07:53 Shocked about attack on Children's Clinic: Russian Pilot apparently leaked data of commanders
A Russian pilot is reportedly leaked confidential information to the Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR), contributing to the identification of 30 commanders of the Russian heavy bomber aviation division. This is reported by "Kyiv Independent" citing a confidential source from the intelligence service. The Russian pilot, who is said to serve in the 22nd heavy bomber aviation division, contacted HUR on July 8 following the devastating Russian attack on the children's hospital in Kiev. He was reportedly so shocked by the event that he made the decision to do so. The pilot is said to have provided personal information, including photos and other confidential documents, on over 30 Russian commanders.
07:28 Rheinmetall-CEO: Russian Wear-out War Could Last Forever
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger believes that the war in Ukraine could last a long time. The current war of attrition is damaging the Russians, but it can still last forever, he told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". Papperger also expects sustained growth for the Düsseldorf-based defense conglomerate. The sales are expected to increase by 40% this year.
07:05 Alleged Assassination Plans against Rheinmetall-CEO? Suspected Russian Agents were reportedly already in the EU
The danger to Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger from alleged assassination plans was apparently more concrete than previously known. According to "Spiegel" sources from security agencies, suspicious travels of suspected agents were observed in the past few months. These men were allegedly from countries of the former Soviet Union, at least one from Russia. Some were already in the Schengen Area, while others had planned to enter. Suspicious individuals were reportedly detected both near the Rheinmetall headquarters and at Papperger's travel destinations abroad. Senior officials suspect that these could have been "proxies" of Russian intelligence services – hired hands.
06:49 Heusgen: Berlin Underestimates the Situation Still
The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, criticizes the majority of the German government for their communication on the Ukraine war. "In Germany, the Defense Minister speaks candidly and says we need to prepare for war." However, his cabinet colleagues still underestimate the gravity of the situation. "I still have the feeling that most responsible politicians believe they can give the population a glass of pure wine and say: 'We're dealing with an aggression like in the Cold War'," he laments. Putin reportedly aims to restore the old Soviet Union. "Here, it's all still being downplayed a bit," so Heusgen. "One must give the people a clear account of what Russia has broken in treaties, how Russia is arming, that Russia has stationed nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad, which can reach Germany."
06:22 Spionage for Russia: Australian Couple ArrestedTwo Australian citizens of Russian descent have been arrested in Australia on spying charges. The 40 and 62-year-old couple are accused of obtaining material from the Australian military to give to Russian authorities, according to the Australian Federal Police. The wife in question is a soldier in the Australian military. The Australian authorities accuse the couple of planning a spying offense. They face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The operation to expose the couple was a complex one by a special taskforce of the police and intelligence services, according to Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw.
05:55 Horror after Report of Murder Plans: "The Putin Regime Now Targets German Citizens"A CNN report on alleged Russian assassination plans against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger has caused outrage in Germany. "It once again shows that Russia is bringing its war and terror to Europe," says the chairman of the Defense Committee, Marcus Faber of the FDP to the "Bild" newspaper. "The Putin regime now targets not only Ukrainians but also German citizens." The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael Roth of the SPD, tells the paper that Putin is leading "not only a war of annihilation against Ukraine, but also against its supporters and our values." US intelligence services, according to CNN, discovered plans of the Russian government to assassinate Papperger in early 2023. The German side was informed, and the 61-year-old was subsequently given increased protection.
05:18 Hungary Accuses NATO Allies of Double Morals, FailureThe Hungarian government accuses NATO allies of double morals and failure in dealing with Russia's attack on Ukraine at the end of the NATO summit in Washington. "We will continue to advocate for dialogue and diplomatic channels, as the current strategy of the past two and a half years has been a total failure," says Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, according to a spokesperson in a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Szijjarto represented Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who left the summit early to meet with former US President Donald Trump in Florida.
04:35 Britain Calls on NATO Allies to Increase Defense EffortsBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces a plan for his government at the NATO summit in Washington to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP. At the same time, he calls on other allies to do the same. 23 of the 32 NATO members currently spend less than 2% of their GDP on defense, and more needs to be done in the face of serious security threats, Starmer says.
03:30 Biden: I Would Talk to Putin if He Was Open to ChangeUS President Joe Biden currently sees no point in talking to Kremlin chief Putin. In general, he is willing to talk to any state or government leader - including Chinese State and Party Chief Xi Jinping, Biden stresses at a press conference following the NATO summit. This also applies if Putin calls him. "I'm saying I'm willing to talk to anyone, but I don't see a willingness on his part," Biden says. Putin must be willing to change his behavior.
