01:29 "Putin loves Nigel": activists mock Farage
British campaign group Led by Donkeys dupes Nigel Farage, Chief of the right-wing party Reform UK, during a campaign appearance. Recently, Farage drew attention with the claim that the West, not Russian President Vladimir Putin, had instigated the war in Ukraine. Activists dropped a banner with Putin's image behind Farage. The activists wrote laconically that Farage was not pleased.
00:32 Emergency services working through the debris in Vilniansk Emergency services are clearing the debris of a Russian attack on the city Vilniansk in the Saporischja Oblast. After the completion of search and rescue operations, it is established that seven people were killed, including two children, and 31 people were 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 completed," the Ukrainian state emergency service reports.
21:24 Seehofer: No shelter for young Ukrainian men 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; it is either due to a lack of language skills or a lack of kindergarten places. "It belongs to a humane state to provide protection." Young men who evade military service in Germany, however, should not be granted asylum, he thinks.
20:51 Man lights grenade in Luzk city center A resident of the city of Chmelnyzkyj lights a grenade in the city center of Luzk and is arrested. There are no injured. The Ukrainian Domestic Security Service SBU reports this. The motive of the 23-year-old is still unclear.
20:04 Kiev records Russian losses According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the Russian armed forces lost 1,070 soldiers on Saturday through death or injury. In addition, they put 7 tanks, 25 other armored vehicles, and 57 artillery systems out of commission, they report. The Russian attackers have lost more than 540,000 soldiers since the beginning of their large-scale invasion. The information is not independently verifiable.
19:39 Russian children go on vacation in North Korea At the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Dictator Kim Jong Un, they also agreed on a tourism cooperation. At the end of July, the first Russian children are expected to relax in North Korea, reports the state Russian news agency RIA Novosti. The conditions are "good." Previously, the administration of the neighboring Russian region Primorye had announced travel programs for Russian tourists at North Korean beaches.
19:58 Multiple deaths after Russian attack on civilian targetsRussian troops have attacked the city of Vilniansk in the Saporischja Oblast, killing seven people, among them two children, according to Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Thirty-one people were injured. Vilniansk had a population of approximately 15,000 before the war and is located thirty kilometers from Saporischja. Following an alarm in the region, several explosions were reported. The Russian attack damaged a critical infrastructure facility, a business, and residential buildings.
"The attack occurred in broad daylight on a weekend at a place where people spent their leisure time in the city center, without any military infrastructure," said Governor Iwan Fedorov.
19:21 Poland: The West must learn to counter-escalatePoland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is convinced that Russia is not invincible and that the West can defeat Vladimir Putin. "Contrary to its propaganda, Russia is not invincible," Sikorsky said during a speech: "It has lost some of its wars." The Kremlin can be contained and even defeated. The West must learn how to win in the "escalation game." "We could, for example, confiscate all 300 billion euros of Russian state assets," Sikorsky added.
18:39 Ukraine plans privatization of system-critical banksUkraine plans to sell the system-critical Sens Bank and Ukrgasbank. Additionally, an internationally recognized financial advisor is to be appointed by September 2024, according to a memorandum with the International Monetary Fund. The process is to be "transparent" and "following consultations with international financial organizations." Ukraine commits to not increasing the state share in the banking sector. The IMF will provide Kiev with an additional 2.2 billion dollars for its budget.
17:58 Ukraine denies attack plans on BelarusKiev denies Belarusian claims of Ukrainian offensive plans across the shared border. The Ukraine poses no threat but is instead strengthening its defense lines, according to Border Guard Spokesperson Andrij Demtschenko. There are no provocations. "They might be confused," Demtschenko was quoted by the Unian agency as saying. "The real threat comes from Belarus, where there are enough Russian troops stationed." Russian military is attempting to tie down Ukrainian forces, according to Andrij Kowalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation. In an interview, a high-ranking Belarusian officer had claimed: "They are trying to drag our country into the war." Belarus is Russia's closest ally.
17:19 Civilians freed meet in Kyiv after yearsTen Ukrainian civilians held captive in Russia have returned to Kyiv following their release. The ex-detainees, wrapped in blue and yellow flags, were welcomed by their relatives in the capital. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to all involved and specifically to the Vatican for its mediation. Some of the now-released individuals had been imprisoned in Russia before its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, among them Nariman Dscheljal, deputy chairman of the Mejlis, a representative body of the Crimean Tatars. Dscheljal was abducted from Crimea a year before the invasion, despite the annexation.
