02:02 Gabriel misses debate about US-Raketens stationing in Germany
Former Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister, and current Chairman of the Atlantik-Bridge, Sigmar Gabriel, expressed irritation over the lack of public debate in Germany prior to the decision on the stationing of US long-range missiles. "I'm not bothered by the deployment itself, but rather the fact that there's no public debate about it in Germany. It's just being decided," Gabriel told the "Rheinische Post."
00:55 Power Plant Damaged in Russian Region by Ukrainian Drone Attack A Ukrainian drone attack reportedly damaged a power plant in the southwestern Russian region of Orjol, according to Russian reports. "There are no casualties," Orjol Governor Andrej Klitschkow announced on Telegram. Two drones were destroyed. The exact number of drones shot down is initially unclear. Further details about the extent of the damage to the power plant and potential consequences for energy supply are not available at this time.
22:17 "Anti-European": Polish Foreign Minister Proposes Hungary's Exit from EU and NATO The Polish Foreign Ministry has proposed that Hungary, following Viktor Orban's controversial remarks about the EU, the US, and particularly Poland, leave the EU and NATO. "If you don't want to be a member of a club, you can always leave," said Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, according to the Polish Press Agency (PAP). Orban caused a stir with his controversial comments on a podium at a summer university in Romania. The Hungarian prime minister allegedly accused Poland of hypocrisy, praised US presidential candidate Donald Trump, and defended Russia. He also accused the US of being responsible for the Nord Stream pipeline attack. The Polish foreign minister described Orban's current politics as "anti-European, anti-Ukrainian, and anti-Polish." Poland does not do business with Russia "in contrast to Orban, who stands on the fringes of the international community," Bartoszewski added.
21:31 Drone Attack on Bomber: Zelensky Thanks Soldiers for "Accuracy from 1,800 Kilometers Distance" Ukrainian media reported yesterday about a successful drone attack on a military airfield in northern Russia – 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to "Ukrainska Pravda," citing intelligence sources, a strategic bomber of the type TU-22M3 was hit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his soldiers, and specifically mentioned the 9th Department of the Military Intelligence Service GUR, in his evening video address. "Accuracy from almost 1,800 kilometers from our border. Really important! Thank you," Zelensky said. Zelensky did not provide further details. Russia operates bombers from this airfield for rocket attacks on Ukraine.
20:46 Report: Wagner-affiliated Propagandist among fighters in Mali killedIn fights with fighters of the separatist Tuareg people in the northern part of Mali, more than several dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries have reportedly been killed. According to independent Russian news channels "The Insider" and "Mediazona", Nikita Fedjanin, administrator of the Telegram channel "Grey Zone" with around 500,000 subscribers, was among the dead. A photo allegedly showing his corpse is circulating in the reports. On the Telegram channel, which Fedjanin referred to as a "soldier community", he published pictures of Wagner deployments at various locations in Africa and repeatedly expressed his support for Russia's war in Ukraine. The commander of the mercenaries, Evgeny Prigozhin, who was killed nearly a year ago in a plane crash, also regularly disseminated videos and photos of Wagner fighters through "Grey Zone".
20:27 Zelenskyy: Ukraine to present "Peace Plan" by end of NovemberPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with the Japanese broadcaster NHK that Ukraine would complete its "Peace Plan" by the end of November. The Ukraine had organized the first global peace conference in Switzerland in June, where 91 countries and eight international organizations signed a communiqué. Kiev will reportedly begin "detailed talks with relevant countries" on territorial integrity and other issues. Ukraine plans to organize a second peace conference before the US presidential elections in November with Russia's participation. No official invitation has been sent yet. The Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin stated that Russia would not participate.
20:12 Russian attack on Nikopol - two children injuredRussian troops attacked the city of Nikopol in the south of Ukraine. There are several injured, including two children - a girl aged one and a girl aged ten. This was reported by the head of the regional military administration in Dnipropetrovsk, Serhii Lyssak, on Telegram, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform.
19:37 Russian troops launch series of attacks in Eastern UkraineThe Russian air force is heavily bombing the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. According to a statement from the General Staff in Kiev, the small town of Wowtschansk was hit by at least six glide bombs. In addition, Russian fighter jets reportedly attacked Ukrainian positions. No information was provided on casualties. Another focus of Russian attacks was reportedly Pokrovsk. Throughout the day, 16 attacks were repelled, with more ongoing. The information cannot be verified independently at this time. Reports also came in of multiple attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region using artillery and combat drones. In the sector Liman in the east of the country, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian army positions. At least twelve attacks were recorded, the General Staff reported.
