the Baltics, were scrambled on Friday evening and escorted the Russian IL-20M aircraft, the air force said. The reconnaissance aircraft was traveling in the airspace off the island of Rügen "without a flight plan and contact with civil air traffic control." Reports of non-communicating Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea have been almost weekly in recent times, a spokesman for the air force said. However, nothing is usually done about it if they do not behave suspiciously or quickly return to Russian airspace. In mid-June, a Russian SU-24 bomber flew over the Swedish Baltic Sea island of Gotland, which is about 350 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
13:06 Lukashenko: Objects fired from Ukraine destroyed over BelarusBelarusian reports say the country's armed forces have destroyed several flying objects over Belarusian territory. They are believed to be drones launched from Ukraine, Belarusian news agency Belta quoted Alexander Lukashenko, the president of the Russia-aligned country. In the past, Lukashenko has repeatedly spoken of alleged incursions from Ukraine and then given the all-clear. Belarus says it is not involved in the fighting in Ukraine.
12:43 Ukraine: Three civilians killed in Russian attacks in eastern UkraineUkrainian reports say three people have been killed in Russian missile attacks in eastern Ukraine. One person was killed and several injured in an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, the region's governor, Vadym Filaschkin, wrote on Telegram. The missile hit a critical infrastructure building and severely damaged it. Two people were killed in an attack on a private house in the Kharkiv region, police said.
12:00 Ukraine: Major fire in Kherson after Russian attackA major fire has broken out in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson due to a Russian attack, the Kherson regional administration said on Telegram. The fire started on an open area outside the city of Kherson and quickly spread due to strong winds, engulfing almost the entire city. The Kherson regional administration said firefighters are battling the blaze.
11:28 Mangott on arms deliveries: Kretschmer "accepts that Ukraine loses"Ukrainian soldiers have entered Russia. With the advance into Kursk, Ukraine also wants to show that Russia "cannot protect the citizens in the border regions," Gerhard Mangott said. The political scientist also stressed that he does not believe Ukraine can hold the region in the long term.
10:53 Video allegedly shows Russian troop strength in KurskThe Russian Ministry of Defense has published another video, allegedly showing a reinforcement of military presence in the region. Tanks are seen taking up combat positions to destroy Ukrainian troops. The footage is not independently verifiable. The ministry also reported numerous intercepted Ukrainian drone attacks in the Kursk area.
10:29 Russian Nuclear Conglomerate: Operation of Kursk NPP NormalFighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces is ongoing in the Kursk region, including near a nuclear power plant. Despite the continued clashes, operations are "normal," according to the operator, Russian state-owned company Rosatom, as reported by Reuters. Previously, the nuclear corporation had withdrawn workers from the construction site of two new reactors at the Kursk NPP due to the advancement of Ukrainian troops in the area (see entry 02:30).
09:57 Ukrainian Intelligence: Magura V5 Destroys Russian Boat in Black SeaSoldiers of the Ukrainian intelligence service HUR attacked the Russian Navy off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula, which is occupied by Russia. The Ukrainian intelligence service reported that the attack took place near the settlement of Chornomorske on the western coast of Crimea. A sea drone of the Magura V5 type is said to have sunk a Russian patrol boat of the type KS-701 "Tunets". According to HUR, three other Russian military boats were damaged. The Ukrainian intelligence service posted a video on social media that is said to show the attack.
09:19 ISW: Russia Not Redeploying Frontline Units from Eastern Ukraine to KurskThe Russian military leadership may not be redeploying its forces from the front in eastern Ukraine to the contested Russian border region of Kursk to avoid disrupting its own offensive in eastern Ukraine. This is written in the latest report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). According to ISW analysts, it would likely take additional time for these units to arrive in the Kursk region. The Russian military leadership appears to be relying on the already stationed units in Kursk to stop the ongoing Ukrainian advance. Furthermore, the Russian military leadership is reportedly deploying conscripts from the military intelligence agency Glawnoje Raswedywatelnoje Uprawlenije (GRU) and Spetsnaz, including the Wagner mercenary group and the Kadyrovtsy, according to reports cited by the analysts.
08:35 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new figures on Russian losses in Ukraine. According to these figures, Russia has lost approximately 589,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,160. According to a report from Kyiv, seven tanks, 69 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed on the previous day of fighting. Since the beginning of the large-scale offensive, Russia has reportedly lost a total of 8,441 tanks, 16,605 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, according to Ukraine. Western estimates put the losses lower, but these are also likely to be minimum figures.
