11:35 Alleged Breach of Embargo: Dealer Reportedly Sells Luxury Limousines to Russia
Eleven individuals were hurt in a Russian assault on a business area in eastern Kharkiv, as per Governor Oleh Syniehubov via Telegram. Three of these casualties are in critical condition, with a sixteen-year-old being one of them. Infrastructure was also damaged, and a large blaze erupted after multiple impacts, as per Mayor Ihor Terekhov. The Kharkiv region shares a border with Russia to the northeast and experiences near-daily shelling.
Once again, the oil terminal in Feodosia, Crimea, has been burning for a second consecutive day. NASA's global fire monitoring system, Firms, is still detecting fire alerts on the oil storage facility's premises. The fire has now spread over 2,500 square meters, according to Anton Geraschtschenko, a former advisor to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Further tank farms are reportedly exploding during the evening and nighttime. The Ukrainian army had previously declared a "successful strike" on the oil terminal near Feodosia. This facility is the largest transshipment terminal for oil products on the Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia, and supplies the Russian military, among others.
France is scheduled to deliver its first batch of Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2025, as per French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. These aircraft will be equipped with new technology, including air-to-ground combat capabilities and electronic warfare defense. The training of Ukrainian pilots and mechanics is still underway. French President Emmanuel Macron had previously announced in June that Paris would provide an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5 aircraft to strengthen Ukraine's air forces.
The Russian coal mining industry, one of the country's key raw material sectors with a significant workforce, is currently facing a severe crisis. According to the "Moscow Times", this crisis is due to the loss of Western markets and a decrease in demand in friendly countries, as well as billions in losses for coal companies. Coal production in Russia decreased by 6.7% year-over-year in July, according to Rosstat, reaching a record low since the pandemic in 2020. Western sanctions have had a significant impact on the coal industry, as stated by Janis Kluge of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
Moscow has once again accused NATO of preparing for military confrontation. According to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko of RIA Novosti, NATO members are no longer hiding the fact that they are preparing for a possible armed conflict with Russia. NATO is adopting regional defense plans and assigning specific tasks to local military commands of the bloc. Preparations for potential military actions against Russia are ongoing, with military budgets being increased and economies being militarized. Russia justified its attack on Ukraine, among other reasons, due to the potential threat of NATO membership.
According to South Korean reports, North Korean soldiers are likely fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine. South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun stated in parliament in Seoul that it is "very likely" that Ukrainian reports of six North Korean military officers being killed in eastern Ukraine are accurate. Kim explained that the agreement between Russia and North Korea resembles a military alliance.
On the eve of Putin's birthday, Ukrainian intelligence, along with activists from the group "VO Team", allegedly hacked the Russian court system "Pravosudie" prior to Putin's birthday. This system handles the electronic document flow for all Russian courts. The Kyiv Post reports this information, citing intelligence sources. According to these sources, the attack has disrupted the work of the courts, as well as the email systems of various departments, and the official websites. The personal data of users and internal documents were reportedly obtained from the system due to the cyberattack. Russians are currently experiencing issues filing complaints or viewing court hearing dates because the court websites are not operational. A cyberattack also caused significant disruptions to the Russian state television and radio company WGTRK the previous day.
The war in Ukraine is apparently affecting Putin personally. According to the independent Russian media company Proekt, Putin has stopped visiting his Sochi residence due to concerns about drone attacks. Putin has not been to Sochi since March, according to the investigation, due to fears for his physical safety after several drone attacks in Sochi last fall. A source close to Putin confirmed this theory to Proekt. The concern also led Putin to cancel his traditional celebration of Alina Kabaeva's birthday, his longtime partner and presumed mother of his two sons, in the Black Sea residence.
The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has guaranteed residents a remarkable national record sum of 3 million rubles, equivalent to $31,200, as a one-time incentive for enlisting in the military. This information is sourced from the "Moscow Times". The payout will be distributed to anyone from any Russian region who joins the military in Belgorod, disregarding their place of birth. "The total payment will be 3 million rubles, deriving from all sources: federal, regional, and municipal budgets, as well as extra-budgetary funds," Gladkov announced. Russian officials are currently taking extensive measures to recruit more Russians into the military to compensate for substantial losses.