19:18 President Zelensky names three factors for a "just end" to the warPatience, support for Ukraine, and diplomatic pressure on Russia - these are the three factors for a just end to the war. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with the Japanese broadcaster NHK. "Patience, support, and diplomatic pressure are the three factors for a just end to the war. If the USA and European nations maintain their unity, the pressure increases and shows Moscow that there is no chance", said the Ukrainian leader. Zelensky also emphasized that he could not react to demands for a ceasefire as long as Russia continues to occupy Ukrainian territory.
18:38 Scientists call for NATO to invite Ukraine into the allianceScientists and researchers from various countries have called on NATO in an open letter to invite Ukraine to join the alliance. According to the state Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, up to 158 signatories have signed the letter, which was published in the British newspaper "Guardian". "The invitation of Ukraine to join NATO would be a final step away from appeasement policy and back to the rule of international law and the protection of human rights", it says there. The previous attempts to appease Moscow's alleged "NATO expansion anxiety" have ignored Russian propaganda and systematic war crimes in the occupied territories of Ukraine, including massacres, mass rapes, and torture. "Russia's actions show a clear intention to destroy Ukraine as a nation, rather than addressing its own security concerns", the authors emphasize. An invitation to the military alliance would, in their view, not create additional incentives for the Kremlin, "since Russia is resolutely determined to destroy Ukraine and does not need additional motivation". It is also a "fact that Russia has not attacked a single member of the Military Alliance". Instead, Moscow has threatened, attacked, and occupied other countries.
17:54 Reports of Ukrainian surprise attack on Russian troops in LuhanskAccording to reports, the Ukrainian military has inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops in Luhansk in eastern Ukraine with a rocket attack. Members of a tank infantry battalion were reportedly hit by ATACMS rockets during a gathering on a training ground, according to Ukrainian media, citing Russian social media and their own military circles. The surprise attack, which allegedly took place yesterday, reportedly killed at least 19 Russian soldiers and wounded another 71. The information could not be independently verified. The Ukrainian troops usually only use ATACMS rockets against valuable targets. It is possible that the troop concentration at Luhansk was detected by a reconnaissance drone beforehand.
17:32 Dozens of Wagner soldiers in Mali killed or captured - commander from Ukrainian conflict in custodyRussian Wagner soldiers in Mali suffered one of their heaviest losses in West Africa after dozens of fighters, including Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries, were killed or captured during three days of fighting to take the village of Tinzaouaten near the Algerian border. Russian mercenaries have been fighting alongside the Malian army against various rebel movements in the country since 2021, including islamist terror militias and the Tuareg. Russian sources close to the mercenaries, including a former commander of forces in northern Mali, reported over 80 dead and 15 captured fighters on their side. Among them was reportedly Wagner commander Anton Elisarov, who was involved in the Russian assault on the Ukrainian town of Soledar.
16:49 Fire in university building in Cherson after Russian shellingRussian forces attacked the Cherson oblast and hit a university building, resulting in a fire, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the Cherson region, as reported by "Ukrainska Pravda". "The enemy shelled a university building in the city center at night, causing a fire." No one was injured.
16:02 430 Ukrainian settlements without power after Russian attacksAccording to Ukrainian Energy Ministry reports on Facebook, as reported by Ukrinform, 431 settlements in six regions in the north and northeast of Ukraine are without power due to Russian attacks.
15:34 General Staff: Over 130 battles with Russian troops in one dayThe Ukrainian General Staff reports that there were 129 battles with Russian troops along the front line the previous day. As reported by Ukrinform, the Russian troops were particularly active in the areas of Pokrovsk, Torezk, and Kurachiwka.
14:54 Kiev: Almost 1200 Russian soldiers eliminated in one dayAccording to official figures from Kiev, 1190 Russian soldiers were eliminated in the war within one day. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports that since the start of the war in February 2022, a total of 574,690 Russian soldiers have been eliminated. According to the Defense Ministry's daily reports on Russian losses, the enemy lost 13 more tanks (8344). Since the start of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted over 16,000 armored vehicles and around 12,800 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed. The figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow itself keeps information on its own losses in Ukraine to itself.
14:28 Zelensky: Russia fired over 700 guided bombs and more than 100 drones at Ukraine in a weekAccording to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's post on Telegram, citing local authorities, Russian forces have fired over 700 guided air-to-ground bombs and more than 100 Shahed drones at Ukraine in the past week. Yesterday, during Russian air raids on four Ukrainian regions, eleven people were killed and forty-one were injured. The Ukrainians are "suffering daily under Russian terror" and "deserve a fair and reliable protection from it." Zelensky calls on allies to equip Kiev with long-range weapons and air defense equipment. He added that "every concrete decision by partners to strengthen our forces can save lives."
