11 dead in supermarket rocket attack
16:30 Russian Rocket Strike in Eastern Ukraine
A Russian rocket attack in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka has resulted in at least 11 deaths and 37 injuries, according to official reports. "A strike by Russian terrorists on an ordinary supermarket and a post office. People are trapped under the rubble," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. Rescue operations are ongoing. The head of state expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. The Interior Ministry reported a fire covering about 1,000 square meters. Kostiantynivka is only about 10 kilometers from the front line between Ukrainian and Russian troops. (see entry at 12:34)
15:10 Faber: Kretschmer's Behavior "Disgusts Me"
Michael Kretschmer, the Saxon Minister-President, faces criticism from the Bundestag for his proposal to reduce military aid to Ukraine. "It disgusts me how a Minister-President is using the survival struggle of Ukrainian women and men for his regional election campaign," says Markus Faber, chairman of the Defense Committee. German arms deliveries would help Ukraine defend itself, not out of a lust for war, "but because they don't want to live in a big Bucha, where the Russian army is randomly killing, torturing, and raping," Faber added.
14:41 ISW: Ukraine Operatively Surprises Russia in Kursk
The lack of a coherent Russian response to Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region and the reported pace of Ukraine's advance suggest that Ukrainian forces have achieved an operational surprise along the border with Russia, according to the latest report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). In the past one and a half years of the Ukraine war, it has been difficult for both sides to surprise the enemy due to the partly confusing battlefield in Ukraine. Analysts believe that the Kremlin will try to retake the Russian territory in the Kursk region captured by Ukrainian forces. A further advance of Ukraine into Russia would be a strategic blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decades-long efforts to establish stability and security in Russia and its geopolitical revival.
14:14 Kretschmer Calls for Reduction in Ukraine Military Aid
Saxon Minister-President Michael Kretschmer, amid the federal budget dispute, calls for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine. "We can no longer keep taking money for weapons to Ukraine that will be used up and won't make a difference," Kretschmer told the German Press Agency. "Everything must be in proportion. Support yes, but we can see that we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the growth of the budget in recent years. "Before the corona crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion euros. Now we're at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition can't agree on the budget," the CDU politician criticized. "That shows that everything is out of control. Citizens' money around 50 billion, migration dozens of billions, military aid tens of billions. That's not going to work."
13:52 Ukraine: Police orders evacuation of around 20,000 people in border region SumyUkrainian authorities have issued an evacuation order for around 20,000 people in the eastern region of Sumy, bordering Russia. The order affects 28 locations under "hostile fire," according to police on the Telegram service. Local security forces are already deployed to assist with the operation. The region of Sumy borders the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces entered on Tuesday.
13:22 Russia reinforces troops in contested border region of KurskAfter Ukrainian troops entered the southern Russian border region of Kursk, the defense ministry in Moscow is sending reinforcements. Columns of Grad multiple rocket launchers, artillery, and tanks are being deployed to the region, the Interfax news agency reports, citing the ministry. Local authorities say fighting with the invading Ukrainian troops continues. "Fighting is ongoing some dozen kilometers from the city of Kursk and the Kursk nuclear power plant," a local official said on Telegram.
12:57 Mangott on Kyiv's goals in Kursk: "Third reason: humiliating slap in the face for Putin"Observers suspect that Ukraine's attack on Russian territory is an attempt to gain negotiating leverage by seizing territory. Political scientist Gerhard Mangott does not believe Kyiv's troops will succeed in holding onto territory but suggests other motives behind the incursion.
12:34 Zelensky: Four dead after Russian attack on supermarket in KostiantynivkaAt least four people were killed and 24 injured in a Russian artillery attack on the city of Kostiantynivka in the contested eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the X platform. The attack on the supermarket is another case of Russian terror, said the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram. Kostiantynivka is regularly targeted by Russian forces. In September 2023, a Russian attack on a local market in Kostiantynivka killed 17 people and injured over 30.
11:53 Russian Emergency Ministry declares state of emergency in KurskThe Russian Emergency Ministry has declared a federal state of emergency in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine. According to the Moscow government, Russian forces are continuing to repel Ukrainian units in Kursk. The state-run RIA news agency reports this, citing the defense ministry. Around a thousand Ukrainian soldiers entered the region on Tuesday, according to Russian reports.
11:32 Video Shows Burnt Russian Military Trucks in KurskA video published on social media and verified by Reuters shows a convoy of burnt 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 represent its "special military operation" in Ukraine. Reuters was able to verify the location in the video as the village of Oktyabr'skoe by identifying buildings, trees, and roadways. 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 that destroyed over 700 bombs, according to a source from 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 the airport was storing combat jets and helicopters. 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. The strike damaged stocks of guided bombs, causing a large fire and several explosions, the Ukrainian military said on the Telegram messaging service. The airport is said to house Russian combat aircraft including Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 models. Lipetsk is located east of the border region of Kursk, further inland in Russia.
