00:17 Bundeswehr general fears Russian encroachment on NATO territory
Before the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, the German commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast of the Alliance, Generalleutnant Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart, warned against a Russian attack. Moscow has the potential to create another conflict hotspot, including against NATO, Sandrart told the "Welt" newspaper. "This threat is real. And it is growing with each day." Not all of Russia's forces are bound in Ukraine, von Sandrart noted. "It is a fatal error to underestimate Russia," the German general emphasized.
22:57 Selenskyj: The White House does not want to invite us to NATO
Discussions have long been held about Ukraine becoming a NATO member in the future, but there is no official invitation from the transatlantic defense alliance to Kiev. The White House is not willing to take this step, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a US media outlet in an interview. This goes against "the policy of the head of state and government of the world," Zelenskyy said. "I believe this is a policy of one step forward, two steps back." If the US has fears of provoking Putin and therefore does not issue a NATO invitation, Ukraine at least needs the weapons of the West to defend itself. The NATO summit is taking place in Washington from July 9 to 11. Behind the scenes, there are reportedly disagreements among members about what the official communique on the Ukraine issue should contain.
22:16 Belarus' Military Threatens Use of Tactical Nuclear Weapons
The chief of staff of the Belarus military, Pavel Makarevich, has threatened to use tactical nuclear weapons if the country's "sovereignty" and "independence" are endangered. This was reported by the Belarus state agency BelTA. "We have learned to handle these weapons," Makarevich reportedly said. In addition, he announced that Belarus would become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in a few days. Other members of the organization, which describes itself as a partnership against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, include Russia, China, India, and six other countries in Eurasia.
21:33 Kiev Reports Rocket Attack from the North
Air raid sirens sound in the capital Kiev and other northern oblasts. The cause is rockets from the north, but the Ukrainian armed forces manage to prevent their impact, according to reports from Ukrainian military officials. Debris from falling rockets hits a 14-story residential building and causes a fire, Kiev's mayor Vitali Klitschko announced. At least two civilians were injured, ten were evacuated to safety.
20:42 Kiev: More than 14,000 civilians in Russian captivity
Ten freed civilians will be welcomed in Kiev today. More than 14,000 civilians are still being held in Russian captivity, the human rights ombudsman of Ukraine, Dmytro Lubinets, said. Three categories of Ukrainians are being held by the Russians: children, prisoners of war, and civilians. The return of civilians is particularly complicated, Lubinets said. Ukraine has no way to facilitate exchanges, and there is no legal procedure. Kiev continues to work on the return of 20,000 children and tens of thousands of Ukrainians who are missing. In the case of children, the Vatican could potentially help.
20:01 Zelensky: Indirect negotiations with Moscow possibleThe Ukraine plans no direct negotiations with Russia, but could use the model of a trilateral agreement similar to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, says President Volodymyr Zelensky. In 2022, the agreement was mediated by the United Nations and Turkey. It had a decisive role in containing a global increase in food prices, partly caused by the invasion's beginning. The Ukraine signed the agreement with Turkey, while the United Nations signed, and Russia signed its own corresponding agreement with the same intermediaries.
19:21 Russian guided bomb hits post office in KharkivA Russian guided bomb explodes at a post office in Kharkiv, killing one civilian. Nine more are injured, including an 8-month-old child. This was reported by the governor of the Kharkiv Oblast. Rescuers are reportedly looking for further possible victims. Eight vehicles parked near the depot were destroyed. The building belongs to Nova Poshta, the largest private postal service in Ukraine. "All shift workers were in the bomb shelter and were not injured," the company reports. Previously, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russia had used over 800 guided air-to-ground bombs against Ukraine in the past week.
18:43 Moscow: Two villages in Donetsk capturedRussia captures two more villages in the east of Ukraine. This was reported by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow.
18:20 Ukraine: Russian fighter jet, Cruise missiles, and hundreds of drones destroyedThe Ukrainian commander of the ground forces, Oleksandr Pavliuk, reports a balance of air defense in June. The defenders registered the shooting down of a Russian Su-25 fighter jet and three Cruise missiles in the past month. In total, they shot down 296 drones. "Under conditions of intense hostilities," Pavliuk writes, "we managed to intercept a significant number of tactical drones from the sky."
