14:31 Belarus reinforces air defense on border with Ukraine
Belarus strengthens its air defense at the border with Ukraine, according to its own statements, due to an increase in Ukrainian drone activities in the area. The military of the close ally Russia shares this information. Additional air defense forces have been sent to the border to protect "critical infrastructure installations." The situation in the airspace over the border remains tense. The Defense Ministry reports that there are information indicating that Ukraine has moved more troops, weapons, and military equipment to the northern region of Schytomyr, which borders Belarus.
13:52 Seehofer on No to Taurus Missile Deliveries for Ukraine: "Scholz's behavior is exactly right"
The former Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer justifies Chancellor Olaf Scholz's No to Taurus Missile Deliveries to Ukraine. "In one point, I find Scholz's behavior exactly right - in the question of Taurus missile deliveries," said the CSU politician in an interview on the occasion of his 75th birthday in the "Augsburger Allgemeinen." The Chancellor wanted to prevent escalation and cooperate with the Americans under all circumstances. "I have always considered that right, even though that is also seen differently in my party," said Seehofer about the stance of the SPD politician in the Taurus issue. "This stance does not use the chance that, if the Ukrainians consider it right, they might try to end this horrible and brutal war of the Russians," said the CSU politician and former Bavarian Minister-President.
13:23 More Russia and China? Economists warn against new foreign policy course of the AfD
Economists warn against the efforts of influential AfD politicians to distance themselves from the EU and the USA and to orient themselves more strongly towards Russia and China. "A departure from the USA and the EU to cooperate more strongly with China could contribute significantly to political and economic uncertainty and also carry 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 oneself more strongly towards Russia and China would be the "biggest mistake" that Germany could make politically and economically.
12:58 Russia reports taking control of a settlement in the Donezk Oblast
According to reports from Russian state media, the Russian military has taken control of the Ukrainian settlement of Schumy in the Donezk region. The state Russian news agency Ria, referring to the Russian Defense Ministry, reports that the army has taken the settlement near the city of Torezk. In the announcement, it is stated that the Ukrainian troops suffered 360 casualties. The claims cannot be verified independently.
12:38 Zelensky: Russian attacks have destroyed 80% of Ukraine's thermal energy
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian attacks have destroyed 80% of Ukraine's thermal energy and one third of its hydropower. The British newspaper "Guardian" reports this. Russian attacks reportedly targeted energy facilities and other critical infrastructure frequently. The attack in Dnipro, as the Ukrainian leader noted, demonstrates that Ukraine needs more air defense systems. "Only sufficient quantities of high-quality air defense systems, only sufficient determination from the entire world can stop Russian terror," Zelensky said.
12:25 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba in Croatia for a Visit
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is in Croatia for a visit. He is participating in the 17. 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 meeting.
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 will not be able to sustain the war against Ukraine for years. In an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," he says that the Russian supply chain, according to estimates, will collapse no later than mid-2027, possibly even by the end of 2025. "That's the computational end. The stores will be empty." Keupp bases his calculations on losses of the Russian army, which are documented on open-source websites on the internet. According to his calculations, Russia has lost four tanks per day since the start of the war. Since only 300 to 500 new tanks can be built annually, Moscow cannot sustain this indefinitely, the military economist says. Satellite images already show that old Soviet military bases are emptying out "at breakneck speed" all over Russia, according to Keupp. "Russia is living off its reserves. It is essentially on the dead legs of the Soviet Union." Keupp's conclusion: "Time is running against Russia." In his opinion, Russia's method of warfare is not sustainable. "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 Flight from Military Service: Some Ukrainian Men Seek Help from Forgers
In Ukraine, a new recruitment offensive is underway to mobilize more soldiers for the fight against Russia. Therefore, some Ukrainian men are turning to online dealers and forgers to avoid military service, as reported by the British newspaper "Guardian." It is expected that attempts to flee the country will also increase. Ukraine recently passed far-reaching mobilization measures, which allow the military to call up more soldiers and impose stricter penalties for draft evasion. Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a controversial law in the past April, which lowers the draft age from 27 to 25. Anyone who refuses military service can lose their driver's license and access to their own bank accounts. Their property can also be seized.