10:08 Munz: "Russians Can't Go Over to the Counterattack"Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending its territory. But 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 several challenges for the Russian military leadership.
09:44 Human Rights Activist: Russia Slipping Back into Stalinist TimesOleg Orlov, a human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange from Russian detention, told the Associated Press in an interview that the extent of repression in today's Russia is reminiscent of Stalin's era. Orlov, who is the co-chair of Memorial, one of Russia's oldest and most well-known human rights organizations, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, said people are being imprisoned for criticizing authorities. "We're sliding back into Stalinist times," he said. 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 surprised him.
09:00 Ukraine Releases Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has released new figures on Russian troop losses 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. A report from Kyiv also states that 3 tanks, 49 artillery systems, and 2 air defense systems were destroyed. Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has reportedly lost 8,434 tanks, 16,536 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine. Western estimates suggest lower casualty figures, but these are likely minimums.
08:19 Media: Mass Fires in Rylsk, Kursk RegionIntense 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 approximately 35 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
07:37 Russia Declares Emergency After Drone Attack on Military AirbaseAfter a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airbase near Lipetsk, there were massive explosions. Governor Igor Artamonov announced on Telegram that an emergency situation has been declared in the city of Lipetsk to address the aftermath of the explosions. Four villages around the military airport were evacuated. Public transport in Lipetsk and surrounding areas was stopped. Six people were injured as a result of the attacks.
06:52 Media: Explosion After Ukrainian Attack on CrimeaAn explosion occurred on the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, according to "Ukrainska Pravda," citing Telegram reports. The Russian governor of the city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, wrote on Telegram that the forces of the Black Sea Fleet and air defense repelled an attack by Ukrainian forces on Sevastopol, destroying three drones. Additionally, the Russian air defense reportedly shot down a Ukrainian sea-targeting missile 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 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 "Crimeawind," citing subscribers. There are no reports yet of possible casualties.
06:05 News: 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. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Earlier, the local governor announced evacuations due to a "massive" drone attack near the city of Lipetsk, causing explosions and power outages, according to Igor Artamonov on Telegram. The state of emergency has been declared in the Lipetsk district, and four villages are being evacuated, some of which are near an airbase outside the city. No casualties have been reported. Ukrainian authorities had not reported any attacks on the region. Lipetsk is approximately 300 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.
05:02 Putin reportedly unaware of Ukrainian troop buildupValery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, may have ignored intelligence warnings about the gathering of Ukrainian forces 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, and fighting has since spread to 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 escalation due to US missilesThe German and US governments have agreed that the US will station long-range weapons systems, such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, in Germany by 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% of respondents believe this, while 38% do not, and 12% are undecided. 44% view the deployment positively, while 42% view it negatively, and 14% are undecided.
01:14 Minister-President Kretschmer calls for reduction in weapons aid to UkraineSaxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer has called for a reduction in weapons aid to Ukraine, given the federal budget. "We can no longer keep providing funds for weapons to Ukraine that will be used up and achieve nothing. Everything must be in proportion," the CDU politician told the German Press Agency. "Support yes, but we can see that we are reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the significant increase in the budget in recent years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 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 Advance is Lawful and Strategic
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter sees the latest Ukrainian military offensive on Russian territory as covered by international law. The surprise move by Ukraine is "clearly lawful under the right to self-defense" and "militarily strategic" in the sense that it binds Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflicts significant losses on them, Kiesewetter told the "Tagesspiegel". According to the CDU defense expert, the advance of Ukrainian troops aims to relieve pressure on other fronts by binding or redeploying Russian forces to Kursk.
22:30 Pentagon: Ukraine's Advance into Kursk Aligns with US Policy
The incursion of Ukraine into the Russian region of Kursk is "in line with our policy," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, according to the news portal "Kyiv Independent" at a press conference. When asked if Ukraine can use weapons supplied by the US, 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.
Singh stated that it is up to Ukraine to speak about its own operations. When asked how far into Russian territory Ukraine can attack, Singh said that the US does not support long-range attacks but refused to specify the exact distance. "I'm not going to 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 "Ceasefire and Negotiations as Soon as Possible"
Following the advance of Ukrainian troops into Kursk, BSW MEP Fabio De Masi called for "a ceasefire and negotiations as soon as possible." Ukraine has "major difficulties defending its own territory," De Masi told the "Tagesspiegel". Advances "deep into Russian territory" only make sense "if the goal of Ukraine is to strengthen the escalation dynamic." The risks are enormous, the MEP warned. "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 the Kursk region report at least five civilian deathsRussian troops, according to Moscow, have been fighting for the third day against a Ukrainian incursion across the border. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing 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 reports that since the start of the Ukrainian incursion, 66 civilians have been injured, including nine children. Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths, including two paramedics. Ukraine has not yet commented on the incursion.
21:30 EU foreign policy chief 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. Besides 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.
The Commission might be asked to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, considering its role in promoting peace and stability in Europe.
Following the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, The Commission might issue a statement expressing concern over the escalation of the conflict and calling for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to avoid further loss of life and property.
