13:23 More Russia and China? Economists warn of the AfD's new foreign policy course
Economic researchers warn against efforts by influential politicians of the AfD to withdraw from the EU and the USA and to orient more strongly towards Russia and China. "A withdrawal from the USA and EU in order to cooperate more strongly with China could contribute significantly to political and economic uncertainty and also entail long-term risks," said Oliver Holtemöller, Vice-President of the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle, to the "Handelsblatt". The President of the German Institute for Economic Research, Marcel Fratzscher, told the newspaper that orienting more strongly towards Russia and China would be the "biggest mistake" that Germany could make politically and economically.
12:58 Russia takes control of settlement in the Donezk oblast
According to reports from Russian state media, the Russian military has taken control of the Ukrainian village of Schumy in the Donezk region. The state Russian news agency Ria, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, reports that the army has taken the settlement near the city of Torezk. The announcement states that Ukrainian troops suffered 360 casualties. The independent verification of these claims is not possible.
12:38 Zelensky: Russian attacks have destroyed 80% of Ukraine's thermal energy and a third of its hydropower
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian attacks have destroyed 80% of Ukraine's thermal energy and a third of its hydropower. The British newspaper "Guardian" reports this. Russian attacks reportedly often targeted energy facilities and other critical infrastructure. The attack in Dnipro yesterday shows, according to the Ukrainian head of state, that Ukraine needs more air defense systems. "Only sufficient quantities of high-quality air defense systems, only sufficient determination from the whole world can stop Russian terror," said Zelensky.
12:25 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba visits Croatia
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is on a visit to the Republic of Croatia. He is participating in the 17th Dubrovnik Forum. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the focus of the meeting will be on restoring peace and security in Ukraine and Europe, as well as the results of the first peace summit. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and EU Foreign Policy Chief Joseph Borrell are among those attending the conference.
11:51 Military economist: The war could be over by the end of 2025 - "Time is running against Russia"
According to military economist Marcus Keupp, Russia may not be able to sustain the war against Ukraine for years to come. In an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," he states that the Russian supply chain is expected to collapse latest by mid-2027, possibly even by the end of 2025. "That's the calculated end, then the warehouses will be empty." Keupp bases his calculations on documented losses of the Russian army, which have amounted to four tanks a day since the start of the war. With only 300 to 500 new tanks being built annually, Moscow cannot sustain this indefinitely, the military economist says. Satellite images already show that old Soviet military bases are emptying out at a massive rate, according to Keupp. "Russia is living off its reserves. It's essentially on the dead legs of the Soviet Union." Keupp's conclusion: "Time is running against Russia." He believes that Russia's method of warfare is unsustainable. "Putin has the same problem as Hitler. His resources are melting away, and he's stuck in the mud of the Soviet Union."
11:33 Draft evasion: Some Ukrainian men seek help from forgers
A new recruitment drive is underway in Ukraine to mobilize more soldiers for the fight against Russia. As a result, some Ukrainian men are turning to online dealers and forgers to avoid the horrors of military service, according to the British newspaper "Guardian." It is expected that attempts to flee the country will increase. Ukraine recently passed far-reaching mobilization measures, allowing the military to call up more soldiers and imposing stricter penalties for draft evasion. Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a controversial law in April that lowers the draft age from 27 to 25. Anyone who refuses military service can lose their driver's license and access to their bank accounts. Property can also be confiscated.
11:04 Zelenskyj releases video of Ukrainian prisoners of war reunited with their families
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has shared a video of the moment ten prisoners of war return home from Russian captivity and reunite with their families. He posted the recording on his social media channels.
10:36 Ukrainian police car in Sumy attacked by Russian drone
In the Sumy Oblast in northeastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian police car was attacked by a Russian drone. The Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Post" reports this, citing the Ukrainian National Police. According to the report, the policemen were not in the car at the time of the attack, but were nearby when they heard the explosion.
10:08 Kremlin declines comment on Trump's remarks about ending the war
The Kremlin declined to comment on Donald Trump's remarks that if he were re-elected in November, he would have ended the war against Ukraine. The Guardian reported this. Trump made these comments during the US presidential debate with incumbent Joe Biden on the previous Thursday. "As for Russia and Ukraine: If we had a real president, a president who respected Putin, he wouldn't have gone into Ukraine," Trump said.