17:27 Zelensky: Trump's possible lightning peace plan "bad idea"Donald Trump, the designated Republican presidential candidate of the United States, has repeatedly claimed that he could end the Ukraine conflict "in 24 hours" if he wins the November election. Now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that he doesn't know how to end the conflict in 24 hours but that if the plan involves making territorial concessions to Russia, then it's a "bad idea." "If Trump has such a plan, then everyone would want to end the war," Selensky told the Philadelphia Inquirer in an interview: "Perhaps it would even be better in an hour." Giving up one's own territories to Russia is not new. The problem with Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be solved by that. He must be put in his place, as he is relying on "pseudo-victories."
16:49 Men attack Ukrainian border guards with macheteIn Ukraine, a border guard is injured by two Men with a machete during an attack. A border guard was killed by one of the attackers with a shot, reports the news portal "Ukrajinska Prawda" quoting Ukrainian authorities. The incident reportedly occurred on a Saturday evening at the border with Romania. The motive is unknown. However, due to the war, men of military age have been trying to leave the country to avoid being drafted and sent to the front. Previously, 17 men were arrested at the Hungarian border in a minibus, who, according to authorities, were trying to illegally leave Ukraine and were paying their helpers between 3000 and 12,000 US dollars for a successful exit.
16:14 More casualties and damage after rocket attack on VilnianskAfter the deadly Russian rocket attack on civilians in Vilniansk, 75 people report damaged or destroyed property. The police in the Saporischschja region report "the crimes of the Russian army," according to the statement. The number of registered casualties from the attack has risen to 38, including nine children. A mobile aid station is in operation. At least seven people were killed in the attack on Saturday, including a woman and three children.
15:51 Controversial Kanye West reportedly in Moscow for friend's birthdayThe controversial US rapper Kanye West is reportedly in Moscow on a private visit, according to Russian media. "That's great news, he's in the heart of the capital," quotes the state news agency Tass the producer Yana Rudkovskaya. Former Russian presidential candidate Xenia Sobchak published a short video, which, according to her, shows West looking out from the roof of the famous shopping center Gum from the Red Square. According to Sobchak, West is in Moscow to celebrate the 40th birthday of his friend Gosha Rubchinskiy, a well-known Russian fashion designer. West has expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past. In the US, the musician is now an outcast in the entertainment industry due to his antisemitic and Hitler-glorifying statements.
15:24 Russia disrupts GPS signals for British military flightsThis year, Russia has disrupted the GPS signals for hundreds of British military flights of the Royal Air Force (RAF) over Eastern Europe, according to a data analysis of thousands of flights published in the British Telegraph. More than one in four transport and surveillance flights in the first four months of the year 2024 were affected by active GPS disruptions. This illustrates the extent of Russian interference in aviation. "This is another example of Russia's recklessness and another proof that it is a rogue and hostile state," is quoted by the British Defense Minister Grant Shapps. Between January and April, 142 of 504 transport and surveillance flights of the RAF over Eastern Europe were affected by GPS disruptions.
14:41 Ukrainian Hackers Sabotage Russian Systems
Activists, in collaboration with experts from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, are carrying out a series of attacks on Russian companies. According to the ministry, Ukrainian hackers have destroyed over 100 Terabytes of data from OrbitSoft, a software developer working with the Russian army. They also deleted data on eight servers from Orient Systems, a supplier of navigation devices for Russian military manufacturers, particularly for unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturers. They also deleted the data of a Nizhni Novgorod internet provider and sent messages to all subscribers about an "inevitable retaliation" for Russia's war.
14:06 Ukraine Begins Mass Production of Combat Drones
Ukraine has begun mass producing combat drones with a range of over 1,000 kilometers. According to the head of the state arms company Ukroboronprom, Herman Smetanin, in an interview with ArmyInform, Russia's "huge resources and powerful industry" forced Kiev to adopt a "more flexible and inventive" approach to weapons production. Ukraine uses long-range drones to attack military infrastructure such as airfields and logistics facilities, as well as oil refineries and storage facilities deep in Russian territory.
