00:32 Starmer invites Zelenskyy to deliver a speech before cabinet members
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer invites Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to deliver a speech to his most important ministers. "Ukraine is and will remain the cornerstone of this government's agenda, and it is only fitting that President Zelenskyy delivers a historic speech before my cabinet", Starmer shares. According to British officials, Starmer will assure Zelenskyy during the cabinet meeting that Britain will do more in the coming months to counter Russia's "war machine". This includes a new agreement to support the financing of military exports to Ukraine. According to the office of the British Prime Minister, Bill Clinton was the last foreign head of state to give a speech before the cabinet in 1997.
23:40 Zelenskyy speaks with Brits about joint defense production
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has spoken with representatives of British defense companies about the prospects of joint defense production. He shares this over Telegram. The discussion focused on the possibilities of joint defense production, particularly of ammunition, air defense systems, artillery, armored vehicles, and drones. Britain was the first European country to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons, tanks, and long-range weapons, Zelenskyy emphasizes.
22:19 Zelenskyy thanks King Charles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanks King Charles for the audience. He shares this on social media. Zelenskyy is in Britain for the European summit. At the meeting of almost 50 state and government heads in the English university town of Oxford, Zelenskyy urges the Western allies to shoot down Russian rockets and drones over Ukrainian territory with their own weapons. In his post on social media about the audience with King Charles, Zelenskyy writes further, the United Kingdom remains "one of the closest and most important allies of Ukraine."
21:30 "DeepState"-Video allegedly shows Ukrainian advance near Bachmut
Online analysts from "DeepState", who are close to the Ukrainian army, have posted a video on social media that is said to show a fight between Russian and Ukrainian forces on the outskirts of the contested eastern Ukrainian city of Bachmut. The city is of great strategic importance to both sides. It has been in Russian hands since May 2023.
20:27 Scholz draws second red line
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejects Zelenskyy's call to his Western allies to shoot down Russian rockets and drones over Ukrainian territory with their own weapons. After the European summit in Britain, Scholz again denies Zelenskyy's request, maintaining the restrictions on the use of the supplied Western weapons against Russian territory. Regarding whether he agrees with the other NATO countries on these issues, he says at a press conference: "I see a consensus that such steps are not an option, even the US are clear about this."
20:11 Stoltenberg: Further US support for Ukraine "extremely important"NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called on US allies to continue their important support for Ukraine after the presidential election in November. It is "extremely important," he told the AFP news agency on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPG) meeting in Britain, that Washington maintains its support for Kiev. "European allies and Canada can certainly do more, but it is extremely important that the United States continue to support Ukraine," Stoltenberg said in the interview. "This must be a joint effort from North America and Europe." The US is "by far" Ukraine's closest ally, he added. "I therefore expect them to continue supporting Ukraine." It is also "in the security interest of the United States to support Ukraine," Stoltenberg emphasized.
19:29 Scholz wants to "tie up Russian shadow fleet"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced after the EPG meeting that the fight against Russian old tankers used for its oil exports would be intensified. "Russia is trying to export oil using rather old tankers that it has acquired through straw men on the world market, and is financing the war against Ukraine with it," he said. "These oil traders are a risk for maritime security and of course also for our seas and the environment." The EU has already reacted with sanctions. "Now we want to bundle our forces in a global coalition to tie up this shadow fleet," Scholz added.
18:58 Ukraine publishes numbers on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to the report from Kiev, Russia has lost approximately 563,640 soldiers in the Ukraine since February 24, 2022. In just 24 hours, the number of losses was 1,130. The report also states that seven tanks, twelve armed combat vehicles, 54 artillery systems, and 50 drones have been destroyed. Since the beginning of the large-scale attack, Russia has lost 8,245 tanks, 15,883 artillery systems, and 361 aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12,274 drones, 28 ships, and a submarine, according to Ukrainian General Staff figures. Western estimates put the loss figures lower - although they are only minimum values.
18:07 Stoltenberg: NATO Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden ready for action in SeptemberThe new NATO Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden is expected to be ready for action in September. This was announced by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the EPG summit in Oxford. The command in Wiesbaden will coordinate international military aid and training for the Ukrainian armed forces in the future. A total of around 700 men and women are expected to be involved in the mission at several locations.
