13:24 Kreml casts doubt on offensive success
The Kremlin has dismissed speculations about the failure of the Russian offensive in the northeastern Ukraine. "The operation continues and it will, until it is successfully completed," Kreml spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said today. Yesterday, the governor of Belgorod announced access restrictions to 14 villages on the Russian side near the border. This is to protect the population from Ukrainian attacks. In response to a question about whether the access restrictions meant that the offensive in the northeast had failed, Peskov said: "No, that's not the case."
12:48 Study: Citizen's income has little impact on the employment of Ukrainian refugees
Social transfer payments such as citizen's income have little impact on the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees. However, factors such as social networks in the respective countries, the level of English language proficiency of the population on site, and childcare are significant. This is evident from a Europe-wide study by the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB). In Germany, the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees is 27%, which is in the middle range. The highest rate is in Lithuania with 57%, Denmark with 53%, and Poland with 48%.
11:53 For protection from rockets: Charkiw pupils to learn under ground
Children in the city of Charkiw, which has been almost daily under Russian shelling since the start of the war in the northeastern Ukraine, will reportedly be taught more intensively in underground schools in the future: According to city administration, an underground school project has already been implemented. The construction of three further such facilities has begun. The children should be better protected from Russian air raids in this way.
11:22 Media: Ukraine to receive 32 outdated F-16s from Greece
Greece plans to decommission 32 outdated F-16 fighter jets and hand them over to the USA. According to a report by the portal "New Voice of Ukraine", these jets will then be delivered to Ukraine after modernization. Kiev already has 60 F-16 jets from Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, but needs at least 150 combat jets, according to its own statements, to launch rockets and missiles against Russia and repel air raids on a broad front. There have been devastating bombing raids, the latest being on a children's hospital in Kiev with at least seven fatalities.
10:35 Ukraine reports 112 frontline fights since yesterday
The Ukrainian army general staff recorded 112 fights at the frontline in the past 24 hours. Among them were reportedly four rocket attacks on Ukrainian unit positions and inhabited areas, as well as 71 air raids with 119 guided air bombs. In addition, Russia conducted more than 4,300 artillery attacks, of which 121 were with multiple rocket launchers.
09:54 Russia and China start joint naval exercise
Russia and China have begun a naval exercise in the South China Sea. The exercise is expected to last three days, according to Russian and Chinese state media today. They report that air and submarine defense will be practiced during the maneuvers. Sharp ammunition is also to be used. Just a few days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both countries announced a strengthening of their partnership and described it as "boundless".
08:43 The German authorities report 42,000 missing UkrainiansIn Ukraine, approximately 42,000 people are currently missing, among them soldiers and civilians. The figure was published by the Interior Ministry. The number had previously been higher, at around 51,000 missing persons, according to the ministry. However, the remains of around 4000 soldiers missing in action have since been found and identified. About 3000 missing persons have been found alive, many of them prisoners of war. Identifying the dead is reportedly difficult due to the Defense Ministry's refusal to take DNA samples from soldiers before sending them into the field.
08:15 Hungary lobbies for Russia's participation in a peace summitHungary is lobbying for Russia's participation in the planned second Ukraine peace conference. There are efforts to hold another peace summit this year, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. "I believe that if we want to hope for the success of a future peace conference, we must ensure that both sides are represented," Szijjarto added. Hungary currently holds the EU Council Presidency. The first peace summit took place in mid-June at the request of Ukraine, with representatives from over 90 countries attending in Switzerland. Russia declared its disinterest in the conference and was therefore not invited.
07:46 Russia and Ukraine plan to exchange prisoners todayRussia and Ukraine plan to exchange 90 prisoners today. This was reported by the news agency Bloomberg, citing a source. Ukrainian media reported last week that the parliament's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinez, had announced that the government was planning a large prisoner exchange with Russia with the help of the United Arab Emirates. The two warring parties have already exchanged prisoners several times.