07:40 Russia: Su-34 fighter-bomber reportedly struck Ukrainian forces in Russian Kursk regionA Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber is said to have attacked and hit Ukrainian forces in the Russian border region, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense on Telegram. The Russian Ministry of Defense claims the air strike was carried out using an ODAB-500 bomb. The Russian forces continue to repel the Ukrainian surprise advance in the Russian region of Kursk, with the air strike intended to push back the Ukrainian push, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. A video purporting to show the deployment of the fighter aircraft was published on the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Defense.
06:48 Kyiv accountant stopped with millions in carUkrainian investigators discovered over 4.7 million euros in cash in the trunk of a company accountant's car. "The woman could not explain the origin of the money," the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau in Kyiv announced. Images show investigators in front of an open trunk filled with cash bundles. The company in question had supplied food worth over 320 million euros to the Ukrainian army in 2022 and 2023 alone, with the tax burden reduced via a fictional loan. Investigations are ongoing for money laundering and tax evasion on a large scale, with participants facing up to eight years in prison.
06:10 Ukraine evacuates 28 villages near Sumy borderUkrainian volunteers are helping residents and their pets leave the northern border region of Sumy. According to local governor Volodymyr Artiukh, 28 villages in a ten-kilometer-wide zone along the Russian border are being evacuated. According to the Ukrainian police, 20,000 people must leave their homes.
05:30 Kyiv adds "Glory to Ukraine!" to new banknotesThe National Bank of Ukraine is adding the national motto "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!" to all Ukrainian banknotes. Money is not only a measure of value and a means of payment, but also a symbol of the state that everyone holds daily, said NBU governor Andriy Pyshnyy, according to a statement in Kyiv. "To honor the resilience of our people and to mark this turning point in the formation of the Ukrainian nation, we are adding our motto to all banknotes, which is heard around the world," Pyshnyy said. The change is to mark the upcoming 33rd Independence Day on August 24, with the 1000 (around 22.3 euros) and 500 hryvnia notes being the first to be updated, followed by all other denominations of 200, 100, 50, and 20 hryvnia. The motto will be placed in the upper right corner of the banknotes, with the rest of the design remaining unchanged. The patriotic motto "Glory to Ukraine!" dates back to the emerging Ukrainian national movement at the end of the 19th century and has a complex history, including use by Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis. It remains present in the Ukrainian independence movement against the Soviet Union.
04:37 Report: Russia Plans to Block WhatsAppIn its actions against internet services (see entry 22:33), Russia is reportedly planning to block WhatsApp, according to the news site "Kyiv Independent". Moscow has allegedly made preparations to block the messaging app, with the independent Russian publication Verstka reporting that WhatsApp could be blocked in Russia this fall, citing sources at Russian IT company VK, which is developing an application to replace WhatsApp. In July, the Kremlin-linked media outlet Gazeta.ru reported that the Russian government was planning to fully block YouTube in September, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov denied these alleged plans.
04:05 US Approves Additional Military Aid for Kyiv Worth $125 MillionThe US has approved additional military aid for Ukraine worth $125 million (around €114 million). The aid package underscores "our unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression," said John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, to journalists. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained that the aid would include interceptors for air defense systems, ammunition for rocket systems and artillery, multi-purpose radars, and anti-tank weapons, and would come from US stockpiles. The equipment would "help Ukraine protect its troops, its population, and its cities from Russian attacks and strengthen its capabilities across the entire front," Blinken further explained.
03:19 Russia Claims to Have Issued 2.2 Million Passports in Occupied Ukrainian RegionsRussia claims to have issued 2.2 million passports in the Ukrainian regions occupied by its military invasion. Since October 2020, these have been distributed in Saporischschja, Donezk, Luhansk, and Cherson, according to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. These claims cannot be independently verified. In the past, there have been repeated reports that Russian authorities have systematically forced people to accept these passports.
02:30 IAEA Warns of Nuclear Accident at Kursk Nuclear Power Plant Due to Fighting in the RegionThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns of the risk of a nuclear accident at the Kursk nuclear power plant due to fighting in the region following Ukraine's large-scale offensive in the Kursk region in western Russia. "At this point, I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear accident that could have potentially serious radiological consequences," said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. He is "personally in contact with the relevant authorities of both countries." The Kursk NPP is located near the city of Kurtschatov, approximately 100 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border. The state-owned Russian news agency Ria Novosti reported, citing the press service of the power plant, that "everything is functioning normally" at the facility with usual radiation levels. However, the residents of Kurtschatov are currently without electricity. According to regional governor Alexei Smirnov, an electricity plant was set on fire by falling debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones.
