14:24 Ukraine calls on Mexico to arrest Putin at Sheinbaum's inauguration
Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico Urges Mexican Government to Arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if He Attends Inauguration of Elected President Claudia Sheinbaum
The Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico has called on the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of elected President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum will assume the presidency on October 1, 2024, becoming the first woman to hold this office in the Latin American country. "We trust that the Mexican government will comply with the international arrest warrant and hand over the aforementioned (Putin) to the judicial authorities of the United Nations in The Hague," the embassy said. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Putin for the alleged war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022. Juan Ramon de la Fuente, elected as Sheinbaum's Foreign Minister, stated that it is "standard protocol" to invite the heads of state of all countries with which Mexico maintains diplomatic relations, including Russia, to the inauguration.
13:50 Monitoring Services: Russian Users Can No Longer Open YouTube
Users in Russia are unable to open YouTube on their computers and mobile devices. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf report a major outage of the platform's availability. According to the sboy.rf service, over 15,000 complaints have been registered regarding the video-hosting service. Complaints came from individuals in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Saratov, Samara, Krasnodar, the occupied Crimea, and several other regions. Users reported that they could only access YouTube via virtual private networks (VPNs). Reuters reporters in Russia also found they could not access YouTube. However, the website was still available via some mobile devices. YouTube is the last remaining Western platform in Russia that is still accessible. As such, it is the last bastion of free expression in Russia. According to Decoder, over 90 million users in Russia use YouTube monthly, making it the leading video and streaming platform. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government planned to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine Conducts 'Lawful Defense War' in Russian Kursk
The EU views the advance of Ukrainian troops into the Russian region of Kursk in the context of the right to self-defense. "We believe that Ukraine is conducting a lawful defense war against an illegal aggression," said a spokesperson for EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. The right to self-defense includes the right to attack the enemy on its own territory. The EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat illegal Russian aggression. Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks and artillery, recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha and, according to reports, took control of several villages. Russian reports indicate that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian Soldiers Captured in Kursk
After the Ukrainian military forces entered the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers are said to have been captured. This was reported by the Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram. The humanitarian project, launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, is 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 allegedly showing the capture of more than 30 Russian soldiers. Other videos on social media also show dozens of Russian soldiers surrendering in the Kursk region. The total number of Russian soldiers captured since the Ukrainian offensive in the region is currently unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Running Normally Despite Fighting in Kursk Region
The Russian gas export through the border region of Kursk, attacked by Ukraine, is running largely normally, according to Gazprom. Today, about 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-owned 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 via this route.
11:37 Military Blogger: Russia Loses 'Important Logistics Hub' to Ukraine
The 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. Podolyaka writes that 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 Incursion 'Completely Surprised' Moscow
Initially, the situation remains unclear, 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 this attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk after Ukrainian advance "under control"Russian forces have been engaged in combat with infiltrating Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region for the third consecutive day. The situation is "stable and under control," according to the vice-governor of the border region, as reported by the state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Around 3,000 people have been evacuated to safety. Russian troops are actively fighting against Ukrainian units in the Sudja district and pushing them back, according to the news agency TASS citing local authorities. Four people have been killed in the Ukrainian attacks. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the offensive in Kursk. Several pro-Russian military bloggers also report ongoing fighting.
10:18 Kriewald on new offensive: "Ukrainians push 15 kilometers into Kursk region"The Ukrainian army's advance into the Russian region of Kursk is causing a stir in Moscow. Ukrainian soldiers are said to have advanced up to 15 kilometers, and there are reports of dozens of prisoners of war. ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports from Odessa on the background of the situation.
09:35 UN: Russians torture 95% of Ukrainian POWsEmployees of Russian penal colonies are already torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war during the initial interrogations, according to Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), in an interview with the Dutch broadcaster NOS. She says that the practice of torture is widespread and systematic in Russian captivity. According to Bell, the Russian Federation has tortured 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war in their prisons. Ukrainian prisoners are said to be beaten with metal rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in the 20 years of my career," Bell says. Information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is mainly collected through interviews with Ukrainian prisoners after their release. At the same time, the UN mission has direct access to Russian prisoners and can assess the conditions in the prison.
08:49 Estonia introduces enhanced customs controls at Russian borderEstonia is introducing full customs controls at its eastern EU external border with Russia. This decision was made by the government of the Baltic NATO state at the beginning of August. From August 8, all persons crossing the border with Russia, as well as all cargo, will be subject to controls. The controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be introduced gradually. Until now, checks on passengers and vehicles were random and risk-based. With the tightening of controls, Prime Minister Kristen Michal aims to prevent the transit and transport of EU-sanctioned goods through Estonia and to strengthen the country's security. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the data, Russia has lost around 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,140 in the last 24 hours. A report from Kyiv also states that two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have been destroyed. Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has reportedly lost a total of 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine. Western estimates suggest lower casualty figures, but these are likely to be minimum values.