09:26 Zelenskyy thanks Coe at meeting for exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the president of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe. This was announced on Zelenskyy's Facebook page. "We welcome the decisions made by World Athletics at the beginning of March 2022 to ban representatives of Russia and Belarus from participating in international athletics competitions," Zelenskyy wrote. He also expressed gratitude for the support of Ukrainian athletes.
09:01 Four dead, ten injured in Russian attacks in the Kherson region
Russian forces have reportedly shelled numerous cities and villages in the Kherson region, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to ten others. Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the region, reported this on Telegram. "Four people were killed by Russian aggression in Sadove, Tiahynka, Novotiahynka, Olhivka, and Cherson," Prokudin said. He added that Russian military forces attacked residential areas in the region and damaged several private houses. According to him, businesses and a gas pipeline were also hit.
08:34 Governor of Kursk: Five dead in Ukrainian drone attack on border village
According to Russian reports, five people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on a border village. The governor of the western Russian region of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, reported this on Telegram. "Two children were among the dead," Smirnov said. "Two other family members are in critical condition." The drone reportedly crashed into a house in the small village of Gorodischtsche. Since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, both sides have been regularly attacking each other with drones, some of which have ranges of several hundred kilometers. The Ukrainian army has expanded its drone attacks on Russian territory this year. It targets both Russian energy facilities and border towns and villages.
08:02 Kiev: Over 1000 Russian soldiers "eliminated"
According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's daily reports, 1070 Russian soldiers have died or are unable to continue fighting in the war as of one day ago. This brings the total number of Russian soldiers "eliminated" since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022 to 541,560. The Defense Ministry's press service announced that the enemy had also lost seven more tanks (8073). Since the start of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted over 15,500 armored vehicles and approximately 11,500 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed.
07:28 Russian attack: Fire department in Dnipro rescues man from buried car
Once again, Russian rockets have struck a Ukrainian residential area. The most recent attack on the city of Dnipro resulted in at least one fatality, among the injured was a seven-month-old baby. A man was buried under the rubble in his car.
07:06 Ukrainian military positions spied on: SBU arrests suspected Russian agent
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has arrested another Russian agent. The man is accused of preparing a Russian breakthrough in the Donetsk region and of spying on Ukrainian defense forces. According to the SBU press office, the man is a resident of Myrnohrad, who works for a private security company. Russia reportedly became interested in the man due to his active use of pro-Russian Telegram channels, where he allegedly published anti-Ukrainian comments.
06:34 Ukrainian Air Force: Ten Russian drones shot down at night
The Ukrainian air defense forces have shot down all ten Russian drones launched by Russia at night. According to the Ukrainian Air Force.
05:43 General Staff in Kiev: 102 battles at the front
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 102 battles at the front within the past 24 hours. The enemy has increased the tempo of its offensive actions since Friday morning, according to the situation report of the Ukrainian General Staff on Facebook. The majority of the battles are reported in the direction of Pokrovsk. The Russian troops attempted to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions 28 times. The Ukrainian army repelled 21 attacks. Seven battles are still ongoing, the statement reads.
04:59 Czech Republic prepares security agreements with Kiev
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on X that the Czech Republic would sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine during the EU summit in London on July 18. Fiala had agreed with President Zelenskyy the day before to "finalize the negotiations on the text of the Czech-Ukrainian security agreement before the NATO summit in Washington." The next NATO summit is scheduled for July 9-11. The Czech Republic will thus join 19 other countries, including the United States, Great Britain, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, which have already signed similar bilateral agreements.
03:59 USA to deliver HAWK missiles to KievThe US government is set to provide weapons and ammunition worth $150 million to Ukraine, including HAWK air defense missiles and 155-millimeter artillery ammunition. Two unnamed US officials announced that the military aid package is expected to be presented on Monday. The Biden administration is responding to Ukraine's desperate pleas for air defense support, as Russia has bombed Ukrainian energy facilities with air raids in recent weeks.
02:58 Report: Russian agents in Vienna implicated in assassination of helicopter pilot KusminowRussian agents based in Vienna are under suspicion for their involvement in the recruitment and financing of Russian operations, such as the assassination of the Russian military helicopter pilot Maxim Kusminow. He had defected to the Ukraine and was living in Spain when he was found by the hit squad. The "Wall Street Journal" reports this with references to Western security circles. The killers, who shot him five times and then ran him over with a SUV, were criminals who were paid in cash provided by Russian officials from Vienna, according to the paper. "We are now becoming a burden to our neighbors, as Russia uses us as an operational base," a high-ranking Austrian intelligence officer told the newspaper. According to Austrian intelligence sources, the number of active Russian diplomats in Austria has increased from around 400 to over 500 in the past two years. About half of them are diplomats and managers, while the other half function as spies.