06:55 Ukrainian startups develop robots for the front linesUkrainian startups are developing affordable robots for mine clearance, evacuation of battlefields, transportation of equipment, and combat support. The Ukrainian agency Ukrinform reported this. An "ecosystem of laboratories in hundreds of secret workshops" is using innovations to create a robot army. Ukraine hopes that this robot army will be able to kill Russian troops and rescue its own wounded soldiers and civilians, according to Ukrinform.
06:20 State and government heads of 47 countries discuss UkraineAt the invitation of the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, state and government heads of 47 countries will meet tomorrow. The 27 EU member states plus 20 third countries will discuss, among other things, further aid for Ukraine in its defense war against Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also registered. There will be several round tables on security policy and defense, but other topics will also be discussed. Ukraine is represented at the conference.
04:37 Japan grants Ukraine a loan from frozen Russian assetsJapan is reportedly granting Ukraine a loan of 3.3 billion dollars from frozen Russian assets. The sum is part of the 50 billion dollar package of the G7 countries, according to the Japanese news agency Kyodo, citing informed sources. The United States and the European Union are each reportedly contributing 20 billion dollars. Japan, Great Britain, and Canada together contribute 10 billion dollars. The package is expected to be adopted at a G7 summit at the sidelines of the G20 finance summit at the end of the month in Brazil.
03:26 German government provides ten million Euros for rebuilding of Kyiv children's clinic
According to reports in the "Rheinische Post" newspaper, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has offered ten million Euros to the Ukrainian government for the rebuilding of a children's clinic in Kyiv, following a rocket attack. The funds will be used in conjunction with contributions from other donors and charities to quickly make the hospital operational and winter-proof again. This includes repairs and maintenance on facades, treatment rooms, and electrical and heating systems.
02:10 Medvedev warns NATO of "point of no return"
Following NATO summit promises to consider Ukraine for membership, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev renewed his threats against the alliance. In an article for the Russian news portal Argumenty I Fakty, he referred to a potential Ukrainian membership as a potential declaration of war against Russia. "This would essentially be a declaration of war - albeit with a delay. The actions taken by Russia's adversaries for years, by expanding the alliance, ... are bringing NATO to a point of no return." Russia does not threaten NATO, but will respond to attempts by the alliance to advance its interests. "The harder the attempts, the harsher our responses will be," Medvedev said. "Whether this tears the whole planet apart depends solely on the wisdom of the NATO side."
01:00 Ukrainian soldiers use expired ammunition
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has returned a "considerable amount" of old ammunition to the military, which should have been disposed of before the first Russian attack on Ukrainian territory in 2014. The ammunition is already being used on the battlefield. "We are looking for internal reserves to supply Ukrainian soldiers with ammunition. We know that every shot, every rocket, and every grenade on the battlefield is vital today," said Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Dyzhjar. Anything that can be repaired and reused is given a second life.
23:37 Ukrainian troops abandon positions in the southeast
According to unofficial reports, Ukrainian troops have had to give up positions in the southeast of the country in Krynky in the Cherson region and Urozhayne in the Donezk region under Russian pressure. "In both settlements, it no longer made sense to hold the positions," Ukrainian media quote sources in the General Staff. The fighting for the settlement of Krynky on the southern bank of the Dnipro River in the Cherson region was criticized from the outset due to its futility. It is unclear whether Ukrainian soldiers are still holding positions in the underbank area of the Dnipro River. Read more here.
22:07 New Aid for Ukraine
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi announced a new aid package of $100 million (around 93 million Euro) during a visit to Ukraine. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will support the preparation for winter and continue to assist the Ukrainian government in Kiev, helping displaced or otherwise affected Ukrainians, Grandi said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev. The Agency will also mobilize future funds to support the attacked country. Zelenskyy thanked for the help, which he said was urgently needed due to the damage to the energy infrastructure caused by Russian attacks. According to a statement from the Presidential Administration, the country still needs more help to rebuild destroyed houses and install bomb shelters in schools and hospitals. This will provide security for the displaced Ukrainians to return home.