07:32 Medvedev threatens escalation of Russian invasion in UkraineDmitri Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion of Ukraine in response to Ukrainian advances into the Russian border region of Kursk. The former president said that the Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own, but should instead advance towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The offensive will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. Ukrainian troops have reportedly advanced deep into Russian territory in the region, with fierce fighting reported. The region has been placed under a state of emergency.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian aerial objects destroyed over Kursk and BelgorodRussian air defense forces have destroyed 14 unmanned Ukrainian aerial objects over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram. Six drones and five other missiles were shot down over the Kursk region, the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, said. In the early hours of August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest data from the Russian General Staff, clashes continue in border areas. The state of emergency has been declared in Kursk, and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine declares air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attackThe Ukrainian Air Force has declared an air alert across the entire country. The air alert warning is attributed to a missile threat from a Russian MiG-31K aircraft. The MiG-31K is a Soviet-era interceptor aircraft named after the Mikoyan-Gurevich aircraft manufacturer. The MiG-31K can carry hypersonic missiles such as the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles spotted ten kilometers inside Russian border in Kursk
According to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops have advanced up to ten kilometers into the Russian region of Kursk. This was confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces are said to have breached at least two Russian defense lines and a fortress. According to a Russian source, the Ukrainians have captured 45 square kilometers in the Kursk region since the start of the operation on August 6, the ISW reports. Russian authorities had declared a state of emergency in the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theft cases
President Selenskyj has signed a new law that reclassifies petty theft as an administrative offense rather than a crime. The new law sets the threshold for petty theft at around 67 euros, up from the previous limit of around 6.7 euros. The change is aimed at preventing long prison sentences for minor thefts under the current martial law, which imposes up to eight years in prison for looting and theft. An example given in the draft law was a case of stealing diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, worth around 8 euros. The thief in that case received a prison sentence of over three years.
00:27 Klingbeil: Deployment of US long-range missiles in Germany is necessary
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has defended plans to station far-reaching US weapons in Germany, despite criticism from within his own party. "This deployment is necessary because it helps us defend ourselves in case Russia decides to attack us," Klingbeil told the German Press Agency. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced plans for the US to station weapons systems in Germany from 2026, including Tomahawk missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. Some SPD members have criticized the plans, with parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich warning of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlov to fight for Russian prisoners
Oleg Orlov, a Moscow human rights activist who was released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, plans to continue his work advocating for civil rights from exile in Germany. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," the 71-year-old said at a press conference at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin. Memorial, the human rights organization he co-founded and which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, campaigns for political prisoners in Russia. Orlov estimates that at least 800 political prisoners are still being held in Russia - a conservative estimate. He finds his new role in exile challenging, but he hopes to be able to advocate for the release of more political prisoners, including eight who are seriously ill. "We were very disappointed when we found out that these people were not on the list," he said. Memorial continues to operate in Russia despite repression, and also from abroad.
21:30 Not Dead Yet? Known Russian Propagandist InjuredKnown Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny has been injured in the Kursk region. State TV channel VGTRK reported on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was hospitalized. Earlier, numerous Russian media outlets had reported Poddubny's death. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of Russia's most famous "war correspondents," with around 734,000 followers on Telegram. Preliminary information suggests he was filming a report on the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Emergency Declared in Region KurskAn emergency has been declared in the Russian region of Kursk amid a Ukrainian ground offensive, the region's governor, Alexei Smirnov, announced on Telegram. Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory near Kursk in a counterattack. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the offensive began on Tuesday and reached the northwest of the city of Sudzha on Wednesday.
20:14 Fighting Nearby: Russia Reinforces Protection of Kursk NPPDue to Ukraine's advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, Russia's National Guard is reinforcing the protection of the Kursk NPP. Additional forces have also been deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency said. This is being done in cooperation with the Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power plant, with four units and a capacity of almost two gigawatts, is located about 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region near Sudzha. Unconfirmed reports suggest they advanced up to 15 kilometers towards the NPP.
19:38 Attacks in Region Kursk: European Gas Price Hits Yearly HighThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The benchmark TTF futures contract for delivery next month rose by 5.7% 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 for pipelines to Western Europe. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas supplies.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Areas Near Russian KurskAmid heavy fighting in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of more settlements in the neighboring Sumy region. The measures affect 23 settlements, said the military governor of Sumy, Vladimir Artjuch, 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 equipment. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Earlier, local authorities had ordered evacuations from an area within 10 kilometers of the border due to regular Russian shelling of border areas.
You can read about previous developments here.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico has urged the international community to support the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin if he participates in military operations outside Russia, citing the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes.
In response to Russian aggression, Ukrainian troops have reportedly engaged in military operations within the Russian border region of Kursk, leading to a state of emergency being declared in the area.
