10:55 Media: Chain explosion in Russian Lipzek destroys 700 bombs
Drone Strike on Russian Military Airbase Triggers Chain Reaction, Over 700 Bombs Detonated
A drone strike on a military airbase in the Russian region of Lipetsk is said to have caused a chain reaction, resulting in over 700 bombs detonating, according to a source from the Ukrainian intelligence agency "The Kyiv Independent". Russian authorities had previously reported that a drone strike in the region had caused a fire on a military airbase and damaged an energy facility. The source told "The Kyiv Independent" that the airbase stored fighter jets and helicopters, but it is unknown how many were damaged or destroyed in the attack.
10:08 AM: "Russians Unable to Counterattack"
Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself within its borders. However, for the past three days, troops have also been attacking in the border region of Kursk, Russia. ntv-Moscow correspondent Rainer Munz explains why this surprise offensive presents the Russian military leadership with several challenges.
09:44 AM: Human Rights Activist: Russia Regressing to Stalinist Times
Oleg Orlov, a human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange from Russian detention, criticizes the extent of repression in today's Russia in an interview with news agency AP. Orlov says that under Russian President Vladimir Putin, people are imprisoned for criticizing authorities, something not seen since the time of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. "We're sliding back into Stalinist times," says the co-chair of Memorial, one of Russia's oldest and most renowned human rights organizations, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. Orlov was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in February for criticizing the Russian war in Ukraine in an article. His release in the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and several Western countries surprised him completely.
09:00 AM: Ukraine Publishes Russian Casualty Figures
The Ukrainian General Staff publishes new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost around 588,540 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,030. The report from Kyiv also states that three tanks, 49 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed. Since the start of the large-scale offensive, Russia is said to have lost a total of 8,434 tanks, 16,536 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, according to Ukraine. Western estimates provide lower casualty figures, which are also likely to be minimum values.
08:19 AM: Media Reports Mass Fires in Rylsk, Kursk Region
Strong explosions and mass fires were reported overnight in the city of Rylsk in the Russian region of Kursk, according to "The Kyiv Independent", citing reports on Russian-language 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 After Drone Attack on Military AirbaseMassive explosions have 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, Governor Igor Artamonov announced on Telegram. Four villages around the military airport have been evacuated. Public transport in Lipetsk and surrounding areas has been halted. Six people have been injured as a result of the attacks.
06:52 Media: Explosion After Ukrainian Attack on CrimeaAn explosion has reportedly 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 have repelled an attack by Ukrainian forces on Sevastopol, destroying three drones. Additionally, the Russian air defense has reportedly shot down a Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missile over the sea near Sevastopol. The Telegram channel "Crimea.Realities" reports on shots and a heavy explosion in Chornomorskyi, as well as the work of the 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 yet on possible casualties.
06:05 Media: Fire at Military Airbase in Russian Region of LipetskA fire has broken out at 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 reported casualties. Ukrainian authorities have not reported any attacks on the region. Lipetsk is located around 300 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.
05:02 Putin Allegedly Unaware of Ukrainian Troops BuildupValery 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 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. Half of Germans expect this deployment to further escalate the conflict with Russia, according to a Civey poll for the Funke media group. 50 percent of respondents agreed with this statement, while 38 percent did not, and 12 percent were undecided. 44 percent viewed the deployment positively, while 42 percent negatively, and 14 percent were 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 provide funds for weapons to Ukraine that are being used up and aren't effective. Everything must be in proportion," Kretschmer told the German Press Agency. "We should support Ukraine, but we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer pointed to the budget growth in recent years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, our budget was €344 billion. Now it's €480 billion, and yet the coalition can't agree on the budget," he said. "This 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 aims to tie down Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses, thereby relieving pressure on other fronts, according to Kiesewetter.
22:30 Pentagon: Ukrainian Offensive in Kursk Region in Line with US PolicyThe Ukrainian incursion into the Russian region of Kursk is "in line with our policy," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, according to the Kyiv Independent. When asked if Ukraine could use US-supplied weapons, Singh said the US has "supported Ukraine from the start in defending against attacks coming from across the border." The Kursk region borders the Ukrainian region of Sumy, which has been under daily Russian attacks since its liberation in April 2022. Ukraine is taking measures "to protect itself from attacks" and is operating "within the framework of US policy, using our weapons, our systems, and our capabilities," Singh said.
22:09 BSW MEP De Masi Calls for "As Soon as Possible Ceasefire and Negotiations"
Following the Ukrainian troops' advance into Kursk, BSW MEP Fabio De Masi calls for "a ceasefire and negotiations as soon as possible." The Ukraine is having "great difficulty defending its own territory," De Masi told the "Tagesspiegel." Advances "deep into Russian territory" only make sense "if the goal of Ukraine is to escalate the situation." The risks are enormous, the Euro MP said. "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 for the third day against a Ukrainian incursion across the border, according to reports from Moscow. The Russian military and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing further into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy. The Russian Health Ministry said that since the start of the Ukrainian incursion, 66 civilians have been injured, including nine children. Authorities in the Kursk region reported at least five civilian deaths, including two paramedics. Ukraine has not yet commented on the incursion.
21:30 EU's High Representative Borrell: Lukashenko Regime Involved in Illegal Deportation of Ukrainian Children
The Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's attack on Ukraine, according to EU High Representative Josep Borrell in Brussels. Alongside political, military, and logistical support, Belarus has contributed to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine. Since 2021, the regime has also orchestrated migration pressure at the EU's external borders, according to a statement from the European External Action Service.
You can read all previous developments here.
In response to the mentioned drone strike on a Russian military airbase, Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out an attack on the city of Sevastopol in Crimea, leading to explosions and reported destruction of drones and a missile.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent conflict have led to increasing criticism of human rights violations in Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been accused of allowing people to be imprisoned for criticizing authorities, a practice reminiscent of the Stalinist era.