11:04 Zelenskyy Releases Video of Reunions Between War Prisoners and Their Families
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a video on his social media channels of the moment ten prisoners of war returned home from Russian captivity and reunited with their families.
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" reported this based on information from the Ukrainian National Police. According to the report, the policemen were not in the vehicle at the time of the attack but were nearby when they heard the explosion.
10:08 Kremlin Remains Silent on Trump's Remarks about Ending the War
The Kremlin declined to comment on Donald Trump's remarks that he would end the war against Ukraine if re-elected in November. The British newspaper "Guardian" reported this. Trump made these remarks during the US presidential debate with the 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 Excluding Russian and Belarusian Athletes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Sebastian Coe, President of the World Athletics Championships. Zelenskyy shared this news on his Facebook page. "We welcome the decisions made by World Athletics in early March 2022, banning 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 People Dead and Ten Injured in Russian Attacks in the Oblast of ChernobylThe Russian military has shelled numerous cities and villages in the Chernobyl region, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to ten others. This was announced by Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the region, via Ukrinform on Telegram. "Four people were killed by Russian aggression in Sadove, Tiahynka, Novotiahynka, Olhivka, and Chernobyl," Prokudin said. According to him, the Russian military targeted residential areas in the region and damaged several private houses. Additionally, businesses and a gas pipeline were reportedly hit.
08:34 Governor of Kursk: Five Dead in Ukrainian Drone Attack on Border VillageFive people were reportedly killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on a border village in Russia, according to Russian statements. Two of the fatalities were small children, announced the governor of the western Russian region of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, via Telegram. "Two more family members are in critical condition," he added. The drone is said to have crashed into a house in the small village of Gorodischtsche. Since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, both sides have regularly targeted 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 is targeting both Russian energy infrastructure and border towns and villages.
08:02 Kyiv: Over 1000 Russian Soldiers "Eliminated"According to Ukrainian defense ministry reports, 1,070 Russian soldiers have died or are unable to continue fighting within a day. Since the start of the war in February 2022, a total of 541,560 Russian soldiers have reportedly been "eliminated." The defense ministry announced in its daily reports on Russian losses that the enemy had lost seven additional tanks (8073). Since the beginning 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. These figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow itself keeps information on its own losses in Ukraine to itself.
07:28 Fire Department in Dnipro Rescues Man from Crushed CarOnce again, Russian rockets hit a Ukrainian residential area. The latest attack on the city of Dnipro resulted in at least one fatality, among the wounded was also a seven-month-old baby. A man was buried under the rubble in his car.
07:06 Positions of Ukrainian military being surveilled: SBU arrests suspected Russian agentThe Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) of the Ukrainian domestic intelligence service has arrested another suspected Russian agent. The man is alleged to have prepared a Russian troop breakthrough in the Donetsk region and spied on Ukrainian defense forces. According to the SBU press service, he is a resident of Myrnohrad, who works as an employee of a private security company. Russia reportedly became aware of the man as an active user of pro-Russian Telegram channels, where he is said to have published anti-Ukrainian comments.
06:34 Ukrainian Air Force: Ten Russian drones shot down at nightThe Ukrainian air defense has 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 frontThe Ukrainian General Staff reports 102 battles at the front within 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 most fights 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 fights are ongoing, according to the announcement.
04:59 Czech Republic preparing security accords with KievCzech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on X that the Czech Republic will sign a bilateral security accord with Ukraine during the EU summit in London on July 18. He announced on Facebook that he had agreed with President Zelenskyy on July 17 to "finalize the negotiations on the text of the Czech-Ukrainian security accord before the NATO summit in Washington." The next NATO summit is scheduled for July 9-11. The Czech Republic will thus join 19 countries, including the USA, Great Britain, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, which have already signed similar bilateral agreements.
