13:41 Pistorius insists: German military must "prepare for combat"]
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius ensures that the Bundeswehr needs to be "combat-ready." It's about being able to fight a defense war if assaulted - "therefore preparing for the worst, so as not to face it," explained the Defense Minister today at the Bundeswehr Day in Faßberg Air Base. Security specialists estimate that Russia will require roughly five years to establish military abilities for an attack on a NATO member nation. The Kremlin spent 5.9% of its economic output on the military in 2023 and is now increasing it to 7%.
13:15 Ukraine: South Front heavily shelled, assaults repelledRussian soldiers persistently attempt to advance with unrelenting ferocity on the South Front. Over the course of Friday, Ukraine counted 240 reconnaissance drones just in the southern region alone. In addition to artillery, rockets, and combat drones, they are being used. Ukraine's military reported successfully repelling three assaults in the areas of Orichiv and Krynky.
12:29 Kuleba: Utilize frozen Russian assets for Ukraine!Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urges Ukraine's supporters not only to utilize the income from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, but also the assets themselves. "We comprehend the concerns of our partners about the implications of this step," said Kuleba, "but we find ourselves in the framework of international law." In the EU, assets of the Russian central bank worth more than 200 billion euros are frozen. The question of whether not just the interest, but also the money itself could be used is also being discussed by the G7 at their summit next week in Italy.
11:55 At Charkiv: Russians even shoot at cowsNTV-reporter Kavita Sharma travels to Charkiv and visits individuals who have lost everything due to Russian assaults - their families, their homes. On a farm, the Russians also shot at cows.
11:34 Scholz: "Putin will not prevail"Just before the European election, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed his position on Russia's assault war on Ukraine and his support for the country. "Putin will not succeed with his imperialistic plans," Scholz stated in a video message. "Putin must recognize that he can't win his brutal campaign." A peace policy entails "supporting Ukraine in defending its independence and sovereignty."
10:57 Ukrainian drone strikes airfield in the CaucasusAs per reports from Moscow, a Ukrainian drone reached the North Ossetian Republic in the Caucasus. The head of the region states that the target was a military airfield. Media report that this is the first time since the start of the war that a Ukrainian drone has reached North Ossetia, which is roughly 700 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border. From this airfield, combat aircraft are launched for assaults on Ukraine, such as with glide bombs. The Ukrainian military is increasingly targeting infrastructure on Russian property to hinder logistics and supply lines.
10:20 Front at Pokrowsk: A Ukrainian brigade repels three Russian brigadesAccording to the Ukrainian army, Russian troops continue to attack relentlessly along the eastern front. In the region of Pokrowsk, a Ukrainian tank brigade is currently fending off three Russian combat brigades. The front at Pokrowsk is the core of the fighting. The area is west of Otscheretyne, which was recently taken by the Russians. "The adversary is trying to push deep into our ground," the report states. "With an enormous reserve of troops, Russia quickly replaces its large losses and continues to throw new soldiers into the fight. The battle never stops for a second."
09:48 Moscow reports Ukrainian drone attacksRussian operations from the Ukrainian army were conducted throughout the night on Saturday, according to Russian government reports. The Defense Ministry reports that drones were thwarted in the border areas of Rostov, Brjansk, and Belgorod. The annexed Crimean Peninsula was also a target of the drone assaults.
09:12 Sharma: Russians pursue a strategy to create a divide between Ukrainian combat positionsThe situation remains tense in the Donetsk region. Russian soldiers seem to be attempting to implement a scenario that experts have warned about, according to Kavita Sharma in Ukraine.
08:55 Ukrainian General Staff: 1210 Russian casualties since yesterdayThe Ukrainian General Staff reports 1210 Russian soldiers killed or wounded in the previous 24 hours. According to their accounts, Russia's casualties since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 would now exceed 517,000. During the same period, the Ukrainian armed forces destroyed nine Russian tanks, 36 armored vehicles, a multiple rocket launcher, and seven anti-aircraft systems.
08:31 Ukraine: Russians planning a 15-million-euro propaganda campaign against Kiev's military leadershipBased on information from the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, Russia is planning a propaganda campaign against Ukraine's military leadership. 15 million euros are said to be allocated for articles and films that would present Ukrainian special units and military leadership in a negative light. Russian forces have already received instructions to disseminate such material in Ukrainian and other Western media. The aim is to exacerbate tensions in Ukraine.
The upcoming European Football Championship has security officials in Germany concerned, with potential cyberattacks related to Russia's war on Ukraine being regarded as a significant risk. The protection of stadiums and other event venues against drone attacks is seen as a big challenge, particularly since drones have been spotted near Bundeswehr bases where Ukrainian soldiers are trained with German equipment. Other threats include the possibility of Islamist attacks on one of the 51 matches or popular fan festivals. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has announced a strong police presence at these locations.
There were recent reports of explosions in Sevastopol, which lies on the occupied Crimean Peninsula. These were heard by residents around 1:39 local time and seemed to have occurred near a power plant. A second explosion was heard near the port of Sevastopol. Crimean Wind, a Telegram channel, suggested that the explosions could have been a result of drone attacks, as there had been previous sightings of drones over military bases where Ukrainian soldiers were trained with German equipment. The Ukrainian army aims to disrupt Russian war efforts by targeting infrastructure.
