07:20 Ukrainian General Staff: almost 1200 Russian casualties yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1180 losses on the Russian side in the past 24 hours. Accordingly, 16 destroyed tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 57 artillery systems, and 63 tank and other vehicles were destroyed. Two Russian air defense systems and a missile were reportedly destroyed by the Ukrainians. The number of dead or wounded soldiers on the Russian side, according to the General Staff, has exceeded 546,000 since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
06:48 Putin arrives at the SOZ summit in KazakhstanRussian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kazakhstan, according to Kremlin reports. He is participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SOZ) summit in its capital Astana. The two-day meeting will focus on questions of regional security, defense, and cooperation. The heads of state and government of the SOZ member states will discuss "the current situation and prospects for further deepening of multifaceted cooperation," Moscow reports. Putin plans to hold bilateral talks, including with China and Turkey. Representatives from 16 countries are participating in the summit - among them India, Iran, and Pakistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected.
06:11 Ukraine rejects territorial concessions to Putin againAccording to the words of the chief of staff of the Ukrainian president, Andrij Yermak, Ukraine continues to categorically reject territorial concessions to Russia to end the war. "We are not willing to make compromises on important things and values," Yermak said to journalists during a visit to Washington. He named "independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty." The chief of staff reacts to statements by the Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who claimed he could quickly end the conflict. The government in Kiev is open for advice, however, to achieve a "just peace." Trump said during the television debate that he would not accept Putin's conditions. Putin had stated that Russia would end the war if Kiev was willing to surrender the territories in the east and south of the country that Moscow claims and occupies. On the question of how the Ukraine evaluates Trump's handling of the war, Yermak replied: "Honestly, I don't know. We'll see."
05:42 USA releases new military aid for UkraineUkraine is in urgent need of military supplies. The USA will provide Ukraine with additional military aid worth approximately 2.3 billion US dollars (around 2.14 billion Euros) in the near future to help Ukraine defend against the Russian attack. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced this during a visit by his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow in Washington. The package Biden authorized includes "additional air defense missiles, anti-tank weapons, and other important ammunition from US stocks," Austin explained. A "realignment of some foreign military deliveries" will also allow the USA to provide Munition for Patriot and other air defense systems "in an accelerated timeframe."
04:49 NATO strengthens presence in Kiev
The NATO is expanding its civilian presence in Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. A spokesperson confirmed that the 32 alliance members have decided to send special representatives to the capital Kiev. The high-ranking official is supposed to oversee the political and practical support of the alliance on site. The background is mainly that the NATO intends to give the green light for a new deployment to coordinate weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces at the upcoming summit in Washington. The headquarters for this should be built in Wiesbaden. Who will receive the new NATO position in Kiev is still unknown.
03:42 UN calls for release of Gershkovich
Experts of the United Nations are demanding the immediate release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in Russian custody on espionage charges. "The detention of Evan Gershkovich is arbitrary" and violates several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the experts write in a statement. In light of the circumstances of the case, the "immediate" release of Gershkovich is appropriate.
02:40 Serbian President Vucic receives Russian deputy foreign minister
The Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Gruschko in Belgrade. He spoke with Gruschko about the bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia and assessed them as "very good", Vucic stated on Instagram. He also thanked Russia "for its support of Serbia's territorial integrity, as well as in relation to the UN resolution on Srebrenica". Moscow still refuses to recognize Kosovo's independence. Serbia has been an EU membership candidate since 2012, but continues to maintain good relations with the Kreml despite the Russian intervention in Ukraine.
01:29 Russian court sentences 19-year-old to twelve years
A Russian court has sentenced a 19-year-old man to twelve years in prison for "treason," after he was accused of donating money to the Ukrainian army. "The Rostov Regional Court found him guilty and sentenced him to a prison term of twelve years in a penal colony," it says in a comment by the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, which was taken up by the state-controlled Kremlin media. The teenager is said to have sent money to help the Ukrainian army buy food and drones. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Russians have been arrested and many of them have been imprisoned. According to Amnesty International, at least 21,000 people were the target of repressions against war opponents in 2023.
00:20 A quarter of US citizens find US aid to Ukraine insufficient
Almost a quarter of Americans believe that the United States is not providing enough military aid to Ukraine. This percentage has increased since November last year, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. According to the survey, 24 percent of respondents believe that the United States is not providing enough aid to Ukraine, compared to 18 percent in November 2023, when the survey was last conducted. However, more Americans (31 percent) believe that the United States is providing too much aid, and 25 percent believe that the US aid is sufficient.
22:53 Lithuania reports airspace violation by Russian aircraftLithuania reports the violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft. The unspecified machine of the Russian airline Pobeda allegedly entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member unlawfully on the evening of June 30th and stayed there for approximately a minute, according to the Foreign Ministry in Vilnius. The representative of the Russian embassy was summoned and the Russian authorities were urged to take necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The airspace violation occurred over the Baltic Sea, as the aircraft was on its way from Moscow to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad bordering Lithuania. The EU has closed its airspace as a reaction to Russia's aggression in Ukraine for Russian aircraft.
22:12 Public Opinion Poll in Member States: Great Trust in NATO, in Zelenskyy not so muchNext week, NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary. In the member states, the transatlantic defense alliance is viewed favorably, according to a survey by Pew Research. On average in 13 countries, 63% of the population holds a positive opinion, while 33% hold a negative one. Germany is just above the average with 64% positive sentiment. The evaluation in Poland stands out: 91% have a positive image of the alliance there. The trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is, on average, at 40% and has decreased in the member states in the past year. Poland also stands out, where the head of state has lost 22 points - from 70 to 48%. In Germany, trust has decreased by 7 points to 54%.
21:27 Zelenskyy rejects Orban's peace proposalUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for peace talks. During his first visit to Kiev since the war began, Orbán suggested a quick ceasefire that could "accelerate peace negotiations with Moscow," he said. "The president listened, but in response, he clarified Ukraine's position and rejected the proposal," said a spokesperson for the Presidential Administration. Kiev had previously rejected ceasefires, citing the possibility that Russian forces could regroup during this time.
21:02 Ukraine: Moscow recruits minorsRussia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, according to Ukraine. The recruitment contracts are allegedly signed with minors, and they take effect upon reaching adulthood. "They hope to recruit tens of thousands of teenagers with propaganda," says the Ukrainian agency "National Resistance Center": "We warn that any enemy on our territory will be eliminated." Russia also employs minors on occupied Ukrainian territory, for example, to manufacture drones.
- Amidst the ongoing 'Ukraine conflict', NATO has decided to strengthen its civilian presence in Kiev to coordinate weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces.
- In the context of the ongoing 'Cyberwar' and 'Attack on Ukraine', the UN experts have demanded the immediate release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in Russian custody on espionage charges.
- In the political arena, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyy has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for peace talks, stating Kiev's position and rejecting the proposal.
- The Ukrainian General Staff reported 1180 losses on the Russian side in the past 24 hours, with numerous destroyed military vehicles and systems, confirming the ongoing 'Military operations' in the region.
- Russia, a significant player in the 'Politics', has been accused of recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, as reported by Ukrainian authorities, a move criticized by global human rights organizations.