13:36 Ukraine Publishes Video of the Liberation of Snake Island
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has released new footage of the liberation of Snake Island on social media. In the post, the SBU describes the "unique and extremely important operation". The footage is said to begin with an aerial view of an air strike on the island, followed by Ukrainian troops landing on the island with a helicopter and attacking Russian troops. "It consisted of several stages and was of strategic importance, as the gradual displacement of the enemy from the Black Sea began since then," the SBU writes. On June 30, 2022, Ukrainian troops repelled the Russian troops from the strategic outpost on the Black Sea.
13:14 Zelensky: Russia Fired Over 800 Guided Bombs at Ukraine in a Week
In the past week, Russia has fired over 800 guided bombs at Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the X platform. "Ukraine needs the necessary resources to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian combat aircraft, wherever they are located. This step is essential," he writes further.
12:48 Number of Wounded Increases After Russian Attack on Vilniansk
The number of wounded has increased after a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Vilniansk in the Zaporizhzhia region. According to official reports, at least seven people, three men, a woman, and three children, have been killed. Thirty-six people, including nine children, were injured in the missile attack, the National Police reported on social media. Previously, 31 injured persons were known.
12:18 Ukraine publishes numbers on Russian casualtiesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to this, Russia has lost approximately 542,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. Alone within the last 24 hours, the number of casualties was reportedly 1,140. According to a report from Kiev, among other things, 24 tanks, 60 artillery systems, and an aircraft were reportedly destroyed. Since the beginning of the large-scale attack, Ukraine claims that Russia has lost 8,080 tanks, 15,524 artillery systems, and 360 aircraft, 326 helicopters, 11,584 drones, 28 ships, and a submarine. Western estimates give lower casualty numbers - these are only minimum values.
11:45 OSCE: Russia is committing genocide in UkraineThe Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has passed a resolution recognizing Russia's actions in Ukraine as genocide against the Ukrainian population. Pavlo Frolov, a member of the Kiev delegation, announced this. In social media, Frolov wrote that the document also defines "the denazification of the Russian Federation as a necessary prerequisite for the creation of a lasting peace." The OSCE has 57 members, including Ukraine and Russia. With 57 countries from Europe, Central Asia, and North America, the OSCE is the largest regional security organization in the world.
11:11 Weichert: People in Odessa "trying to live normal lives"While at least seven people have died in the vicinity of Zaporizhzhia due to Russian attacks, the beaches of the coastal town of Odessa are filled with bathing tourists. As ntv-reporter Jürgen Weichert describes, it is a much-needed break for the Ukrainians plagued by the war.
10:44 Russia: Four firefighters injured in the Donetsk regionIn the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, according to Russian reports, four firefighters were injured in Ukrainian attacks. They had put out a fire caused by a Ukrainian attack in the Petrovsky district, and were then reportedly hit by new shelling, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry reported.
10:08 Russia: Ukrainian forces driven out of Cherson on the left bankThe fighting in the Cherson region is currently taking place on the islands, as Ukrainian forces have been driven out of the left bank of the Dnipro, according to Cherson Governor Vladymyr Saldo, speaking to the Russian news agency TASS. "The fighting has shifted to the islands, and the Russian army has intensified its activities," he said. The islands and the Dnipro River in the Cherson region form a natural border at the front.
09:43 Ukraine: A Person Dead and Two Injured after Russian Attack in Cherson
At a Russian attack on the Ukrainian region of Cherson, a person is reportedly dead and two people injured. The governor of the region Cherson, Oleksandr Prokudin, announced this on Telegram. A 67-year-old man in Odradokamyanka was allegedly killed by a drone attack. A 76-year-old woman in Kozatske was injured by artillery fire and was admitted to the hospital with severe injuries. Moreover, a 63-year-old woman in Komysany is reportedly injured by Russian troops who shot at a farmer's house. There were no injured in a drone attack on a residential house in Mykhailivka, but the damage is currently being assessed.
