09:57 Ukrainian intelligence: Magura V5 destroys Russian boat in the Black Sea
09:19 ISW: Russia not redeploying frontline units from Eastern Ukraine to Kursk
The Russian military leadership may not be redeploying its forces from the front in Eastern Ukraine to the contested Russian border region of Kursk to avoid disrupting its own offensive in the east of Ukraine. This is what the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes in its latest report. According to ISW analysts, it would likely take additional time for these units from Eastern Ukraine to arrive in the Kursk region. The Russian military leadership appears to be relying on the already stationed troops in Kursk to stop the ongoing Ukrainian advance. Furthermore, the Russian military leadership is reportedly deploying conscripts from the military intelligence agency Glawnoje Raswedywatelnoje Uprawlenije (GRU) as well as Spetsnaz, so-called special forces, including the Wagner mercenary group and the Kadyrovtsy, according to reports cited by the analysts.
08:35 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has published new loss figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to these figures, Russia has lost around 589,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,160. According to a report from Kyiv, seven tanks, 69 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed on the previous day of fighting. Overall, Russia has lost 8,441 tanks, 16,605 artillery systems, and 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, according to Ukrainian figures. Western estimates put the losses lower - though these are likely minimum values.
07:40 Russia: Su-34 fighter-bomber reportedly hits Ukrainian forces in Russian Kursk
A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber is said to have attacked and hit Ukrainian forces in the Russian border region, according to a Telegram post by the Russian Defense Ministry. The Russian Defense Ministry claims that the air strike was carried out using an ODAB-500 bomb. The Russian forces are reportedly continuing to repel the surprise advance of Ukraine in the Russian region of Kursk. The air strike was intended to push back the Ukrainian advance, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. A video of the fighter jet in action was reportedly published on the Telegram channel of the Defense Ministry.
06:48 Kyiv Accountant Stopped with Millions in CarUkrainian investigators discover over 4.7 million euros in undeclared cash in the trunk of a company accountant's car. "The woman could not explain the origin of the money," the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau in Kyiv reports. Images show investigators in front of an open trunk filled with cash bundles. The company in question supplied food worth over 320 million euros to the Ukrainian army in 2022 and 2023, allegedly reducing its tax burden through a fictional loan. Investigations are underway for money laundering and tax evasion on a large scale. Those involved face up to eight years in prison.
06:10 Ukraine Evacuates 28 Villages Near Sumy BorderUkrainian volunteers assist villagers and their pets in the northern Sumy border region to leave the border area. According to local governor Volodymyr Artiukh, 28 villages in a ten-kilometer-wide zone along the Russian border are being evacuated. Ukrainian police report that 20,000 people must leave their homes.
05:30 Kyiv Adds "Glory to Ukraine!" to New BanknotesThe National Bank of Ukraine adds the national motto "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!" to all Ukrainian banknotes. Money is not just a measure of value and means of payment, but also a symbol of the state that everyone holds daily, says NBU governor Andriy Pyshnyi in a Kyiv statement. "To honor the resilience of our people and this turning point in the formation of the Ukrainian nation, we are adding our motto to all banknotes, which is heard around the world," Pyshnyi says. The change will honor the upcoming 33rd Independence Day on August 24, starting with 1000 (around 22.3 euros) and 500 hryvnia banknotes, followed by all other denominations. The motto will be placed in the top right corner of the banknotes, keeping the rest of their appearance unchanged. The patriotic motto "Glory to Ukraine!" dates back to the emerging Ukrainian national movement at the end of the 19th century and has a complex history. In the form "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!", it was used by Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis. The greeting remained present in the Ukrainian independence movement against the Soviet Union.
04:37 Report: Russia Plans to Block WhatsAppIn its actions against internet services (see entry 22:33), Russia allegedly plans to block WhatsApp, the news site "Kyiv Independent" reports. Moscow has reportedly made preparations to block the messaging app, which could be blocked in Russia this fall, the independent Russian publication Verstka reports, citing sources at the Russian IT company VK, which is developing an application to replace WhatsApp. In July, the Kremlin-linked media outlet Gazeta.ru reported that the Russian government plans to fully block YouTube in September. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied these alleged plans.
04:05 USA Approve Additional Military Aid for Kyiv Worth $125 Million
The USA has pledged further military aid to Ukraine worth $125 million (around €114 million). The aid package underscores "our unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to resist Russian aggression," said John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, to journalists. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the aid would include interceptors for air defense systems, ammunition for rocket systems and artillery, multi-purpose radars, and anti-tank weapons, sourced from US stockpiles. The equipment, Blinken added, would "help Ukraine protect its troops, population, and cities from Russian attacks and strengthen its capabilities across the entire front."
03:19 Russia Claims to Have Issued 2.2 Million Passports in Occupied Ukrainian Regions
Russia claims to have issued 2.2 million passports in the Ukrainian regions occupied by its military. Since October 2020, these have been distributed in Saporischschja, Donezk, Luhansk, and Cherson, according to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. These claims cannot be independently verified. In the past, there have been repeated reports of Russian authorities systematically coercing people to accept these passports.