02:32 Building of new NATO-Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden beginsIn Wiesbaden, the construction of the new NATO-Ukraine Command for coordinating weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces starts today. However, the supreme allied commander Europe is expected to still need several months to set up the command so that it can take on all planned tasks, NATO representatives announced at the NATO summit in Washington. In the meantime, US military will continue to take on the coordination tasks. The deployment is also seen as a precaution for the possible return of Donald Trump to the US Presidency in January 2025.
01:58 Scholz rejects unlimited weapons deployment against RussiaGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call for lifting all restrictions on the deployment of Western weapons against Russian territory. "Nobody intends to change the previous guidelines and regulations - for good reasons", says the SPD politician at the end of the NATO summit. We want to support Ukraine as much as possible, but prevent the war from escalating into a war between Russia and NATO, Scholz added. Zelenskyy is mainly concerned about military bases in the Russian hinterland from which rocket attacks on Ukraine originate. More than 40 civilians, including children, were killed in attacks on Ukrainian cities on Monday.
01:25 Scholz on attack report: Aware of Russian threatsIn connection with a media report about Russian threats against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, Chancellor Olaf Scholz referred to Russian threats. "I won't say anything about that in detail", Scholz said at the NATO summit in Washington. "But I'd be happy to tell you that we are already very well aware that we are exposed to various threats from Russian activities."
00:40 UN calls on Russia to withdraw from Zaporizhzhia NPPThe United Nations General Assembly calls on Russia to withdraw its military and other non-authorized personnel from the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia NPP. Russia is urged to place the power plant back under the full control of Ukrainian authorities, according to a UN resolution passed with 99 yes votes, nine no votes, and 60 abstentions. The Zaporizhzhia NPP, Europe's largest, was taken over by Russia shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The plant is currently shut down but requires external energy to keep the nuclear material cool and prevent a nuclear meltdown.
23:36 Pistorius expects correction in budget 2025Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is convinced that there will be corrections in favor of the defense budget in the draft budget 2025. "I assume that further talks will lead to changes", says the SPD politician in the ARD. He will not stop advocating for the Bundeswehr to be equipped so that it can fulfill its tasks.
22:46 Kremlin: "On the best way to a Cold War"The Kremlin criticizes the planned stationing of US long-range weapons in Germany as a return to the Cold War. "We are on the best way to a Cold War. All of this has happened before," says Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov to Russian state television. Peskow accuses Germany, the USA, France, and Britain of directly involving themselves in the conflict over Ukraine. "And all the features of the Cold War are returning - with confrontation, with direct confrontation between adversaries," he says. "All of this is being done to undermine our country. All of this is being done to ensure our strategic defeat on the battlefield," emphasizes Peskow. During the Cold War, however, there was peace in Europe. Russia began its war against Ukraine in 2014, which it expanded massively again in 2022.
21:34 Zelenskyy: Demands for western weapons restrictions to endUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for the lifting of all restrictions on the use of western weapons against Russian territory at the NATO summit in Washington. "If we want to win and save our country, then all these restrictions must be lifted," emphasizes the Ukrainian leader. The focus is mainly on military bases in the Russian hinterland from which rocket attacks are launched. "If they attack us and kill our children, it's crazy to ask why we can't attack this military base," so Zelenskyy.
20:58 USA announces further aid package with Patriot systemUS President Joe Biden announces another aid package for Ukraine worth $225 million. Part of the package includes a Patriot system, which is intended to strengthen the Ukrainian air defense against Russian air attacks. In addition, the package includes NASAMS missile defense systems, multiple rocket launchers of the HIMARS type, as well as artillery ammunition with the calibers 155 and 105 millimeters, according to the US government. The weapons come from US military stocks.
20:19 Stoltenberg accuses Russia of intimidation campaignNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reports on a Russian campaign of hostile actions against the Alliance. It is intended to intimidate NATO members and prevent them from supporting Ukraine. However, this approach has had the opposite effect, says Stoltenberg at the NATO summit in Washington.
- Following the Russian attack on the children's hospital in Kiev, a Russian pilot from the 22nd heavy bomber aviation division contacted Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) and provided confidential information, including photos and details of over 30 Russian commanders. (Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, Ukraine-Conflict, Cyberwar, Attack on Ukraine)
- The Russian government has been accused of planning assassination attempts on Western leaders, including Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. (Russia, NATO, Assassination, Armin Papperger)
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call for lifting all restrictions on the deployment of Western weapons against Russian territory. (Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Germany, Olaf Scholz, Ukraine-Conflict, Weapons, Russia)
- The United Nations General Assembly has called on Russia to withdraw its military and other non-authorized personnel from the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia NPP. (United Nations, Zaporizhzhia NPP, Ukraine, Russia)
- US President Joe Biden has announced additional aid for Ukraine, including the provision of a Patriot missile defense system. (Joe Biden, Ukraine, USA, Patriot system, Aid, Weapons)