14:01 Report: F-16 fighter jets may not significantly influence the course of the warThe first F-16 fighter jets are expected to arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks, but Ukrainian and Western officials warn that they may not have a significant impact on the course of the war, as Russia continues to make gains on the battlefield. The Washington Post reports that Ukraine will only receive a small number of F-16 fighter jets, while Russia has a large number of air defense systems that can shoot them down. This means that the first F-16 fighter jets to arrive in Ukraine are likely to be used to strengthen Ukrainian air defense, to shoot down Russian aerial targets, rather than attacking Russian ground troops.
According to the Washington Post, it is unlikely that the fighter jets will initially be stationed near the front lines and therefore will not be able to intercept Russian military aircraft. Officials refused to disclose how many F-16 fighter jets will be provided to Ukraine this year, but it is not expected to be more than about 20, which is the size of a squadron.
13:44 Ukraine confirms attack on oil refinery in KurskThe Ukrainian military confirms an attack on a Russian oil depot in the Kursk region in social media posts. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the Ukrainian military reportedly collaborated to attack the Polyova oil depot last night. Previously, local authorities in Kursk reported a drone attack that caused fires at several locations. According to the local governor Alexei Smirnov, firefighters were still working to extinguish three fuel tanks this morning. [See entries 08:00 and 06:36.]
13:20 Agencies: Eight injured in Russian shelling of NikopolEight people, including children, were injured in Nikopol, a Ukrainian city in the Dnipro region, following Russian shelling, according to RBC-Ukraine, citing the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. "Eight residents of two multi-story buildings, including two children, were injured during the enemy shelling of Nikopol," the statement reads. The injured were taken to the hospital by rescue services and the Red Cross.
13:01 Russia reports taking control of two locations in Donetsk
Russia has taken control of two locations in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. These are Prohres and Evheniwka in the east of Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies, quoting the Russian Defense Ministry.
12:44 Ukraine accuses Russia of killing 564 children since start of war
Russia is reported to have killed 564 children and injured at least 1487 since the start of its military campaign in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform", citing the Office of the Prosecutor General. Most of the children were affected in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Cherkasy, Kiev and Zaporizhzhia, the statement on Telegram reads.
12:24 Lindner counters Pistorius on defense budget discussion
Finance Minister Christian Lindner defended his stance on defense spending in an interview with ARD's "Hauptstadtstudio". "We have reached the two-percent NATO target for the first time since many, many years", says the FDP leader. "We spend more than France and Italy. In the coming years, we will continue to provide at least two percent of our economic output for security." Lindner then turned the tables: "It's not the case that everything the Defense Minister says is automatically justified and correct." Lindner emphasized that it's about tax money and the efficiency of budget allocation. "Mr. Pistorius has a 100-billion-euro special program for the strengthening of the armed forces, which none of his predecessors had. That's how it can be done, and that's how it must also be financed", Lindner said.
12:01 Putin threatens response to US missiles in Germany
In response to plans to station US long-range missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened retaliation during the large naval parade in St. Petersburg. Russia would respond "symmetrically" if the plans were implemented and no longer feel bound by an earlier ban on land-based nuclear-capable intermediate-range missiles. The INF Treaty banning these weapons expired in 2019 after the US withdrawal. Putin told sailors from Russia, China, Algeria, and India in a speech that the US could trigger a missile crisis reminiscent of the Cold War. "The flight time of such missiles that could be armed with nuclear warheads and targeted at our territory will be approximately ten minutes", Putin said.
11:14 Authorities: Russians seize over 500 homes in Luhansk for themselves
In the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic", Russian occupiers have illegally seized 514 homes from evacuated locals. This was reported by the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" and referred to a Telegram message from the head of the regional administration of Luhansk, Artem Lysohord. These are objects that are subject to the "nationalization procedure", which begins 30 days after discovery, Lysohord wrote, adding that a large part of the land seized by the occupation authorities would be nationalized.
10:45 Explosions reported in Charkiw - Air alarm declared in other regions of Ukraine According to the Ukrainian broadcasting corporation suspilne.media, two explosions were reported in Charkiw this morning. Shortly after, the head of the regional military administration, Oleg Sinegubov, reported on Telegram about two missile attacks by the Russians. The type of missiles is being determined. According to the news portal "RBC-Ukraine," air alarm has been declared in some regions of Ukraine, including Dnipro, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, and Kharkiv. A threat of missile attacks cannot be ruled out in these regions, it is reported.