17:31 United Kingdom: Ukrainians should decide themselves about weapons useThe United Kingdom will let Ukraine decide itself about the use of western weapons against Russian territory. "It is important that Ukraine makes its own decisions about its deployments while it is fighting this war and its young men and women are at the front", says Foreign Secretary David Lammy in an interview with the German Press Agency in response to a question about whether he would lift the restrictions on the use of western weapons. Lammy spoke on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit, where nearly 50 state and government heads gathered in Oxfordshire, England. The Russian offensive war against Ukraine dominated the agenda, as it had at previous meetings.
16:56 Ukrainian power grid operator reports "significant power deficit"After the nighttime failure of two power plants in Ukraine, the power grid operator Ukrenergo is drastically reducing power supply. Eleven regions and the capital Kiev are affected by the restrictions between 8 and 22 local time, according to Ukrenergo. "A significant power deficit in the Ukrainian energy system is the result of eight massive attacks that the enemy has carried out against energy facilities since the beginning of the year," Ukrenergo states. Exact details about the allegedly targeted facilities and the cause of the current outages are not provided. According to earlier reports from Ukraine, the country has lost nearly half of its production capacity due to the attacks, which Russia has intensified since the spring. As a result, there are frequent power outages, and the country must import electricity in large quantities from the EU.
16:22 Germany takes in critically ill children from KievFollowing the Russian rocket attack on the Ochmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kiev, Germany has admitted eight children who were previously treated there. The Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs and the Federal Health Ministry make this known in a joint statement. The children are between a few months and 15 years old. Most of them are oncology patients. "The rocket attack on the children's clinic in Kiev once again showed the inhumane cruelty with which Putin conducts his war against Ukraine", says Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. The children are accompanied by a total of ten close relatives. Since March 2022, more than a thousand severely injured and critically ill patients have been brought from Ukraine to Germany for medical treatment. Germany's humanitarian support for Ukraine will be continued with all efforts, Faeser adds.
15:51 Russia considers deploying additional atomic missilesRussia is not ruling out the deployment of additional atomic missiles and speaks of a reaction to the recently announced stationing of conventional US weapons in Germany. The defense of the Russian exclave Kaliningrad is a focus, says Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov to the Interfax news agency regarding the area of Russia that is located furthest west between NATO countries Poland and Lithuania. The USA and the German government had announced the previous week that the USA plans to station long-range US weapons such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and currently developing hypersonic weapons in Germany starting in 2026. "I exclude no options", Ryabkov says in response to a question about a Russian reaction.
15:12 Ukraine: Russian munitions depot on the Crimea destroyed
Ukraine claims to have attacked military targets on the annexed Crimean Peninsula using flying and swimming drones, according to its own reports. Security sources report that during this joint operation between the Navy and the Ukrainian Security Service SBU, a command center and a munitions depot at the Donuslav-Lake in the western Crimea were destroyed or damaged. Russia had previously reported the interception of 33 Ukrainian drones over the Crimea (see entries 11:34 and 05:07), but made no specific statements about the targets of the attacks.
14:29 Starmer to Zelenskyy: "We will be on your side"
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warns at the European summit about a Russian threat and assures Ukraine permanent support. "You have no doubt: We will be on your side, as long as it is necessary", Starmer told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy again urged allies to allow the use of Western weapons against targets in Russia. "The fewer restrictions we have, the more Russia will seek peace", he said in his speech at the English Blenheim Palace in Oxford. He referred to the fact that the permission of some Western countries to allow attacks on targets in the region of Kharkiv on border areas in Russia had not led to an escalation.
14:02 Ukrainian army withdraws from another villageThe Ukrainian armed forces have withdrawn from the village of Uroschaine in the Donezk region. This is reported by "Kyiv Independent" quoting a spokesperson for the Chortyzja military group. In earlier media reports, it was said that Uroschaine had been captured by Russian forces. The village is located on the southern frontline in a region of Donezk that borders Saporischschja. According to the spokesperson, the Ukrainian armed forces withdrew "because the enemy had almost destroyed everything in Uroschaine". The decision was made "to protect the lives and health of our soldiers who were defending there".
13:20 US musician in Russia sentenced to 13 years for "drug trafficking"A Russian court sentences an American citizen to 13 years in prison on charges of drug trafficking. Michael Travis Leake was found "guilty of selling narcotics", according to the Moscow Justice Press Service on Telegram. He was sentenced to a 13-year prison term in a strict penal colony. The former paratrooper and musician from the USA was taken into custody in June of the previous year. He was accused of "organizing the sale of drugs to young people". According to CNN, Michael Travis Leake is a musician and music producer who has lived in Russia for many years.