06:36 Governor: Russian Missile Strikes Civilian Ship in Odessa Port
Local authorities have reported that a civilian ship in the port of the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa has been hit by a Russian missile. The adversary targeted a ship under the flag of the island state of Palau using a "ballistic missile," as per the regional governor Oleh Kiper on Telegram. A 60-year-old Ukrainian perished, and five other "foreign nationals" were wounded. "This is the second attack on a civilian ship in the ports of the Odessa region in recent days," Kiper stated. The port of Odessa serves as a significant hub, particularly for Ukrainian grain, and has endured numerous attacks by the Russian army.
06:05 Harris: No Peace Talks with Putin Without Ukraine's Consent
U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris asserted she would not engage in discussions on potential peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin without Ukraine's participation if she secures the election. "Ukraine must have a role in shaping Ukraine's future," the Democratic U.S. vice president shared in the CBS show "60 Minutes". The Biden administration's government has turned down any talks with Putin. Harris also denounced Trump's Ukraine policy, labeling it a "surrender" to Russia's attack on Ukraine that began in February 2022. "If Trump were president, Putin would be in Kyiv now," Harris said, referencing Trump's statement that he could end the war on his first day in office.
05:36 Russian Troops Advance on Eastern Ukrainian City of Torez
Russian forces have moved towards the outskirts of the eastern Ukrainian city of Torez, according to the Ukrainian military. "The situation is fragile, fighting is taking place at almost every entry point to the city," stated Anastasia Bobownikova, spokeswoman for the Operational Tactical Group "Luhansk," on Ukrainian state television. The advance occurred less than a week after the fall of the neighboring city of Vuhledar. Since August, Russia has been pushing towards Torez and now controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. The capture of the city would bring President Vladimir Putin closer to his ambition of capturing the Donbass. Ukrainian military analysts express concern that the fall of Torez could jeopardize vital supply lines for Ukrainian forces.
03:30 Russia Seeks Extradition of Two Italian ReportersA Russian court ordered the detention of two Italian journalists for reporting from the Ukrainian-controlled portion of the Russian region of Kursk. A court in Kursk is requesting the extradition and detention of Simone Traini and Stefania Battistini, who are currently outside Russia. The Italian journalists from the state-owned broadcaster RAI have been accused of illegally crossing the border into Ukraine to film a report in Kursk. After crossing the boundary into Russia, Traini and Battistini traveled to the city of Sudzh in a vehicle belonging to the Ukrainian armed forces, the court stated on Telegram. The two Italians face up to five years in prison under the criminal code if extradited and detained.
23:44 Zelensky: Allies Should Define How They Envisage War's EndBefore the high-level meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group in Ramstein, President Volodymyr Zelensky is urgently calling for substantially more weapon deliveries. He stresses the necessity of ample supplies for the front, equipment for the brigades, and long-range weapons for the autumn months to confront Russia and force it towards peace, according to his video message. In Ramstein, he plans to persuade the partners on Saturday of the "urgent need for a significant reinforcement of our capabilities and positions," he emphasizes. "We invite our partners to define how they envision the end of this conflict, Ukraine's position in global security architecture, and joint steps that can bring this war to an end."
21:20 Alleged Attack on Investigator: Russia sentences jailed US citizen againIn western Russian city of Voronezh, a US citizen who had already served a prison sentence is sentenced to an additional seven years in a labor camp. Robert Gilman was convicted of assaulting a policeman while intoxicated in 2022. In prison, he then allegedly assaulted prison guards and attacked an investigator. Russia has frequently detained US citizens in recent years.
20:50 Ukraine Reports Bombing Attack on Kherson - Children InjuredIn a Russian airstrike on Kherson, at least 20 people were wounded, local authorities claim. According to them, Russian forces struck Kherson with KAB bombs, which were dropped both near the coast and in the northern part of Kherson. Among the injured are two children aged three and five, they alleged. At least six multi-story buildings were damaged by the blast waves, the regional prosecutor's office reports.
The European Union has imposed sanctions on several Russian entities and individuals due to their involvement in the war in Ukraine. This was announced by the EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, stating that the measures aim to limit Russia's ability to finance its military activities in Ukraine.
Furthermore, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, emphasized the importance of the European Union's unity in supporting Ukraine, highlighting that the situation in Ukraine is a major test for the bloc's solidarity.