The Ukrainian Air Force appreciates the modern and versatile Mirage combat jets France intends to donate but still prefers F-16 fighter jets. However, the training of F-16 pilots is still ongoing, and obtaining the Mirage aircraft will take another half year. France donated this military aircraft in the 1970s and exported it to several countries. For some time, it was the primary combat aircraft of the French military.
Several more settlements in Sumy are being evacuated because of Russian attacks. This brings the number of civilians killed in the region this year to 50 after a recent attack resulted in three deaths and three injuries. Over 50 explosions were reported in Sumy, and the military is currently looking for ways to acquire more air defense systems to better protect their troops and cities.
Ukraine intends to purchase an additional air defense system from France. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is expected to acquire a second system from Thales without disclosing the price. Air defense systems are currently a significant issue for Ukraine as they lack enough defenses to protect their frontlines and major cities.
According to a Bloomberg report, Germany is considering sending a fourth Patriot missile defense system to Kyiv. This would be the fourth Phoenix system that Germany has donated to Ukraine. This delivery coincides with Germany's decision to relax rules regarding the use of Patriots against Russian aircraft within Russian airspace. With the help of Patriots, Ukraine could potentially shoot down Russian warplanes that attack targets in the Kharkiv region with rockets or glide bombs outside of their own territory.
President Zelensky has rejected Russian President Putin's claim of his own illegitimacy and emphasized that the Ukrainian people choose their president. "Only the Ukrainian people can recognize my legitimacy. They are free, and we are fighting to preserve their rights," he told French President Macron during a press conference.
The upcoming Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Germany aims to provide Ukraine with long-term perspectives beyond material aid. Its goal is to show opportunities to civil society, the economy, cities, and regions through networking. Around 1,000 participants are expected at the event, including German Chancellor Scholz and various ministers from both countries. The Ukrainian delegation is also expected to be highly ranked.
Zelensky states that Putin only recognizes himself as the legitimate Russian leader. He stressed that the Ukrainian people are the ones who choose their president. "The Ukrainian people are the only ones who can acknowledge President Zelensky's legitimacy. We are defending our freedom," he said, addressing the press during a meeting with French President Macron.
In Ukraine's southern region known as Kherson, 22 individuals were reportedly killed in a Ukrainian artillery attack on a Russian-controlled village, dubbed Sadowe, by the Russian occupying administration. Vladimir Saldo, the occupied region's Russian-appointed administrator, further disclosed that a store filled with people was directly hit in the said attack; 15 more were listed as injured. Saldo went on to label the incident a "loathsome murder of civilians" that could only be made possible due to Western weapon deliveries to Ukraine. Although the photos provided in the statement of the administrator do not clearly showcase the extent of the damage, there has yet to be any independent confirmation of the event.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, has set a goal for launching accession negotiations with Ukraine "by the end of this month." This announcement was made during a joint press appearance with Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Paris. Macron declared that France would back Ukraine in all aspects, particularly within the European Union context, where a "genuine launch of EU accession talks" is being pursued. According to Zelenskyy, several Ukraine-related EU integration decisions are almost finalized. However, Ukraine's neighbor, Hungary, is the current stumbling block, having taken over the EU Council presidency on July 1st and is seeking to delay these negotiations.
As support for Ukraine's President Zelenskyy hit a historic low, the KIIS Institute's survey results indicate that a slim majority of the Ukrainian population-more than 50%-still trusts him. Back in May 2022, shortly after Russia's war of aggression commenced, Zelenskyy's approval rating stood at 90%. Nonetheless, his popularity has been on a downward trajectory ever since, likely due to the ongoing conflict. Zelenskyy was initially scheduled to step down in May; however, with martial law still in place, his term has been prolonged indefinitely, along with the postponement of national elections. The Ukrainian government asserts that there will be no holding of elections for the time being, given that around 20% of Ukraine is presently under Russian control, with millions of Ukrainians fleeing their country.
The US government does not intend to participate in französ President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to send military trainers to Ukraine. John Kirby, the National Security Council's communications director, made this known during a meeting with US's President Joe Biden in France. He also revealed that Biden has always made it abundantly clear since the onset of the Russian attack on Ukraine that no American soldiers would be dispatched to Ukraine; the current stance remains unchanged. Kirby added that the level of transparency and clarity regarding Macron's plan lies within the latter's discretion. Biden has previously been vocal about his stance on the Ukraine war, stating that they would avoid starting a Third World War and have no desire for a conflict with Russia.
(All prior developments can be found here.)
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Read also:
- Despite the warnings of security specialists, Russia is estimated to take around five years to establish military abilities for an attack on a NATO member nation, budgeting 7% of its economic output for the military in 2024.
- volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, urges his supporters to utilize not only the income from frozen Russian assets but also the assets themselves, alluding to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
- The German military, under Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, is being prepared for combat, recognizing the potential cyberwar threats posed by Russia as they target critical infrastructure, such as airfields, in countries like Ukraine.
- Amidst growing concerns about potential cyberattacks related to Russia's war on Ukraine, NATO countries must reinforce their cyberdefenses, particularly at high-profile events like the upcoming European Football Championship, to protect against both drone attacks and Islamist threats.