12:43 Behind closed doors: Second hearing for US journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia
The trial against US journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia is continuing. The second hearing in the case is taking place behind closed doors, as a court spokesperson in Yekaterinburg confirmed. Journalists have been denied entry to the courtroom. The 32-year-old Gershkovich is charged with espionage. If convicted, the journalist from the "Wall Street Journal" faces up to 20 years in prison in a labor camp. The second hearing, which was moved forward on defense request from August 13 to July 18, was closed to the public from the outset. Gershkovich is the first Western journalist to be arrested in Russia since the end of the Cold War on espionage charges. He has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest in March 2023. President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia is open for a prisoner exchange with the US.
12:10 Ukraine sends wheat for 100,000 Palestinian families
Despite war and continuous shelling: Ukraine has shipped 1,000 tons of wheat flour to the Palestinian territories, according to the "Kyiv Independent". This is the first installment of three humanitarian aid packages to be sent as part of the "Grain from Ukraine" program. The first package is sufficient to feed more than 100,000 Palestinian families for a month, according to the Foreign Ministry.
11:34 Russia: 33 Ukrainian drones over the Crimea
Russia shot down 33 Ukrainian drones over the Crimea at night, according to its own reports. Russian military forces also destroyed ten remotely operated watercraft in the Black Sea that were on their way to the annexed peninsula, as the Defense Ministry reported on Telegram. The governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, stated that loud noises in the city on the Crimean peninsula were due to the repulsion of an attempted attack with an over-water drone. Two more drones were intercepted by Russian forces in the Bryansk region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. "There were no casualties or damage," the governor Alexander Bogomas reported on Telegram.
11:05 Tens of thousands affected: All kindergartens near the border in Belgorod closed
In the southern Russian region of Belgorod, all kindergartens in the immediate vicinity of the Ukrainian border have been temporarily closed, according to official reports. The reason given is a heightened danger due to shelling, the responsible official Anna Kutasheva told Russian media. The measure applies from Wednesday initially for the rest of the week for institutions within a 20-kilometer radius of the border. According to Russian media, the closure affects 50,000 people in the region.
10:32 Joint Maneuver concluded - "Trust between the Chinese and Russian Navy strengthened"China and Russia have concluded a joint naval maneuver. The Chinese Navy reports that all planned projects and exercises of the "Joint Sea 2024" maneuver were completed on a Wednesday. The six-day maneuver, during which a "joint response to maritime security threats" was reportedly trained, saw the participation of at least seven warships. The maneuver "strengthened professional exchanges, mutual understanding, and trust between the Chinese and Russian Navy," and improved "the standardization and systematization" of "practical bilateral cooperation," according to the Chinese Navy. The maneuver took place off the coast of the Chinese port city Zhanjiang in the southern province of Guangdong.
10:06 Von der Leyen: "We must give everything Ukraine needs"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen demonstrated the EU's resolve against Russia. "Russia is counting on Europe and the West giving in," she stated. "And some in Europe are playing along." Von der Leyen criticized Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban's trip, which was described as a "pacification mission." However, von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU's support for Ukraine. "We must give Ukraine everything it needs to resist and emerge victorious."
09:38 Heavy Russian attacks on Ukrainian frontlineThe Ukrainian General Staff reports heavy Russian attacks on the frontline in eastern Ukraine. There were 29 Russian storm attacks on the frontline near the town of Torezk, according to the military's morning report. The fighting was particularly intense at a village named New York. The enemy also used parachute bombs dropped from aircraft. Torezk is located in the Donetsk region, as is the second heavily affected frontline sector Pokrowsk. There, 26 attacks were reported. Russian troops are gradually advancing in this area following the capture of the city of Avdiivka in February. The General Staff reports 144 Russian attack attempts since Wednesday morning. According to an unofficial report, Ukrainian troops are expected to withdraw from the village of Kalynivka near the city of Chassiw Jar.
09:00 Kiev reports success in drone defenseThe Ukrainian Air Force claims to have intercepted all 16 drones launched by the Russian military at targets in Ukraine during the night. Additionally, two of three Russian rockets were reportedly intercepted. The projectiles were destroyed over five regions.