01:58 Russia captures town north of Bachmut - Ukraine deniesAccording to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian military has taken control of the town of Rosdoliwka in eastern Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian military claims that heavy fighting is taking place in the areas around the settlement. Rosdoliwka is located in the Donetsk region, the epicenter of Russia's advance in eastern Ukraine. It is located north of Bachmut and Soledar, two towns that were taken under Russian control last year.
00:58 US Army awards Lockheed Martin $4.5 billion contractIn the US, the US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a multi-year contract worth $4.5 billion for the Patriot air defense system. The Pentagon announced this. The contract includes 870 PAC-3 MSE missiles and the associated hardware. Lockheed manufactures the latest version of the missile defense system, known as PAC-3 MSE, which equips the Patriot with the newest missiles. The Patriot system is part of a series of advanced air defense systems provided by the West to Ukraine.
23:58 More Olympic Starting Places for Russians - Judokas rejected
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) continues to invite more athletes from Russia and Belarus to the Summer Games in Paris. According to the IOC's announcement in the evening, 50 athletes from these two countries have been invited so far to compete under a neutral flag at the Olympics. However, not all of these invitations have been accepted, some have already withdrawn. Some Judokas were rejected due to their affiliation with Army sports clubs. Out of the twelve quotas for Russian Judokas, only two will be allocated to men and women each - whether the four accept the invitation remains open.
22:59 Ten Ukrainians Return from Russian Captivity
Ten Ukrainian civilians have returned home from Russian captivity, according to reports from Kiev. Among the released prisoners is Nariman Djeljal, the leader of the Crimean Tatars, writes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in social media on Friday. He thanks the Vatican for its involvement in the release of the civilians. Djeljal was arrested in Crimea in 2021, before the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, and later sentenced to 17 years in prison.
22:30 Lithuania's Foreign Minister: Kallas Nomination Honors Stance on Russia
Lithuania has welcomed the nomination of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the new EU Foreign Policy Chief. Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis speaks of recognition of the views of the Baltic States and other countries on the NATO eastern flank, which have taken a firm stance against Russia and supported Ukraine until its victory. "She has never hidden her position, she has clearly and openly expressed her views on issues that are important to us," Landsbergis told the BNS agency in Vilnius about Kallas. Kallas was appointed as the EU representative for external and security policy at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. The 47-year-old liberal has been Estonia's first female prime minister since 2021 and is known as a defender of a resolute Western stance towards Moscow.
22:00 Baerbock: Support for Ukraine is the Best Protection for Peaceful Sleeping
According to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's belief, the ongoing support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion forces is also crucial for peace and security in Germany. "If Ukraine can no longer defend our peace, our freedom because we no longer support it, then the question is how far Putin's troops will advance," Baerbock said during a talk by RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), NDR and "Hannoverscher Allgemeine Zeitung". "That's why the support efforts for Ukraine are the best protection for our own peace and our own security." Baerbock referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Naturally, one can discuss whether the billions of euros for Ukraine should be used differently, Baerbock says. But in this case, she has to admit: "I don't know how long we can continue sleeping peacefully here in Brandenburg, right at the border with Poland." There are "light tests" everywhere along the EU border and the NATO outer border by Russia. "Every reasonable person in the world, in Europe and in Ukraine" wishes nothing more ardently than peace in Ukraine. But that lies with Putin. "For that reason, Putin must withdraw his troops and finally put an end to this killing." Instead, his answer is "always more violence and terror."
You can read about previous developments here.
- The AFD in Germany is advocating for withdrawal from the EU and USA, and a stronger cooperation with Russia and China, which economic experts warn could lead to political and economic uncertainty and long-term risks.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, has stated that Russian attacks have destroyed 80% of Ukraine's thermal energy and a third of its hydropower, and that Ukrainian troops need more air defense systems to stop Russian terror.
- There have been reports of military operations and attacks in the Ukraine conflict, including Russian control of a settlement in the Donezk oblast, and Ukrainian politicians visiting Croatia for meetings on peace and security.
- There have been concerns about cyberwarfare in the context of the Ukraine conflict, with military economists suggesting that Russia may not be able to sustain the war for long due to documented losses and limited new tank production.
- NATO has been involved in the Ukraine conflict, with some countries providing military aid and signing bilateral security agreements with Ukraine to support its defense efforts against Russian aggression.
