11:53 Russian Ministry of Disaster Management declares a state of emergency in Kursk
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations declares a federal state of emergency for the Kursk region bordering Ukraine. According to the Moscow government, Russian forces are continuing to repel advances by Ukrainian units in Kursk. This was reported by the state news agency RIA, citing the Ministry of Defense. Around a thousand Ukrainian soldiers had reportedly entered the area on Tuesday.
11:32 Video shows burned-out Russian military trucks in KurskA video published on social media and verified by Reuters shows a convoy of burned-out Russian military trucks in the Russian region of Kursk. The vehicles are seen along a highway, with around 15 trucks visible, including one marked with the letter 'Z', the symbol used in Russia to denote its "special military operation" in Ukraine. Reuters was able to verify the location in the video as the village of Oktyabrskoe. However, it was not possible to determine exactly when the video was taken.
10:55 Media: Chain reaction in Russian Lipetsk destroys 700 bombsA drone strike on a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk is said to have caused a chain reaction, destroying more than 700 bombs, according to a source cited by the Ukrainian intelligence agency "The Kyiv Independent". Previously, Russian authorities had reported that a drone strike had caused a fire at a military airport and damaged an energy facility. The source told "The Kyiv Independent" that combat jets and helicopters were stored at the airport. It is not known how many were damaged or destroyed in the attack.
10:35 Kyiv claims attack on military airport in LipetskThe Ukrainian military has claimed to have attacked a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk overnight. In the attack, stocks of guided bombs were damaged, causing a large fire and several explosions, the Ukrainian military said on the Telegram messaging service. Russian combat aircraft of types Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 were stationed at the airport. Lipetsk is located east of the border region of Kursk, deeper into Russian territory.
10:08 Munz: "Russians cannot launch a counterattack"Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself on its own territory. However, for the past three days, troops have also been attacking in the Russian border region of Kursk. ntv Moscow correspondent Rainer Munz explains why this surprise offensive presents the Russian military leadership with several challenges.
09:44 Human Rights Activist: Russia Slipping Back into Stalinist Times
Freed in a prisoner exchange from Russian detention, human rights activist Oleg Orlov 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 Joseph 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 Russia's war in Ukraine in an article. His release in the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and several Western countries came as a surprise.
09:00 Ukraine Releases Figures on Russian Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has published new loss figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the data, Russia has lost approximately 588,540 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,030. The report from Kyiv also states that 3 tanks, 49 artillery systems, and 2 air defense systems were destroyed. Overall, Russia has reportedly lost 8,434 tanks, 16,536 artillery systems, and 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale offensive. Western estimates suggest lower loss figures, but these are also likely minimums.
08:19 Media: Mass Fires in Rylsk in Kursk Region
Intense explosions and mass fires were reported overnight in the city of Rylsk in the Russian Kursk region, 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 Airbase
Massive explosions occurred after a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airbase near Lipezk. A state of emergency has been declared around the city of Lipezk to manage the aftermath of the explosions, according to Governor Igor Artamonov on Telegram. Four villages around the military airport were evacuated. Public transportation in Lipezk and surrounding areas was halted. Six people were 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. "Ukrainska Pravda" reports this, citing Telegram reports. The Russian governor of the city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, writes 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 in the process. Additionally, the Russian air defense is said to have shot down a Ukrainian sea-targeting drone R-360 Neptune over the sea near Sevastopol. The Telegram channel Crimeawind 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 is said to have risen over the airport, and there is a strong smell of fire in the coastal area of the city, according to the Telegram channel Crimeawind, citing subscribers. There are no reports yet on possible casualties.
06:05 Media: Fire at military airport in Russian region of LipetskA fire has broken out at a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk, according to Russian news agencies Ria Novosti and Tass. They do not initially provide information on the cause of the fire. Shortly before, the local governor announced evacuations due to a "massive" drone attack near the city of Lipetsk. The attack caused explosions and disrupted power supply, Igor Artamonov writes on Telegram. An emergency situation 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 had not reported any attacks on the region. Lipetsk is located about 300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
05:02 Putin may not have known about Ukrainian troop 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 Half of Germans fear conflict with Russia will escalate due to US missilesThe 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 to further escalate the conflict with Russia. 50 percent of respondents in a Civey survey for the Funke media group agree with this statement. 38 percent do not believe the plans will lead to further escalation, and 12 percent are undecided. 44 percent view the stationing positively, while 42 percent view it negatively, and 14 percent are undecided.
01:14 Minister President Kretschmer Calls for Reduction in Arms Aid to Ukraine
Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer is calling for a reduction in arms aid to Ukraine, considering the federal budget. "We can no longer keep providing funds for weapons to Ukraine that will be used up and yield no results. Everything must be in proportion," the CDU politician told the German Press Agency. "Support yes, but we're seeing that we're reaching our limits," he added. Kretschmer pointed to the budget growth in recent years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, our budget volume was 344 billion euros. Now we're at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition can't agree on the budget. That shows that everything is out of control."
23:35 Kiesewetter: Ukrainian Offensive is Lawful and Sensible
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter sees the latest Ukrainian military offensive on Russian territory as lawful. The surprise move by Ukraine is "clearly lawful under the right to self-defense" and "militarily sensible," he told the "Tagesspiegel." According to Kiesewetter, the Ukrainian troops' advance aims to tie down Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses. "This can ease pressure on other fronts, as Russia has to tie down or redeploy forces to Kursk," he said.
22:30 Pentagon: Ukrainian Incursion into Kursk Region Aligns with US Policy
The incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk aligns with US policy, said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, according to the news portal "Kyiv Independent." When asked if Ukraine could use US-supplied weapons, Singh replied that the US has "supported Ukraine from the start in defending against attacks coming across the border." The Kursk region borders the Ukrainian region of Sumy, which has been subjected to 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. She added that it's up to Ukraine to speak about its own operations. When asked how far into Russian territory Ukraine can attack, Singh said the US does not support long-range attacks but declined to specify the exact distance. "I won't draw a circular map of where they can strike and where not, but we've been very clear with the Ukrainians," she said.
22:09: BSW MEP De Masi Calls for "As Swiftly as Possible" Ceasefire and NegotiationsFollowing Ukraine's advance into Kursk, BSW MEP Fabio De Masi is calling for "as swiftly as possible a ceasefire and negotiations". Ukraine is having "major difficulties defending its own territory", De Masi told the "Tagesspiegel". Advances "deep into Russian territory" only make sense "if Ukraine's goal is to strengthen the escalation dynamic". The risks are immense, 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 DeathsRussian troops have been fighting a Ukrainian advance across the border for the third day in a row, according to Moscow. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from pushing deeper 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 says 66 civilians have been injured since the start of the Ukrainian advance, including nine children. Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths, including two medics. Ukraine has not yet commented on the advance.
21:30: EU's Borrell: Lukashenko Regime Involved in Illegal Deportation of Ukrainian ChildrenThe Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's war against Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief 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 on 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 ongoing conflict, the Ukrainian military continues to engage in active military operations beyond its borders, as shown by the advance into the Russian region of Kursk.
Further escalating the tensions, footage of burned-out Russian military trucks in Kursk, likely as a result of these military operations, has surfaced on social media.