08:17 How much does Russia pay its soldiersThe Russian government is reportedly set to pay soldiers and their families between 2.75 trillion and 3 trillion Rubles – approximately 31 to 33.9 billion US dollars – from July 2023 to June 2024 in salaries and compensation. According to the group Re:Russia, which condemns the war in Ukraine, this amount represents 1.4-1.6% of the expected Russian Gross Domestic Product in 2024 and 7.5-8.2% of the budget expenditures.
07:42 Umev: US election not decisive for Ukraine's success in defense
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umev stated, according to his own accounts, that the outcome of the US election is not crucial for his country's success in defending against Russian aggressors. Ukraine will find a way to combat Russian aggressors, even if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is re-elected in November and US support is threatened, Umev said. He refers to the diplomatic and military challenges that Ukraine faces following Trump's official nomination as presidential candidate and J.D. Vance as his vice presidential candidate. "We believe in the leadership role of the US, and we believe that America wants its partners and allies to be strong as well," Umev added. "In this phase, we will focus on the battlefield." Vance advocates for blocking military and financial aid for Ukraine, while Trump wants to end the war immediately.
07:11 Lavrov rejects peace conference, cites "unliberated territories"
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sharply criticizes plans for another peace conference on Ukraine in the West. There are points that are unacceptable for his country, Lavrov stated. "There has been an attempt to forcefully push through the so-called Zelenskyy Plan, which has the clear form of an ultimatum." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine a condition for peace. In contrast, Lavrov insists on the demand from Moscow to seize more Ukrainian territories. "There (in the east and southeast of Ukraine) are still not all territories liberated. We cannot allow the people who have voted for a return to Russia to be under the regime that is eliminating everything Russian," Lavrov said. The claim that the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine must be protected is a pretext used by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin as a justification for the war against the neighboring country. Traditionally, many Ukrainians in the east of the country speak Russian - but do not want to be part of Russia.
06:35 Lavrov: "Undeniable proof" of US journalist espionage
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, there is "undeniable proof" that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is a spy. As reported by the Associated Press, Lavrov also accused US journalists of delaying negotiations between the US and Russia on a potential prisoner exchange by reporting on confidential talks. According to Lavrov, the Gershkovich case has nothing to do with "attacks on journalism." "I would like to assure you that we, just like you, support journalism and freedom of speech," Lavrov said. In reality, there are no independent media left in Russia, many journalists have fled abroad, and others have faced massive repression. Gershkovich himself was arrested in Yekaterinburg at the end of March 2023 while working on a report about the recruitment methods of the Wagner mercenary group and the opinions of Russian citizens about the war in Ukraine. The journalist has been in pre-trial detention since then due to espionage charges. A hearing is taking place today.
05:53 Pistorius: We need to defend against an attack war
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius understands the fears of the population regarding the planned stationing of US long-range rockets in Germany. "We need to protect ourselves as best we can. I understand the concerns of the people about an escalation," the SPD politician told the "Rheinische Post" and the "General-Anzeiger." The framework conditions are, however, completely different than they were five or ten years ago. "At the eastern flank of NATO, there is an aggressor again." In light of this, Pistorius is calling for a change in the country and defending his demand to be "war-ready" in the coming years. "I don't even like the word 'war-ready.' But it's the truth that we protect ourselves best when we are able to repel a potential war," he said.
05:03 Drone alarm in Russian Black Sea port
The mayor of the Russian Black Sea port of Noworossijsk, Andrey Krawtchenko, is warning of drones at sea. Via Telegram, he is urging citizens to stay away from the coast. Ukrainian drones have in the past attacked Russian ships near the port and disrupted traffic. Noworossijsk is Russia's largest Black Sea port and an important transshipment hub for the export of oil and oil products. Meanwhile, the governor of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, Mikhail Razvozhayev, reports that Russian forces have destroyed a Ukrainian drone in the Black Sea near the city.
03:18 Zelensky remembers MH17 shootdown anniversary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commemorated the victims of the MH17 shootdown in his daily video address. "There are no doubts that the trial and the work of international justice as a whole will lead to absolutely just sentences for those responsible for this tragedy," he said. Such punishment is necessary, just as it is for all other crimes Russia has committed in the war. The MH17 airliner of Malaysia Airlines was shot down by pro-Russian rebels with a Russian surface-to-air missile over contested territory in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014.
02:13 Pistorius: More applicants for the Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr is seeing an increasing number of applicants. "There are more and more people who are volunteering to serve, precisely because they want to serve their homeland," Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told the "Rheinische Post." Compared to the previous year, 15 percent more people had applied for military service by the deadline of July 8. However, Pistorius wants to quickly implement his new conscription model. "But I need a quick entry into military conscription, because we are threatened. That's why I'm starting with the men, and then the women will come as soon as possible," he said. The legislative proposal is expected to be completed in the fall.