16:47 Ukraine investigates dismissed General Sodol
The Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office is investigating the actions of dismissed General Lieutenant Yurij Sodol. He is accused of sending unnecessary numbers of soldiers to their deaths with his orders. The General gave orders to Ukrainian troops during Russia's offensive in the Oblast of Kharkiv. When the current Russian offensive began on May 10, he was in command. The General was dismissed on June 24 after one of the commanders of the Azov Brigade filed an official complaint. In it, he accused the General of abuse of power and incompetent leadership of troops, which led to the loss of Ukrainian territory and personnel.
16:10 Ukraine thanks for translation tool for Crimean Tatar
Google's online translator now includes Crimean Tatar as part of an extension of 110 new languages. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry publicly thanks for the initiative. Crimean Tatar is endangered in Ukraine due to the declining number of speakers. Mass deportations and repressive measures against Crimean Tatars by the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union have significantly contributed to the decline. The illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 has intensified the trend. Crimean Tatars are subjected to persecution and deportation by the Russian occupiers on their homeland.
15:29 EU imposes sanctions on Belarus
Due to Belarus' involvement in Russia's offensive war, the EU is imposing sanctions on the country. This is intended to make it more difficult for Russia to bypass sanctions.
- Export restrictions on goods and technologies for the maritime industry and luxury goods to Belarus
- Extension of the export ban on technology and goods that could increase Belarusian industrial capacity
- New export ban to Belarus for goods and technologies suitable for oil refining and gas liquefaction
- Import ban from Belarus of gold, diamonds, helium, coal, and mineral products, including oil
- Comprehensive ban on services for Belarus
- Ban on goods transport in the EU for Belarusian trailers and semi-trailers
14:56 Ukraine's Foreign Minister wants to make war "impossible"
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated his goal for the post-war period during a podium discussion. "As we have learned from our own recent history and from the history of other regions, peace without justice leads to a new war," he said. "Therefore, the goal is not only to end the war, but to create a reality in which peace is just and lasting, and a new war becomes impossible. This will be the victory."
14:31 Belarus Reinforces Air Defense at Ukraine BorderAccording to its own statements, Belarus has reinforced its air defense at the border with Ukraine. The reason is an increase in Ukrainian drone activities in the area, the military of the close ally Russia reports. Additional air defense forces have been sent to the border to protect "critical infrastructure installations." The situation in the airspace over the border remains tense. The Defense Ministry reports that there are reports that Ukraine has moved more troops, weapons, and military equipment to the northern region of Schytomyr, which borders Belarus.
13:52 Seehofer on No to Taurus Deliveries for Ukraine: "Scholz's Behavior is Exactly Right"The former Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer justifies Chancellor Olaf Scholz's "No" to Taurus Missile Deliveries to Ukraine. "In one point, I find Scholz's behavior exactly right - in the question of Taurus missile deliveries," said the CSU politician in an interview on the occasion of his 75th birthday in the "Augsburger Allgemeinen." The Chancellor wanted to prevent escalation and work together with the Americans under all circumstances. "I have always considered that right, even if that is also seen differently in my party," said the CSU politician and former Bavarian Minister President about the stance of the SPD politician in the Taurus issue. "This stance does not use the chance that the Ukrainians might one day, if they consider it right, try to end this horrible and brutal war of the Russians," said the CSU politician and former Bavarian Minister President.
13:23 Economists Warn Against New Foreign Policy Course of the AfDEconomists warn against the efforts of influential AfD politicians to distance themselves from the EU and the USA and to orient themselves more strongly towards Russia and China. "A departure from the USA and the EU to cooperate more strongly with China could contribute significantly to political and economic uncertainty and also carry long-term risks," said Oliver Holtemöller, Deputy President of the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle, to the "Handelsblatt." The President of the German Institute for Economic Research, Marcel Fratzscher, told the newspaper that orienting oneself more strongly towards Russia and China would be the "greatest mistake" that Germany could make politically and economically.
12:58 Russia Reports Taking Control of Village in the Donezk OblastAccording to reports from Russian state media, the Russian military has taken control of the Ukrainian village of Schumy in the Donezk region. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the army has taken the settlement near the city of Torezk. The announcement states that Ukrainian troops suffered 360 casualties. The independent verification of these claims is not possible.