03:59 USA to supply Kiev with Hawk missilesThe US government will supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition worth $150 million, including Hawk air defense missiles and 155-millimeter artillery ammunition. Two unnamed US officials announced that the weapons aid package is expected to be presented on Monday. The US government is reacting to the desperate pleas for support from Ukraine in air defense, as Russia has bombed Ukrainian energy infrastructure with air raids in recent weeks.
02:58 Report: Russian Agents in Vienna hired hit on Helicopter Pilot Kusminow
In Vienna, Russian agents 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 Ukraine and lived in Spain, where he was found by the hit squad. The Wall Street Journal reports this with reference to western security circles. The killers, who shot the man five times and then ran him over with a SUV, were criminals who were paid with cash provided by Russian state officials from Vienna, according to the paper. "We are now becoming a burden for our neighbors, as Russia uses us as an operational base," says a high-ranking Austrian intelligence officer to the newspaper. According to Austrian intelligence sources, the number of active Russian diplomats in Austria in the last two years has risen from around 400 to over 500. About half of them are diplomats and managers, while the other half function as spies.
01:58 Russia: Control taken over of settlement north of Bachmut - Ukraine denies
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian armed forces have taken control of the settlement of Rosdoliwka in eastern Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian military states that heavy fighting is taking place in the areas around the settlement. Rosdoliwka is located in the Donetsk region, the epicenter of the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine. It is located north of Bachmut and Soledar, two settlements that were taken under Russian control last year.
00:58 US Army awards Lockheed Martin contract worth $4.5 billion
In the USA, the US Army has awarded the defense contractor 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. The Patriot system is part of a series of advanced air defense systems that the West has provided to Ukraine.
23:58 Further Olympic starting places for Russians - Judokas rejected
The International Olympic Committee continues to invite Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Summer Games in Paris. According to the IOC's evening statement, 50 athletes and athletes from the 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 because of their affiliation with military sports clubs. Of the twelve quota places for Russian judokas, only two will be allocated to each gender - whether the four accept the invitation is open.
23:59 Ten Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity
According to reports from Kiev, ten Ukrainian civilians have returned from Russian captivity. Among the released prisoners is Nariman Djeljal, a leader of the Crimean Tatars, writes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social media on Friday. He thanks the Vatican for its mediation in the release of the civilians. Djeljal was arrested in 2021, before the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in the annexed Crimea, and later sentenced to 17 years in prison.
23:30 Lithuania's Foreign Minister: Kallas nomination acknowledges 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 position of the Baltic States and other countries at the NATO Eastern Flank, which have consistently advocated for a firm stance towards Russia and support for 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 is quoted as saying by 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 in its history and is known as a champion of a resolute Western stance towards Moscow.
23:00 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 linked to 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 then," Baerbock said in a talk with 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.
Of course, one could discuss whether the billions in aid for Ukraine should be used differently, Baerbock said. But in this case, she had to say: "I don't know how long we can continue to sleep peacefully here in Brandenburg, right on the Polish border." There are "light tests" everywhere at the EU border and the NATO external border. "Every reasonable person in the world, in Europe and in Ukraine" wishes nothing more than peace in Ukraine. That depends on Putin. "He needs to 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 Defense Ministry reports that there are indications that Ukraine has moved more troops, weapons, and military equipment to the northern region of Schytomyr, which borders Belarus, in an apparent escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
- In a study, military economist Marcus Keupp estimates that Russia will not be able to sustain its war against Ukraine for years due to its decreasing supply chain and over-reliance on Soviet military bases, which are empting out "at breakneck speed."
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, expressed gratitude to Sebastian Coe, President of the World Athletics Championships, for supporting Ukraine's athletes and excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes from international athletics competitions.
- According to Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the Chernobyl region, numerous cities and villages in the region have been shelled by the Russian military, resulting in several fatalities and injuries.
- The government of the Czech Republic announced it will sign a bilateral security accord with Ukraine during the EU summit in London on July 18, following in the footsteps of 19 other countries, including the USA and Germany, which have already signed similar agreements with Ukraine.
