12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian soldiers captured in Kursk
After the Ukrainian military's incursion into the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers are said to have been captured. This was announced by the state Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti". The humanitarian project, launched by the Ukrainian military intelligence service in January 2024, serves as a coordination center for Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine. It aims to help military personnel of the Russian army find their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", both conscripts and contract soldiers are among the captives. "There is also information about the dead, whose bodies were not taken away by their comrades during the retreat," it said in the statement. The project published drone footage that is said to show the capture of more than 30 Russian soldiers. Other videos on social media show dozens of Russian soldiers surrendering in the Kursk region. The total number of Russian soldiers captured since the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region is still unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas transit runs normally despite fighting in the Kursk regionThe Russian gas export through the border region of Kursk, attacked by Ukraine, is running largely normally, according to Gazprom. Today, around 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas are expected to be transported, the company announced in Moscow. This is five percent less than the day before, the state Russian news agency Tass reported. Ukrainian troops have taken at least partial control of the city of Sudja during their incursion across the border, also capturing a key gas pipeline measurement station en route to Western Europe. From there, the transit goes through Ukraine and further into Slovakia and Austria. In 2023, despite the ongoing war, 14.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas were transported to the European Union along this route.**
11:37 Military blogger: Russia loses "important logistics hub" to UkraineThe Russian city of Sudja in the Kursk region is said to have been taken by the Ukrainians, according to pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka on his Telegram channel. The town is nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to Podolyaka, the city is full of Ukrainian military forces. "Sudja is basically lost for us. This is an important logistics hub," he writes further. Ukrainian military forces are said to be advancing north towards Lgov. "In general, the situation is difficult and deteriorating, although the pace of the Ukrainian offensive has noticeably slowed down."**
11:04 Munz: Kursk attack has "completely surprised" MoscowInitially, the situation remains unclear, but then it is confirmed: Ukrainian fighters are attacking on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there is likely more to the attack than just a diversionary maneuver.**
10:18 Kriewald on new offensive: "Ukrainians advance 15 kilometers into Kursk region"The Ukrainian army's advance in the Russian region of Kursk is causing a stir in Moscow. Ukrainian soldiers are said to have advanced up to 15 kilometers. Moreover, there is talk of dozens of prisoners of war. ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports from Odessa on the background.**
09:45 UN: Russians Torture 95% of Ukrainian POWs
UN officials allege that Russian prison camp staff are already torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war during initial interrogations. Furthermore, torture is "widespread and systematic" in Russian captivity. UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) head Danielle Bell revealed this in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. She claims that Russia has tortured 95% of Ukrainian POWs in its prisons. According to her, Ukrainian POWs are beaten with metal rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in my 20-year career," Bell stated. Information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is primarily gathered through interviews with Ukrainian POWs after their release. Simultaneously, the UN mission has direct access to Russian POWs and can assess the prison conditions.
08:49 Estonia Introduces Enhanced Border Controls with Russia
Estonia has begun full border controls at its eastern EU border with Russia. The Baltic NATO state's government decided on this measure in early August. As of August 8, all persons and cargo crossing the border with Russia will be subject to inspection. The controls will be gradually introduced at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa. Previously, passenger and vehicle checks were random and risk-based. According to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, the tightening of controls aims to prevent the transit and transport of EU-sanctioned goods through Estonia and strengthen the country's security. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine Releases Figures on Russian Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has published new loss figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. As of February 24, 2022, Russia has reportedly lost around 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine, with 1,140 losses in the past 24 hours alone. According to the Kyiv report, two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have also been destroyed. In total, Russia has reportedly lost 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale invasion. Western estimates suggest lower loss figures, though these are likely minimums.