12:38 Zelensky: Russian attacks have destroyed 80% of Ukraine's thermal energy
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian attacks have destroyed 80% of Ukraine's thermal energy and a third of its hydropower. The British newspaper "Guardian" reports this. Russian attacks reportedly targeted energy facilities and other critical infrastructure frequently. The attack in Dnipro, as the Ukrainian leader noted, shows that Ukraine needs more air defense systems. "Only sufficient quantities of high-quality air defense systems, only sufficient determination from the whole world can stop Russian terror," Zelensky said.
12:25 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba on a visit to Croatia
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is in Croatia on a visit. He is participating in the 17. Dubrovnik Forum. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the focus of the meeting will be on restoring peace and security in Ukraine and Europe, as well as the results of the first peace summit. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and EU Foreign Policy Chief Joseph Borrell are among those attending the meeting.
11:51 Military economist: The war could be over by the end of 2025 - "Time is running against Russia"
According to military economist Marcus Keupp, Russia will not be able to sustain the war against Ukraine for years. As he said in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," the Russian supply is expected to collapse according to estimates no later than mid-2027, possibly even by the end of 2025. "That's the computational end, then the warehouses are empty." Keupp bases his calculations on losses of the Russian army, which are documented on open-source websites on the internet. According to his calculations, Russia has lost four tanks per day since the start of the war. Since only 300 to 500 new tanks can be built annually, Moscow cannot sustain this indefinitely, the military economist said. Satellite images already show that old Soviet military bases are emptying out "at breakneck speed" all over Russia, according to Keupp. "Russia is living off its reserves. It is essentially on the dead legs of the Soviet Union." Keupp's conclusion: "Time is running against Russia." In his opinion, Russia's way of waging war is not sustainable. "Putin has the same problem as Hitler. His resources are melting away, he's stuck in the mud of the Soviet Union."
11:33: Escaping Military Service: Some Ukrainian Men Seek Help from Forgers
In Ukraine, a new recruitment offensive is underway to mobilize more soldiers for the fight against Russia. Therefore, some Ukrainian men are turning to online dealers and forgers to avoid military service, as reported by the British newspaper "Guardian." It is expected that attempts to flee the country will also increase. Ukraine recently passed far-reaching mobilization measures, which allow the military to call up more soldiers and impose stricter penalties for draft evasion. Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a controversial law in the past April that lowers the draft age from 27 to 25. Anyone who refuses military service can lose their driver's license and access to their bank accounts. Property can also be confiscated.
11:04: Zelenskyy Releases Video of Reunions Between War Prisoners and Their Families
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a video on his social media channels of the moment ten prisoners of war returned home from Russian captivity and reunited with their families.
10:36: Ukrainian Police Car in Sumy Attacked by Russian Drone
In the Sumy Oblast in northeastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian police car was attacked by a Russian drone. The Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Post" reports this based on the Ukrainian National Police. The policemen were not in the vehicle at the time of the attack but were nearby when they heard the explosion.
10:08: Kremlin Remains Silent on Trump's Remarks about Ending the War
The Kremlin declined to comment on Donald Trump's remarks that he would end the war against Ukraine if re-elected in November. The British newspaper "Guardian" reports this. Trump made these comments during the US presidential debate with the incumbent Joe Biden on the previous Thursday. "As for Russia and Ukraine: If we had a real president, a president who knew Putin respected him, he wouldn't have gone into Ukraine," Trump said.
09:26: Zelenskyy Thanks Coe at Meeting for Excluding Russian and Belarusian Athletes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Sebastian Coe, President of the World Athletics Championships. Zelenskyy shared the news on his Facebook page. "We welcome the decisions made by World Athletics in early March 2022, banning representatives of Russia and Belarus from participating in international athletics competitions," Zelenskyy wrote. He also thanked Coe for supporting Ukrainian athletes.
09:01 Four People Dead and Ten Injured in Russian Attacks in the Oblast of ChernobylThe Russian military has shelled numerous cities and villages in the Chernobyl region, resulting in the death of four people and injury of ten more. According to Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the region, as reported by Ukrinform via Telegram. "Four people were killed by Russian aggression in Sadove, Tiahynka, Novotiahynka, Olhivka, and Chernobyl," Prokudin said. He added that the Russian military attacked residential areas in the region and damaged some private houses. Additionally, businesses and a gas pipeline were reportedly hit.
