08:19 Media: Mass fires in Rylsk in the Kursk region
Strong Explosions and Mass Fires Reported in Russian City of Rylsk
Intense explosions and large fires were reported overnight in the city of Rylsk in the Russian region of Kursk, as reported by "The Kyiv Independent" citing reports on Russian-speaking Telegram channels. Residents of the village of Stepanovka reportedly heard four explosions. The cause of the explosions is unknown. The city of Rylsk is located approximately 35 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
07:37 Russia: State of Emergency Declared After Drone Attack on Military Airbase
Massive explosions occurred following a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airbase near Lipetsk. A state of emergency has been declared in the city of Lipetsk to address the aftermath of the explosions, according to Governor Igor Artamonov on Telegram. Four villages around the military airport have been evacuated. Public transportation in Lipetsk and surrounding areas has been halted. Six people were injured as a result of the attacks.
06:52 Media: Explosion After Ukrainian Attack on Crimea
An explosion occurred on the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, according to "Ukrainska Pravda" citing Telegram reports. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian governor of the city of Sevastopol, wrote on Telegram that the forces of the Black Sea Fleet and air defense repelled an attack by Ukrainian forces on Sevastopol, destroying three drones. Additionally, the Russian air defense is said to have shot down a Ukrainian Neptune sea-launched cruise missile over the sea near Sevastopol. The Telegram channel "Crimea.Realities" reports on shots and a powerful explosion in Chornomorskyi, as well as the work of Russian air defense in the area of the Belbek airport. A black smoke column was reportedly rising over the airport, and there was a strong smell of fire in the coastal area of the city, according to the Telegram channel "Crimea.Realities" citing subscribers. There are no reports of possible casualties yet.
06:05 Media: Fire on Military Airbase in Russian Region of Lipetsk
A fire broke out on a military airbase in the Russian region of Lipetsk, according to Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Shortly before, the local governor announced evacuations due to a "massive" drone attack near the city of Lipetsk, which caused explosions and power outages, according to Igor Artamonov on Telegram. A state of emergency has been declared in the Lipetsk district, and four villages are being evacuated. Some of the villages mentioned are located near an air force base outside the city. There have been no reports of casualties. Ukrainian authorities have not reported any attacks on the region. Lipetsk is located approximately 300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
05:02 Putin Allegedly Unaware of Ukrainian Troops Buildup
Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, may have ignored intelligence warnings that Ukrainian forces were gathering near the border with the Kursk Oblast, Bloomberg reports citing a source close to the Kremlin. Ukrainian forces crossed the border into the Kursk Oblast on August 6, bringing the fighting onto Russian territory. According to the report, Ukrainian forces began gathering near the border with the Kursk region two weeks before the start of their offensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not informed about the troop buildup.
03:21 Due to US Missiles: Half of Germans Fear Conflict Escalation with RussiaThe German and US governments have agreed that the US will station long-range weapon systems like Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026, capable of reaching targets in Russia. A survey by Civey for the Funke media group finds that 50 percent of Germans expect further escalation of the conflict with Russia. 38 percent do not believe in further escalation, while 12 percent are undecided. 44 percent view the stationing positively, while 42 percent view it negatively, with 14 percent undecided.
01:14 Minister-President Kretschmer Calls for Reduction in Weapons Aid to UkraineSaxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer is calling for a reduction in weapons aid to Ukraine, given the federal budget. "We can no longer afford to provide weapons to Ukraine that will be used up and achieve nothing. Everything must be in proportion," Kretschmer told the German Press Agency. "Support yes, but we're seeing that we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the increase in the budget over the years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion euros. Now we're at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition can't agree on the budget," Kretschmer said. "That shows that everything is out of control."
23:35 Kiesewetter: Ukrainian Offensive Legally and Strategically JustifiedCDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter sees the latest Ukrainian military offensive on Russian territory as legally and strategically justified. The surprise move by Ukraine is "clearly legally justified under the right to self-defense" and "militarily strategic," Kiesewetter told the Tagesspiegel. The Ukrainian troops' advance serves to tie down Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses, allowing pressure to be relieved on other fronts, as Russia must bind or deploy forces there, Kiesewetter said.
22:30 Pentagon: Ukrainian Incursion into Kursk Region in Line with US PolicyThe Ukrainian incursion into the Russian Kursk region is "in line with our policy," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, according to the Kyiv Independent news portal. When asked if Ukraine can use weapons supplied by the US, Singh said the US has "supported Ukraine from the start in defending against attacks coming across the border." The Kursk region borders the Ukrainian Sumy region, which has been subject to daily Russian attacks since its liberation in April 2022. Ukraine is taking measures to protect itself from attacks and operating within the framework of US policy, using US weapons, systems, and capabilities, Singh said.
22:09 BSW MEP De Masi calls for "as soon as possible ceasefire and negotiations"
Following the advance of Ukrainian troops into Kursk, BSW MEP Fabio De Masi is calling for "a ceasefire and negotiations as soon as possible." The Ukraine, he says to the "Tagesspiegel", has "major problems defending its own territory," making advances deep into Russian territory only sensible if the aim is "to strengthen the escalation dynamic." The risks, he warns, are immense. "Consider, for example, the Russian nuclear power plant in the region. Russia is a nuclear power and has the escalation dominance."
21:50 Authorities in Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths
Russian troops have been fighting against a Ukrainian incursion for the third day in a row, according to Moscow. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing further into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry reports. Meanwhile, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy. The Russian Health Ministry reports that since the start of the Ukrainian advance, 66 civilians have been injured, including nine children. Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths, including two paramedics. Ukraine has not yet commented on the incursion.
21:30 EU's Borrell: Lukashenko regime involved in illegal deportation of Ukrainian children
The Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's war against Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Alongside political, military, and logistical support, Belarus has contributed to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied territories. Since 2021, the regime has also orchestrated migration pressure on EU external borders, according to a statement from the European External Action Service.
You can read all previous developments here.
The European Union expressed its concern over the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia, calling for de-escalation and respect for territorial integrity. In response to the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region, the EU issued a statement urging both sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue. The European Union has also pledged its support to Ukraine, reiterating its commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