09:08 Ex-NATO Chief: "Putin's Plan A has failed"
The former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen believes that the Russian war against Ukraine will last at least for the rest of the year 2024. "Putin's Plan A, which was to conquer the entire Ukraine in just a few days, has failed," Rasmussen said in an interview with ntv.de. "His Plan B is now a frozen conflict and the Russian occupation of Eastern Ukraine, in the hope that the West will weaken and give in." The presidential elections in the USA on November 5 are particularly significant for Putin in terms of potential changes that could help him.
08:40 Russia: 36 Ukrainian Drones Shot Down
Russia claims to have shot down 36 Ukrainian drones in various regions across the country. 15 drones were intercepted over the border region of Kursk, nine over the region of Lipezk some hundred kilometers south of Moscow, and four each over the regions of Woronesh and Brjansk, according to the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow. The governors of Lipezk and Brjansk announced on Telegram that there were no casualties or significant damage.
07:55 Sweden's Defense Minister: Russia wants to split EU and NATO
Russia is interested in politically splitting the EU and NATO. This was stated by the Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson in an interview with the "Bild" newspaper. "I believe that the Kremlin and Putin himself are aware that they would lose this war. But I believe that Russia is very interested in politically dividing us, both within the EU and in NATO," Jonson said. To maintain peace, it is best to strengthen NATO and focus on deterrence and defense. Jonson believes that this means more responsibility for European security, especially in the form of increased military investments. Sweden, under the impression of the Russian attack war on Ukraine, gave up its neutrality. In March 2024, Sweden became the 32nd NATO member.
07:24 Zelenskyy: After Russian Attack on Vilniansk, the Casualty Count may Still Rise
After a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Vilniansk in the region of Zaporizhzhia, there are reported fatalities and injuries (see entries 00:32 and 05:41). According to official reports, at least seven people have been killed, including children. Thirty-one more people were injured in the missile attack, according to the Civil Defense. "Unfortunately, the number of casualties may still rise," wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the platform X.
06:55 Ukraine: Russian Troops Bomb Derhachi with Air Raids
Russian troops have attacked the city of Derhachi in the Charkiw region. This was announced by the head of the military administration of Derhachi, Vyatscheslav Zadorenko, on Telegram. According to Zadorenko, three people have been injured. It is the most massive attack on Derhachi since 2022, during which four air bombs were dropped. Two men aged 68 and 75, and a 71-year-old woman were hospitalized. According to Zadorenko, the shelling damaged several buildings, including at least 25 residential houses, agricultural buildings, a garage cooperative, cars, and a civilian company, and partially destroyed power lines.
06:20 Export of Weapons Increased Again: Germany Exports Weapons for 7.5 Billion Euros
Following a record year for arms exports in the previous year, arms export authorizations in the first half of 2024 have significantly increased due to further rising weapons deliveries to Ukraine. The German government authorized the export of military goods for at least 7.48 billion Euros abroad from January 1 to June 18. This represents an increase of over 30 percent compared to the entire first half of 2023. Almost two-thirds of the exports (65 percent or 4.88 billion Euros) were destined for Ukraine. This is evident from a response from the Economy Ministry to a query from Bundestag deputy Sevim Dağdelen from the Left Party (The Left).
05:41 Dead in Vilnjansk: Moscow Targeted Military Objective
Following the Russian shelling of the Ukrainian city of Vilnjansk in the Saporischschja region with at least seven fatalities, the Russian Defense Ministry speaks of an attack on a military objective. According to Interfax news agency, a railway station with ballistic Iskander-Raketen near Saporischschja was attacked. The Russian military leadership claims that a train loaded with military cargo was hit. On photos and videos, it can be seen that residential buildings and parked cars in the city center were hit.