08:34 Governor of Kursk: Five Dead in Ukrainian Drone Attack on Border VillageAccording to Russian reports, five people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on a border village. Two of the fatalities were reportedly young children, announced the governor of the western Russian region of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, via Telegram. "Two more family members are in critical condition," he added. The drone is said to have crashed into a house in the small village of Gorodischtsche. Since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, both sides have regularly targeted each other with drones, some of which have ranges of several hundred kilometers. The Ukrainian army has expanded its drone attacks on Russian territory this year. It is targeting both Russian energy facilities and border towns and villages.
08:02 Kyiv: Over 1,000 Russian Soldiers "Eliminated"According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, 1,070 Russian soldiers have been killed or incapacitated in one day. Since the start of the war in February 2022, a total of 541,560 Russian soldiers have reportedly been "eliminated." The Defense Ministry announced in its daily reports on Russian losses that the enemy had lost seven more tanks (8073). Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted over 15,500 armored vehicles and approximately 11,500 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow has not released information on its own losses in Ukraine.
07:28 Fire Department in Dnipro rescues man from buried carOnce again, Russian rockets hit a Ukrainian residential area. The latest attack on the city of Dnipro reportedly caused at least one fatality, with injuries also reported, including a seven-month-old baby. A man was buried under the rubble of his car.
07:06 Positions of Ukrainian military being surveilled: SBU arrests suspected Russian agentThe Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) of the Ukrainian domestic intelligence service has arrested another suspected Russian agent. The man is alleged to have prepared a Russian troop breakthrough in the Donetsk region and spied on Ukrainian defense forces. According to the SBU press office, he is a resident of Myrnohrad, who works as an employee of a private security company. Russia reportedly became aware of the man as an active user of pro-Russian Telegram channels, where he is said to have published anti-Ukrainian comments.
06:34 Ukrainian Air Force: Ten Russian drones shot down at nightThe Ukrainian air defense has shot down all ten Russian drones launched by Russia at night. According to the Ukrainian Air Force.
05:43 General Staff in Kiev: 102 battles at the frontThe Ukrainian General Staff reports 102 battles at the front within 24 hours. The enemy has increased the tempo of its offensive actions since Friday morning, according to the situation report of the Ukrainian General Staff on Facebook. The most battles are reported near Pokrovsk. The Russian troops attempted to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions 28 times. The Ukrainian army repelled 21 attacks. Seven battles are still ongoing, according to the announcement.
04:59 Czech Republic preparing security accords with KievCzech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on X that the Czech Republic will sign a bilateral security accord with Ukraine during the EU summit in London on July 18. He announced on the previous day that he had agreed with President Zelenskyy to "finalize the negotiations on the text of the Czech-Ukrainian security accord before the NATO summit in Washington." The next NATO summit is scheduled for July 9-11. The Czech Republic will join 19 other countries, including the USA, Great Britain, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, which have already signed similar bilateral agreements.
03:59 USA to supply Kiev with Hawk missilesThe US government will supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition worth $150 million, including Hawk air defense missiles and 155-millimeter artillery ammunition. Two unnamed US officials announced that the weapons aid package is expected to be presented on Monday. The US government is reacting to Ukraine's desperate pleas for support in air defense, as Russia has bombarded Ukrainian energy infrastructure with air raids in recent weeks.
02:58 Report: Russian Agents in Vienna hired hit on helicopter pilot Kusminow
In Vienna, Russian agents are under suspicion for their involvement in the recruitment and financing of Russian operations, such as the assassination of the Russian military helicopter pilot Maxim Kusminow. He had defected to Ukraine and lived in Spain, where he was found by the hit squad. This is reported by the "Wall Street Journal" with reference to western security circles. The killers, who shot the man five times and then ran him over with a SUV, were criminals who were paid with cash provided by Russian civil servants from Vienna, according to the paper. "We are now becoming a burden for our neighbors, as Russia uses us as an operational base," says a high-ranking Austrian intelligence officer to the newspaper. According to Austrian intelligence sources, the number of active Russian diplomats in Austria in the last two years has increased from around 400 to over 500. About half of them are diplomats and managers, while the other half function as spies.