10:07 Governor reports 5 Dead, 15 Injured by Russian Shelling in Donetsk Region Five civilians were killed and 15 others were injured by Russian shelling in the Donetsk region on Saturday, according to regional governor Vadym Filashkin on Telegram. Five residents of the Donetsk region were reportedly killed. Three of them were in Ivanivka, one in Kostiantynivka, and one in Toretsk. Another 15 people in the region were injured during the day, Filashkin wrote. Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in February 2022, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform," 2110 civilians have been killed and 5515 injured in the Donetsk region. These numbers do not include the victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha, it is reported.
09:46 IfW President: German fiscal policy is "Security Risk for Europe" The president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), Moritz Schularick, called on the German government to significantly increase spending on security and defense - and criticized the coalition's budget compromise. "The German government is currently not making reasonable fiscal policy for what the country needs," Schularick said in an interview with t-online. "Far from it: The fiscal policy is and remains a security risk for Europe." A future special fund for the Bundeswehr should be "significantly larger than the current one with its size of 100 billion euros," Schularick continued. "Just to close the budget gap in the next ten years, we are probably talking about a volume of 250 to 300 billion euros."
And even then, it is clear: "Even with all these additional expenditures, Germany would still be spending proportionally less on defense than countries like Poland, Norway, or the USA, which have not reduced their investments to the same extent in the past two decades," Schularick added. "It would take at least 3 to 3.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product to deter Putin's Russia with 'strength and resolve,'" Schularick concluded.
09:15 Expert sees Donetsk region as "inevitably lost" for Ukraine
The Ukrainian forces are currently under particularly heavy pressure of Russian attacks in the Donetsk region. Military expert Ralf Thiele sees no chance for Ukraine to hold the Donetsk region in the future. The Russians are "step by step" advancing and the Ukrainians are retreating. The region is "inevitably lost" for Ukraine, Thiele told ntv. "It's sadly inevitable when one has to say such things," the military expert added. The region is either on the negotiation table or on the "real table." This means either there will be a ceasefire agreement or a surrender ceasefire, Thiele explained. Both options mean the region "will be gone in the end," he added.
08:52 Ukraine reports 1,180 Russian casualties in the past 24 hours
Russia has lost approximately 574,690 soldiers in Ukraine between February 24, 2022, and July 27, 2022, according to Ukraine's military calculations. Among them are 1,180 fatalities or injuries in the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian military announced this in its daily update on Facebook. In addition, on the Russian side, there have been losses: 8,344 tanks, 16,095 armored combat vehicles, 15,936 artillery systems, 11,271 multiple rocket launchers, 906 air defense systems, and 2,405 missile systems. The Russian army has also lost 363 combat aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12,766 tactical unmanned aerial systems, 28 warships/cutters, 1 submarine, 21,572 vehicles and tank trucks, and 2,671 pieces of specialized equipment since the beginning of their offensive war.
08:16 Thiele on the situation at the front: Ukrainians are "de facto on a step-by-step retreat"
The situation in the contested areas in the east of the country is not good for Ukraine, according to Ralf Thiele. The military is trying to prevent a Russian breakthrough - but at the cost of a retreat. The military expert fears that Ukraine will lose the Donetsk region inevitably.
08:00 Kursk reports fire in fuel depot under control
A Ukrainian drone attack has set a fuel depot in the Kursk region on fire, according to local Russian authorities. The fire was quickly brought under control, regional governor Alexei Smirnov wrote on Telegram. There were no injuries reported.
07:44 TASS: Russians destroy howitzer and Ukrainian ammunition depot in the Kherson region
Russian paratrooper drones destroyed a howitzer M-777 and a Ukrainian ammunition depot for field artillery on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region, TASS reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. After the drones were launched, the shrapnel penetrated the front line along the riverbank. At the same time, a reconnaissance drone identified as targets a 155-mm howitzer M-777 and a field artillery ammunition depot in the United States. Through a direct hit, the ammunition depot was destroyed, and the howitzer was put out of order.
07:11 Ukrainian Minister: Olympic participation is "our victory"
The Olympic participation of Ukraine, according to Sport Minister Vadym Bidny, is a strong symbol and an opportunity to draw the international community's attention to the situation in the country following the start of the Russian aggression war. "It is a symbolic act and a sign that Ukraine is a strong country with resilient people," says Bidny at the opening of the Ukrainian house in Paris. It is very important that Russia is represented in Paris with only a small team of 15 neutral athletes. Russia as a nation was expelled from the International Olympic Committee due to the aggression. "There is no Russian flag here. There is a Ukrainian flag. That is our victory," says Bidny.