01:55 Russia Implements Anti-Terror Measures in Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk
Russia is reportedly implementing anti-terror measures in three regions bordering Ukraine, according to Russian media reports. According to a report by the RIA news agency, the measures may include the resettlement of residents, traffic restrictions in certain areas, enhanced security at sensitive locations, and wiretapping of phones and other communication devices. Local authorities and the National Anti-Terror Committee have confirmed that the anti-terror regulations apply to the regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, the news agency reports.
00:36 Nouripour on Country Leaders: Cowardice Doesn't Bring Peace in Ukraine
Green Party leader Omid Nouripour criticizes the ministers-presidents of Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony for their recent statements on Ukraine policy. Dietmar Woidke, Bodo Ramelow, and Michael Kretschmer are "running away from reality," Nouripour told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "They act as if peace can be achieved by burying one's head in the sand. But: Cowardice doesn't bring peace." Woidke says he has good contacts with Russia and can mediate. However, "it's strange that it only occurs to him two and a half years after the start of the war and a few weeks before the state election," says Nouripour. Ramelow calls for a non-aggression pact with Russia. However, such a pact was initiated by Germany 85 years ago and brought great suffering to other European countries, the Green politician adds. Kretschmer, meanwhile, acts as if he doesn't know that only Putin can end this war quickly. Kretschmer had called for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine and advocated for diplomatic initiatives in the Ukraine conflict.
00:13 July Deadliest Month for Civilians in Ukraine Since October 2022
According to the United Nations, more Ukrainian civilians have died from Russian shelling in July than in any other month since October 2022. "The high number of casualties in July continues an alarming trend since March 2024," the UN Observer Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said in a statement.
23:43 Construction Workers Pulled from Kursk NPP
Due to the advance of Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk, workers are being pulled from the construction site of two new nuclear reactors at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. The number of construction workers will be temporarily reduced, Atomstroiexport, a subsidiary of the state-owned Russian nuclear company Rosatom, announced. Other specialists will continue their work as planned. The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Kursk has been repeatedly mentioned as a possible target of the Ukrainian offensive that began on Tuesday. However, it is located about 60 kilometers from the border. The farthest reported advances of Ukrainian troops, which have not been confirmed, are about 30 kilometers into Russia. After the Ukrainian offensive was announced, the Russian National Guard reportedly reinforced the protection of the power plant. Two reactors are being built to replace the two oldest, already decommissioned blocks of the plant, while two more reactors are currently in operation.
23:11 Ukraine Takes Control of Gazprom Facility in Kursk Region
According to a video published by Ukrainian media, Ukrainian soldiers have taken control of a Gazprom facility in the Russian region of Kursk. The facility in the city of Sudzha and the city itself have been captured, Ukrainian soldiers explain in the video.
22:33 Russia Blocks Chat Service SignalIn its crackdown on foreign internet services, Russia has also blocked the encrypted chat service Signal, citing alleged legal violations. Signal is not complying with legal measures deemed necessary to combat terrorism and extremism, Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor announced in Moscow. Throughout the day, complaints from Signal users in Russia flooded in, reporting that the messaging service was unavailable. Portals like Sboj.rf, which collect reports of outages, logged around 2000 complaints. Developed in the US, Signal is highly regarded by its users for its secure communication features. On Thursday, Russian users also reported issues with YouTube, with videos being difficult to download. No official explanation was given by the authorities, but they have previously targeted the popular video service for allegedly refusing to remove extremist content. Russia has already blocked large social networks with US ownership, such as X and Facebook, which can now only be accessed via protected connections (VPN). Before the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow had also made preparations for a possible internet shutdown in the country. Since the start of the war in 2022, Roskomnadzor has blocked thousands of websites deemed unacceptable by the Russian government.
Catch up on previous developments here.**
The Commission played a significant role in investigating the embezzlement of defense budget funds in Ukraine, leading to the suspicion of 28 officials.
In light of the ongoing conflict with Russia, The Commission is also expected to play a crucial role in evaluating and approving the delivery of long-range capabilities to Ukraine as per President Zelensky's requests.