04:53 Kiev's Mine-Clearing Corps: 30,000 Square Kilometers Have Been Cleared
Specialists from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry have cleared 30,000 square kilometers of Ukraine of mines in the past two years - an area comparable in size to Belgium or Moldova. The Kyiv Independent reports this with reference to Colonel Ruslan Berehulia, head of the department for environmental safety and mine clearance. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, approximately 174,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian soil have been contaminated with explosives. The Ukraine founded the Mine-Clearing Corps in April 2022. Units of the Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian Armed Forces joined in. These units with 5000 specialists are currently active in the regions of Mykolajiw, Cherson, and Charkiw.
03:53 IFO-Survey: Nearly Half of Personnel Heads Dismiss "Jobturbo" and the Skilled Labor Immigration Law as Unhelpful
According to a survey conducted by the Munich IFO Institute among 627 personnel heads in Germany, nearly half of them find the "Job-Turbo" and the Skilled Labor Immigration Law unhelpful for their companies. The initiative aims to integrate Ukrainian refugees faster into the labor market. However, some respondents acknowledge positive effects: Nearly every fourth company reports that the new regulations have made more skilled labor available. In addition, they mention that mandatory language courses before job placement have led to fewer language barriers. Roughly 18% of personnel heads praise shorter hiring procedures and simpler recognition of degrees. The respondents were allowed to give multiple answers. Almost half of them find that the bureaucracy in hiring foreign labor is still too high, although 17% also observe a bureaucracy reduction.
02:37 Governor: Russian Region Kursk Shelled All Day Long
According to the local governor, Ukraine continued to shell the Russian border region of Kursk all day long on Saturday. Governor Alexei Smirnov posted on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had repeatedly targeted eight border villages. Two people were injured in the shelling. A video Smirnov shared in his Telegram channel shows a destroyed house and debris. Earlier, Smirnov reported the deaths of five people due to a Ukrainian drone attack early on Saturday morning.
01:29 "Putin loves Farage": Activists Mock Farage
The British campaign group Led by Donkeys pranked Nigel Farage, the chief of the right-wing Reform UK party, during a campaign appearance. After Farage recently claimed that the West, not Russian President Vladimir Putin, had provoked the war in Ukraine, activists dropped a banner with Putin's image behind him. Farage was reportedly not amused, according to the activists.
00:32 Emergency Services Work Through the Rubble in Vilniansk
Emergency services are clearing the rubble of a Russian attack on the city of Vilniansk in the Saporischschja region. After completing the search and rescue operations, it was determined that seven people had been killed, including two children, and 31 people had been injured, including eight children. "The fire was extinguished simultaneously at two locations: in a two-story building and near parked cars on a 300 square meter area, as well as in two one-story buildings on a 150 square meter area. The search and rescue operations are complete," the Ukrainian state emergency services announced.
21:24 Seehofer: No accommodation for young Ukrainians
Approximately 1.2 million Ukrainians have found refuge in Germany from the war in their homeland. CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt recently called for the expulsion of Ukrainians who do not work. "The proposal can be misunderstood," says CSU honorary chairman Horst Seehofer to the "Augsburger Allgemeine." Mothers and children from the war-torn land find it difficult to work; be it due to lacking language skills or a lack of daycare. "It belongs to a humane state to grant protection." However, young men who evade military service in Germany should not be granted asylum, according to him.
20:51 Man lights grenade in Luzk city center
A resident of the city of Chmelnytskyi lights a grenade in the city center of Luzk and is arrested. There are no injuries reported. This was reported by the Ukrainian Security Service SBU. The motive of the 23-year-old is still unclear.
You can read about all previous developments here.
- Generalleutnant Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart warned that Russia could create another conflict hotspot, including against NATO, and stressed that this threat is growing with each day.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration with the White House's decision not to invite Ukraine to NATO, calling it a policy of "one step forward, two steps back."
- The chief of staff of the Belarus military, Pavel Makarevich, threatened to use tactical nuclear weapons if the country's "sovereignty" and "independence" are endangered.
- Russian forces have the potential to create another conflict hotspot, according to Generalleutnant Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart, and it is a fatal error to underestimate Russia.
- Discussions have long been held about Ukraine becoming a NATO member, but there is no official invitation from the transatlantic defense alliance to Kiev.