07:32 Medvedev Threatens Escalation of Russian Invasion in Ukraine
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion in Ukraine in response to Ukrainian advances in the Russian border region of Kursk. The Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing territories that Russia considers its own, the former president said. Instead, military forces should push towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The advance will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. According to Russian reports, Ukrainian troops have advanced deep into Russian territory in the region, leading to fierce fighting and the declaration of a state of emergency.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian aerial objects destroyed over Kursk and Belgorod
Russian air defense forces destroyed fourteen unmanned Ukrainian aerial objects overnight, over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense on Telegram. Air defense systems shot down six drones and five other missiles over the Kursk region, said regional governor Alexei Smirnov. In the early morning of August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian General Staff, clashes continue in border areas. An emergency situation has been declared in Kursk (see entries 19:08, 19:38, and 20:41), and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine declares air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attack
The Ukrainian Air Force has declared an air alert across the entire country. The Ukrainian Air Force attributes the air attack warning to a missile threat from a Russian MiG-31K. This aircraft type is a Soviet-era interceptor named after the Mikoyan-Gurevich aircraft manufacturer and can carry hypersonic missiles like the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles ten kilometers behind Russian border in Kursk
According to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops have advanced up to ten kilometers into the Russian Kursk region. This was confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces have reportedly breached at least two Russian defense lines and a fortress. According to a Russian source, Ukrainian forces have captured 45 square kilometers in the Kursk region since the start of the operation on August 6. Russian authorities declared an emergency situation in the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theft
In Ukraine, thefts of low value will no longer result in a prison sentence. President Zelensky has signed a law raising the threshold for petty theft, making thefts up to approximately 67 euros punishable by fines rather than imprisonment. Previously, the threshold for petty theft was around 6.7 euros. This change is due to the martial law imposed since the Russian invasion, which carries up to eight years in prison for looting and theft. A case cited in the draft law involved a theft of baby diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, worth around 8 euros, which would no longer result in a prison sentence. However, the perpetrator in this case still received a prison sentence of over three years.
00:27 Klingbeil: Stationing of US missiles in Germany is correctSPD leader Lars Klingbeil defends plans for the stationing of long-range US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This stationing is correct because it helps us to defend ourselves in case Russia gets the idea to attack us," Klingbeil told the German editorial network. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the USA will station weapons systems in Germany again from 2026, which can reach far into Russia. Named were Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices within the SPD, including the parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, who warns of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlow wants to fight for Russian prisonersThe Moscow human rights activist Oleg Orlow, who was released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, wants to continue his civil rights work in exile. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," the 71-year-old said at a press conference at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin. The organization he co-founded, Memorial, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, also advocates for political prisoners in Russia. Orlow estimates that there are still at least 800 political prisoners in Russia - conservatively estimated. His new role in exile in Germany is difficult for Orlow, as he told. He would rather be in his homeland, but fears prosecution. Orlow now hopes that he can advocate for the release of more political prisoners in exile, including eight critically ill ones. "When it turned out that these people were not on the list, we were very disappointed - we who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work in Russia despite repression, but also from abroad.
21:30 Not dead after all? Known Russian propagandist injuredThe well-known Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny was injured in the Kursk region. The state television company VGTRK reports on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was taken to hospital. Previously, numerous Russian media had reported the death of Poddubny in agreement. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of the best-known Russian "war correspondents". His Telegram channel has around 734,000 followers. According to preliminary information, he was filming a report about the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Region Kursk declares state of emergencyIn the Russian region of Kursk, a state of emergency has been declared in the midst of a Ukrainian ground offensive. This was announced by the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, in a Telegram post. Ukraine has advanced far into Russian territory in Kursk in a counterattack. The offensive began on Tuesday, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, and reached the northwest of the city of Sudzha on Wednesday.
20:14 Clashes Nearby: Russia Bolsters AKW Kursk SecurityDue to Ukraine's advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, Russia's National Guard is reinforcing security at the AKW Kursk nuclear power plant. Additional troops are also being deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency reports. This is happening in cooperation with Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power plant, with four blocks and a capacity of almost two gigawatts, is located just over 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha, reportedly advancing up to 15 kilometers towards the nuclear power plant.
19:38 Attacks in Kursk Region: European Gas Price Hits Yearly HighThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The leading TTF futures contract for delivery in a month increased by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) in Amsterdam. Market participants are pointing to Ukraine's attacks on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudzha, an important gas injection point that supplies Western Europe through Ukrainian pipelines. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas supplies, according to the Bloomberg news agency.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Areas Near Russian KurskAmid heavy fighting in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered evacuations from more areas in the neighboring Sumy region. The measures affect 23 settlements, according to Sumy's military governor, Vladimir Artyukh, on Ukrainian television. Around 6,000 people, including over 400 children and adolescents, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops launched an advance across the Ukrainian-Russian border towards the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region, penetrating several kilometers into Russian territory. Moscow reported around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy machinery. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Local authorities had already ordered evacuations from an area within 10 kilometers of the border in May due to regular Russian shelling of border areas.
You can read all previous developments here.
1. The European Union is expected to closely monitor the situation in the Kursk region, given the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as natural gas transits through the region to reach the EU.
2. The humanitarian project 'Khochu nayti' in Ukraine, which serves as a coordination center for Russian prisoners of war, has reportedly received requests for assistance from Russian soldiers captured in the Kursk region, which is currently under conflict.