21:27 Ukraine reports destruction of Russian S-300 air defense system
Ukraine claims to have destroyed a Russian S-300 air defense system in the occupied Donetsk oblast, according to its own reports. The Ukrainian General Staff Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced this on Twitter. A video distributed by the Ukrainian military shows several hits of alleged ATACMS rockets with cluster munitions. According to Syrskyi, several launch pads and a radar station of the system were destroyed.
20:49 Report: Ukrainian government may be on the verge of resignation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly on the verge of reshuffling his cabinet and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal. This was reported by the "Kyiv Post" citing an unnamed source in the Ukrainian parliament. The Ukrainian parliament was reportedly instructed to prepare for a discussion and vote on a new cabinet on Tuesday in the coming week. Zelenskyy himself also spoke about the possibility of changes in the government on Monday. "Could there be changes in the government? Yes, probably," so the Ukrainian President. "We are in a process."
20:02 Baltic States to leave Russian power grid
The Baltic States have reportedly informed Russia and its ally Belarus of their intention to leave the power grid of the former Soviet Union. "We will cut the last energy connections with Russia," explains the head of the state Lithuanian network operator Litgrid, Rokas Masiulis. The step is expected to take place in February 2025. Shortly thereafter, the three countries will connect to the European power grid. "In six months, we will not only disconnect from the Russian and Belarusian power grids, but also dismantle the last power lines," explains Masiulis.
19:20 Lindner criticizes Orbán's "Alone Actions" towards Orbán
Following the controversy over Ungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Moscow trip, Germany and other EU partners are increasing pressure on Budapest. During a Finance Ministers meeting in Brussels, most member states called on Hungary to keep Ukraine aid as a priority. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner accused Orbán of "Alone Actions." "Hungary should know that the peace and freedom order of Europe as a whole is being defended in Ukraine," Lindner stated during the public debate. This should remain a "Top-Priority" during Hungary's EU Presidency by the end of the year. Hungary's Finance Minister Mihaly Varga had previously presented seven priorities, ranging from combating illegal migration to competitiveness, but Ukraine was not mentioned.
You can read about all previous developments here.**
10:45 Russia denies involvement in cyberattacks on UkraineRussia has dismissed allegations of its involvement in cyberattacks against Ukraine, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov stating that "Russia never engages in such activities". This comes amid claims by Ukrainian officials and cybersecurity firms that Russian hackers have been targeting Ukrainian infrastructure.
09:22 NATO strengthens cyber defense in support of UkraineIn response to the ongoing Ukraine-Conflict and the increasing threat of cyberwar, NATO has announced plans to strengthen its cyber defense capabilities. This includes sharing intelligence and best practices, and providing training and support to Ukraine's military and civilian cyber units. US President Joe Biden has pledged to support Ukraine in this area, stating that "we will do everything we can to help Ukraine defend itself in the cyber domain".
08:08 Volodymyr Zelensky calls for international support in fight against cyber threatsIn his latest address to the nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for international support in the fight against cyber threats. He emphasized the importance of protecting critical infrastructure and cited recent attacks on energy facilities as evidence of the growing danger. Zelensky urged the international community to take action against cybercrimes and to hold those responsible accountable.
07:06 Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of political hackingBoth Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of political hacking in recent weeks. Ukrainian authorities have reported several attempted cyberattacks on government websites, while Russian media sources have claimed that Ukrainian hackers have targeted Russian government sites. The Russian Foreign Ministry has dismissed these claims as "fabricated", while Ukrainian officials have called on the international community to take action against cyber espionage.
06:14 Experts warn of potential escalation in cyberwarfareCybersecurity experts have warned of the potential escalation of cyberwarfare between Ukraine and Russia. They have highlighted the danger of such attacks causing widespread damage to critical infrastructure and disrupting essential services. The experts have urged both sides to exercise restraint and to prioritize diplomacy and dialogue over cyberattacks.