00:56 Report: Fight for Bridgehead at Dnipro costs Kiev many casualtiesAt the fight for a now abandoned bridgehead at Dnipro in the southeastern part of the country, Ukraine has reportedly suffered heavy losses according to media reports. More than 1000 soldiers on the Ukrainian side are said to have died during the months-long battle for the small town of Krynki. 788 soldiers stationed there are reported missing, according to Slidstwo.Info, citing police circles. 262 soldiers were reportedly found dead. The fighting for the town of Krynki was criticized from the start due to its futility. The troops stationed there could hardly be supplied with reinforcements across the river. Dead and wounded could rarely be transported away.
23:52 Air Alarm: Drones attack KievAn air alarm has been declared in Kiev once again. Loud explosions can be heard over the city. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on Telegram that the air defense systems have been activated. Debris has reportedly fallen in the central district of Darnytsky, but initial reports indicate no damage. Shortly beforehand, the Ukrainian Air Force had warned that drones from the east were heading towards Kiev. Furthermore, drones were reportedly detected in the regions of Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. At least 43 people were killed by Russian air raids on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities on July 8.
23:10 Estonia and Lithuania ban cars with Belarusian license platesEstonia and Lithuania announce that they will no longer allow cars with Belarusian registration plates into their country at their borders with Russia and Belarus. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that the ban had been imposed because Belarus "directly contributes to Russia's aggression in Ukraine and supports it." Lithuania had recently announced similar measures. The three countries, as well as Poland, Finland, and Norway, had already banned the entry of cars with Russian registration into their sovereign territory in 2023.
22:23 Zelenskyy on prisoner exchange: "We must bring them all back"In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy welcomes back the 95 soldiers who have returned from Russia (see entry at 14:36). Zelenskyy writes on X: "We are bringing our people home. Another 95 defenders have been released from Russian captivity. Among them are soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the Border Guard." After thanking the United Arab Emirates for their role in securing this release, he writes further: "We must bring them all back."
21:56 Moscow courts Russians to lengthy prison terms for attempting to join Ukrainian legion
A Moscow district military court sentenced two Russians to lengthy prison terms for attempting to join the "Freedom Legion of Russia" recruits, according to Radio Free Europe (RFE). The legion is a paramilitary unit where deserters from the Russian armed forces and other Russian and Belarusian volunteers fight on the Ukrainian side against Russia. The 24-year-old Andrei Morozov was sentenced to twelve years in prison, and the 56-year-old Muscovite Anatoli Poplavski to five and a half years. RFE reports that Poplavski has two young children living in Ukraine and a wife he is currently divorcing. The statement notes that the man lived in two countries for some time.
21:00 Lavrov blames US for escalation of violence
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at a UN Security Council session, placed blame on the US for the many deaths in Ukraine and the Palestinian territories. "By granting diplomatic protection to Israel and supplying it with weapons and ammunition, Washington has become - it's clear to all - a direct party to the conflict, just as in Ukraine," Lavrov is quoted as saying by Russian agencies in New York. He further stated that once the US ceases its support, the bloodshed in both cases would end. In reality, Russia began the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and expanded it to the entire country in February 2022. A Russian troop withdrawal from Ukraine would also end the violence in Ukraine.
You can read about previous developments here.**
- British Prime Minister Starmer emphasizes to President Zelenskyy that the UK will increase its military support to Ukraine in the coming months, including a new agreement to finance military exports.
- During a cabinet meeting with British ministers, Zelenskyy delivers a historic speech, expressing gratitude for the UK's support and urging further action against Russia's "war machine."
- Russian rockets and drones over Ukrainian territory continue to pose a threat, leading NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg to call on US allies to maintain their support for Ukraine's defense, emphasizing the US as "by far" Ukraine's closest ally.
- In the face of Russia's attacks on Ukraine's power grid, military deployments, and cyberwarfare, President Zelenskyy and other leaders emphasize the importance of international solidarity and defense cooperation, such as joint defense production initiatives with British defense companies.
- Amid the Ukraine-Conflict, NATO and Western allies express concerns about Russian military deployments and potential escalations, with some officials debating the use of Western weapons against Russian territory to defend Ukrainian territory.