It is now the responsibility of the Olympic team to unite the international community in support of Ukraine and to speak to the people who normally do not listen to politicians. The participation is a strong signal that Ukraine not only survived but also has the will to win.
06:58 Russia reports shooting down Ukrainian drones
The Russian air defense shoots down seven Ukrainian drones, according to their own statements. Five were over the Belgorod region and two over the Kursk region, says a message from the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram.
06:36 Governor: Oil depot in Kursk is on fire after drone attackIn the night, explosions occur in the Kursk region in Russia due to a drone attack. In an oil depot and several areas, fires break out, Governor Alexei Smirnov of the region Kursk reports on Telegram and the channel Baza. The air defense forces are "on alert," writes the Russian official and calls on the residents of the region to "vigilance." At least two fires have broken out, one in the Medvenka district and one in the Kursk district, it is reported. In an oil storage facility in the village of Polyova, a fire is said to have been caused, reports the channel Shot on Telegram. Residents reportedly heard "several strong explosions" near the oil depot at night. In addition, an explosion occurred in the city of Sudzha, a house in the Medva district was on fire, it is reported.
05:41 Linnemann questions cash payments to Ukrainian refugees in Germany
CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann questions the cash payments to Ukrainian women and men seeking refuge in Germany, according to the Funke newspapers. "We need to discuss why more than 50 percent of the Ukrainians work in many European countries, but only 25 percent in Germany," he says. There are clearly no incentives for quick employment," says Linnemann. The Ukrainians also defend the freedoms of the Germans. "But if there is a performance, it is linked to a counter-performance. That includes accepting a job."
04:49 Ukraine: Over 75 percent of wounded soldiers return to duty
In Ukraine, the proportion of soldiers who return to duty after rehabilitation, according to Deputy Defense Minister Natalia Kalmykova, is reported to be very high. "We have a very high percentage of high-quality rehabilitation measures and returnees to duty. This is also recognized by our Western partners," she says, according to the news agency Interfax. Kalmykova speaks of over 75 percent of the wounded.
03:13 ISW: Ukrainians regain positions near Toretsk, north of DonetskAccording to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces have reportedly retaken positions near Toretsk, north of Donetsk. Geolocated footage shows this. The Russian side is said to have continued its offensive operations in the area.
01:08 Ukraine reports multiple civilian deaths after Russian shelling - including a childAccording to Ukrainian authorities, at least five civilians were killed in Russian attacks in various regions of Ukraine yesterday. In the region of Kherson, there were three fatalities. In the northeastern border region of Sumy, a 14-year-old boy was killed and 12 others were injured in a rocket attack on the town of Hluchiw. In the region of Kharkiv, a man was killed by Russian fire in a residential building.
23:46 Russia reports capture of additional village in UkraineRussia claims to have taken control of another village in eastern Ukraine. The village of Losuwatske in the Donezk region is "liberated," according to the Russian Defense Ministry in its daily report. It is located about 25 kilometers east of the city of Pokrovsk in the area where the Russian army has advanced relatively quickly in recent months. Ukraine has not confirmed the capture.
22:23 Blinken threatens China with "measures" over continued support for Russian defense industryUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China that the US would take "measures" if Beijing continued to support Russia's defense industry. This was reported by the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent" quoting Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US Department of State. Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Laos, shortly after his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba held talks with Wang in Guangzhou during his first visit to China since the war broke out. "The Minister reaffirmed his serious concerns over China's support for the PRC's defense industrial base and made it clear that the United States would continue to take appropriate measures if the PRC did not address this threat to European security," Miller said.
You can read about previous developments here.**
- The decision to station US long-range missiles in Germany has sparked irritation from Former Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who believes there should be a public debate about it.
- The Ukraine-Conflict has seen a drone attack on a military airfield in northern Russia, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praising the accuracy of the strike in his evening video address.
- Amidst ongoing tensions, Russia has threatened retaliation against plans to station US long-range missiles in Germany, potentially leading to a new missile crisis reminiscent of the Cold War.
- Russia's involvement in the Ukraine-Conflict has also extended to Cyberwar, with reports of Russian troops launching series of attacks in Eastern Ukraine, targeting infrastructure and military positions.
- NATO and Ukraine have been discussing potential military deployments, with some scientists and researchers urging NATO to invite Ukraine into the alliance, citing Russia's actions as a threat to international law and human rights.
