09:15 Expert sees Donetsk region for Ukraine "for sure" lost
Ukrainian forces are under particular pressure from Russian attacks in the Donezk region at present. Military expert Ralf Thiele sees no way for Ukraine to hold the region of Donezk in the future. The Russians are "step by step" on the offensive, while the Ukrainians are on the retreat. The region is "inevitably lost" for Ukraine, according to Thiele on ntv (also see entry at 08:16). "It's unfortunately sad when you have to say something like that," says the military expert. Donezk is either on the negotiation table or "in reality." This means either there will be a ceasefire agreement or a surrender ceasefire, explains Thiele. These are the alternatives he sees. But in both cases, the region "is ultimately lost."
08:52 Ukraine reports 1180 Russian losses in one day According to Ukraine's calculations, Russia has lost approximately 574,690 soldiers in Ukraine between February 24, 2022, and July 27, 2024. Among them are 1180 fatalities or injuries in the past 24 hours. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced this in its daily update on Facebook. In addition, Russian losses were recorded: 8344 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 special 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" In the contested areas in the east of the country, the situation for Ukraine is "not good," 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 region of Donezk in every scenario.
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, writes the regional governor Alexei Smirnov on Telegram. There were no injuries reported.
07:44 TASS: Russians destroy howitzer and Ukrainian ammunition depot in the Cherson region Russian paratrooper drones destroy a howitzer M-777 and a Ukrainian ammunition depot for artillery in the Cherson region near the Dnjepr river, according to the state Russian news agency TASS, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. After the drones were launched, the shrapnel penetrated the front line along the riverbank. Simultaneously, a reconnaissance drone identified as targets a 155-mm howitzer M-777 and a field artillery ammunition depot. Through a direct hit, the ammunition depot was destroyed, and the howitzer was put out of order, the statement reads.
07:11 Ukrainian Minister: Olympics participation is "our victory"
The participation of Ukraine in the Olympics is seen as a strong symbol and an opportunity by Sport Minister Vadym Bidny to draw international attention to the situation in the country following the start of the Russian armed attack. "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 armed attack. "There is no Russian flag here. There is only the 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 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 of 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, it says in a message from the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram.
06:36 Governor: Oil depot in Kursk on fire after drone attackIn the night, there are explosions in the Kursk region of Russia due to a drone attack. In an oil depot and several areas, fires have broken out, Governor Alexei Smirnov reports via 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 "be vigilant." 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. Neighbors report "several strong explosions" near the oil depot at night. In addition, there was an explosion in the town of Sudzha and a house in the Medva district was on fire, it is reported.
05:41 Linnemann questions welfare payments to Ukrainian refugees in Germany
CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann raises the question of welfare payments to Ukrainian women and men in an interview with Funke Media Group. "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 missing incentives for quick employment." The Ukrainians also defended the freedom of the Germans. "But if there is a performance, it is linked to a counter-performance. That includes taking up work."
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 very high. "We have a very high percentage of high-quality rehabilitation programs and returnees to duty. This is also acknowledged by our Western partners," she says, according to the Interfax news agency. 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 their offensive operations in the area.
01:08 Ukraine reports multiple civilians killed by Russian shelling - including a childAccording to Ukrainian authorities, at least five civilians were killed by Russian attacks in various regions of Ukraine yesterday. In the region of Kherson, there were three deaths. In the northeastern border region of Sumy, a 14-year-old boy was killed and 12 others were injured by a rocket attack on the town of Hluchiw. In the region of Kharkiv, a man was killed by Russian shelling in a residential building.
23:46 Russia reports capture of additional village in UkraineRussia claims to have captured another village in eastern Ukraine. The village of Losuwatske in the Donetsk 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 made relatively quick advances in recent months, near the occupied town of Otscheretyne. Ukraine confirms the capture.
22:23 Blinken threatens China with "measures" over continued support of 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. According to the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent," Blinken made this statement during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Laos. Blinken's Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba had held talks with Wang Yi during his first visit to China since the war broke out in Guangzhou. "The minister reaffirmed his serious concern over China's support for the People's Republic of China's defense industrial base and made it clear that the United States would continue to take appropriate measures if the People's Republic of China did not respond to this threat to European security," Miller said.
You can read about previous developments here.**
- Despite the significant losses reported by Ukraine, Russia continues its offensive in the Donezk region, with military expert Ralf Thiele predicting that Ukraine will struggle to hold the region in the future.
- NATO and Volodymyr Zelensky have been closely monitoring the Ukraine-Conflict, with Zelensky urging for increased international support against Russia's cyberwar tactics.
- The attack on Ukraine has led to escalating tensions in politics and military operations, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreements and using tactics like drone attacks.
- The conflict has also impacted daily life in Ukraine, with reports of civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure, such as the fire in the fuel depot in the Kursk region.
- The situation in Ukraine is a major concern for international organizations and leaders, with many calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and urging Russia to respect Ukraine's sovereignty.