01:58 Russia: Control taken over of location north of Bachmut - Ukraine denies
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian armed forces have taken control of the settlement of Rosdoliwka in eastern Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian military states that heavy fighting are taking place in the areas around the settlement. Rosdoliwka is located in the Donezk region, the epicenter of the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine. It is located north of Bachmut and Soledar, two settlements that were taken under Russian control last year.
00:58 US Army awards Lockheed Martin contract worth $4.5 billion
In the USA, the US Army awards Lockheed Martin a multi-year contract worth $4.5 billion for the Patriot air defense system. This is announced by the Pentagon. The contract includes 870 PAC-3 MSE missiles and the associated hardware. Lockheed manufactures the latest version of the missile defense system, which equips the Patriot, known as PAC-3 MSE. The Patriot system is part of a series of highly developed air defense systems that the West provides to Ukraine.
23:58 Further Olympic starting places for Russians - Judokas rejected
The International Olympic Committee announces further starting places for Russian and Belarusian athletes for the Paris Summer Games. According to the IOC's evening statement, 50 athletes from the two countries have been invited to compete at the Olympics under a neutral flag. However, not all of these invitations have been accepted, some have already withdrawn. Some Judokas were rejected because of their affiliation with Army sports clubs. Of the twelve quota places for Russian Judokas, only two will be allocated to each gender - it is open whether the four will accept the invitation.
22:59 Ten Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity
According to reports from Kiev, ten Ukrainian civilians have returned from Russian captivity. Among the released prisoners is Nariman Djeljal, a leader of the Crimean Tatars, writes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social media on Friday. He thanks the Vatican for its mediation in the release of the civilians. Djeljal was arrested in 2021, before the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in the Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia since 2014. He was later sentenced to 17 years in prison.
22:30 Lithuania's Foreign Minister: Kallas nomination acknowledges stance on Russia
Lithuania has welcomed the nomination of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the new EU foreign policy chief. Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis speaks of recognition of the views of the Baltic states and other countries on the NATO eastern flank, which have consistently taken a firm stance against Russia and supported Ukraine until its victory. "She has never hidden her position, she has clearly and openly expressed her views on issues that are important to us," Landsbergis told the BNS agency in Vilnius about Kallas. Kallas was appointed as the EU representative for external and security policy at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. The 47-year-old liberal has been Estonia's first female prime minister in history and is known as a supporter of a resolute Western stance towards Moscow.
22:00 Baerbock: Support for Ukraine is the best protection for peaceful sleeping
According to the belief of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the ongoing support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion forces is also a prerequisite for peace and security in Germany. "If Ukraine can no longer defend our peace, our freedom, because we no longer support it, then the question is how far Putin's troops will advance then," Baerbock said in a talk with RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), NDR and "Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung". "That's why the support efforts for Ukraine are the best protection for our own peace and our own security." Baerbock referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Of course, one could discuss whether the billions in aid for Ukraine should be used differently, Baerbock said. But in this case, she had to say: "I don't know how long we can continue to sleep peacefully here in Brandenburg, directly on the border with Poland." There are "light tests" everywhere at the EU border and the NATO external border. "Every reasonable person in the world, in Europe and in Ukraine" wishes nothing more ardently than peace in Ukraine. That depends on Putin. "For that, Putin must withdraw his troops and finally put an end to this killing." Instead, his answer is "always more violence and terror".
You can read about earlier developments here.
- Concerning Farage's remarks, Volodymyr Selensky, the Ukrainian President, commented that Western nations did not instigate the Ukraine conflict, reiterating that it was Russia who initiated the military operations.
- During a discussion on counter-escalating, Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stressed that Russia is not invincible and that the West can learn to defeat Vladimir Putin in political and military aspects, including potential cyberwarfare.
- The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to Google for including Crimean Tatar in an extension of 110 new languages available on its online translator, as this move is significantly beneficial in preserving the endangered language.
- As part of the sanctions imposed on Belarus due to its involvement in Russia's offensive war, the European Union banned imports of gold, diamonds, helium, coal, and mineral products, including oil, from Belarus.
- Amidst the ongoing conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Dictator Kim Jong-Un agreed on a tourism cooperation, with the first Russian children expected to go on vacation in North Korea in late July.