02:30 IAEA Warns of Nuclear Accident Near Kursk Power Plant
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns of the risk of a nuclear accident due to fighting near the Kursk nuclear power plant in western Russia, following a major Ukrainian offensive in the region. "At this point, I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear accident that could have potentially severe radiological consequences," said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. He is "in personal contact with the relevant authorities of both countries." The Kursk NPP is located near the city of Kursk, about 100 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border. The state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the press service of the plant, that "everything is functioning normally" with usual radiation levels. However, residents of Kursk are currently without power. According to regional governor Alexei Smirnov, a power plant was set on fire by falling debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones.
01:55 Russia Implements Anti-Terror Measures in Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk
According to Russian media reports, Russia is implementing anti-terror measures in three regions bordering Ukraine. According to a report by the RIA news agency, the measures include possible evacuations of residents, traffic restrictions in certain areas, enhanced security at sensitive locations, and wiretapping of phones and other communication devices. According to local authorities and the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, these anti-terror regulations apply to the regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, the news agency reported.
00:36 Nouripour on State Leaders: Cowardice Doesn't Bring Peace in UkraineGreen Party leader Omid Nouripour criticizes the ministers-presidents of Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony for their recent statements on Ukraine policy. Dietmar Woidke, Bodo Ramelow, and Michael Kretschmer are "running away from reality," says Nouripour to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "They act as if peace can be achieved by burying one's head in the sand. But: Cowardice doesn't bring peace." Woidke says he has good contacts with Russia and can mediate. However, "it's strange that this only occurs to him two and a half years after the start of the war and just a few weeks before the state election," says Nouripour. Ramelow demands a non-aggression pact with Russia. However, such a pact was initiated by Germany 85 years ago and brought great suffering to other European countries, the Green politician adds. Kretschmer, meanwhile, seems to be unaware that only Putin can quickly end this war. Kretschmer had called for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine and advocated for diplomatic initiatives in the Ukraine conflict.
00:13 July Deadliest Month for Civilians in Ukraine Since October 2022According to the United Nations, more Ukrainian civilians have died from Russian shelling in July than in any other month since October 2022. "The high number of casualties in July continues an alarming trend since March 2024," the UN Observer Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reports.
23:43 Construction Workers Pulled from Nuclear Power Plant KurskDue to the advancement of Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk, workers are being pulled from the construction site of two new nuclear reactors at the Kursk nuclear power plant. The number of construction workers will be temporarily reduced, the company Atomstroiexport, a subsidiary of the state-owned Russian nuclear company Rosatom, reports. Other specialists continue their work as planned. The Kursk nuclear power plant in the city of Kursk has been repeatedly mentioned as a possible target of the offensive on Russian territory that began on Tuesday. However, it is located about 60 kilometers from the border. The farthest reported advances of Ukrainian troops, which have not been confirmed, have reached about 30 kilometers into Russia. After the announcement of the Ukrainian offensive, the Russian National Guard reportedly reinforced the protection of the power plant. Two reactors are being built to replace the two oldest, already decommissioned blocks of the plant. Two more reactors are currently in operation.
23:11 Ukraine Takes Control of Gazprom Facility in Region KurskAccording to a video published by Ukrainian media, Ukrainian soldiers have taken control of a facility of the gas company Gazprom in the Russian region of Kursk. The facility in the city of Sudzha and the city itself have been captured, Ukrainian soldiers explain in the video.
22:33 Russia Blocks Chat Service SignalIn its crackdown on foreign internet services, Russia has also blocked the encrypted chat service Signal, citing alleged legal violations. Signal is not complying with legal measures deemed necessary to combat terrorism and extremism, Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor announced in Moscow. Throughout the day, complaints from Signal users in Russia flooded in, reporting that the messaging service was unavailable. Portals like Sboj.rf, which track outages, reported around 2,000 complaints. Developed in the US, Signal is praised by its users for its high level of security. On Thursday, Russian users also complained about YouTube's slow performance and difficulties downloading videos. Russian authorities have not provided an official explanation but have previously targeted the popular video service for allegedly refusing to remove extremist videos. Russia has already blocked large social networks with US ownership, such as X and Facebook, which can now only be accessed via protected connections (VPN). Even before the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow had made preparations for a possible internet shutdown in the country. Since the start of the war in 2022, Roskomnadzor has blocked thousands of websites deemed unacceptable by the Russian authorities.
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The escalating conflict in Ukraine has raised concerns about a potential shift in Russia's military strategy. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have suggested that there might be a possibility of a cyber warfare strategy being employed by Russia. They argue that a redeployment of forces from the front in Eastern Ukraine to the contested Russian border region of Kursk could potentially disrupt their own offensive in the east of Ukraine. However, if Russia decides to bolt its frontline units, it would likely take additional time for these units to arrive in Kursk, giving Ukraine an opportunity to respond.
Given the current cyber threat landscape, it is crucial for both Ukraine and its allies to take proactive measures to safeguard their information and digital infrastructure against potential cyberwarfare attacks. Implementing robust cybersecurity protocols, conducting regular risk assessments, and maintaining a strong relationship with international cybersecurity agencies could all play a significant role in this regard.
