14:43 Expert on offensive in Kursk: "Shock value of surprise attack benefits Kiev"
Defense and security expert Michael Clarke tells U.S. broadcaster Sky that Ukraine has launched a "completely surprising attack" against Russia in the Kursk region this week. According to Clarke, everything indicates that Ukraine wants to "win this battle as much as possible". "They haven't just started a surprise attack - they've started an attack of complete astonishment. They've surprised the Russians and the Western backers", he says. "The shock value of this surprise attack benefits Kyiv". The hole that has penetrated Russian territory is at least 35 miles long and about 15 miles deep. Clarke estimates that about three or four Ukrainian brigades are in Russia, and these are "elite troops at the highest level". No details have been given about Ukraine's objectives. But Clarke says that Kyiv is undoubtedly hoping to lure good units of the Russian army and relieve pressure on Ukrainian frontlines elsewhere. There are indications that Moscow is withdrawing its better units from the south of Ukraine, including from the areas of Chassiv Yar and Pokrovsk. "Russia will do everything necessary to eliminate this hole", says Clark. "Putin can't let this slide".
14:04 Kyiv: Incursion into Russian territory aims to "destabilize" RussiaThe incursion of Ukrainian troops into the west Russian border region of Kursk aims to "destabilize" Russia, according to statements from Kyiv. "We are on the offensive", says a Ukrainian security official to news agency AFP. "Thousands" of Ukrainian soldiers are involved. "The goal is to disperse the enemy's positions, inflict maximum losses, and destabilize the situation in Russia", he says.
13:37 Russia announces harsh response to attacks on border region KurskAfter new Ukrainian attacks on the Russian border region of Kursk, Moscow has announced a harsh response. "A harsh reaction from Russian forces will not be long in coming", explains spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, on the Telegram messaging service. She announces that the instigators and perpetrators of the "crimes" in Kursk will be held accountable.
13:05 Belarus: Video allegedly shows tank transport to border with UkraineThe Belarusian Defense Ministry publishes footage on social networks showing several tanks being loaded onto a train. In the post immediately before, it is stated that the units are being put on alert. The reinforcement of troops at the border between Belarus and Ukraine is a reaction to the alleged intrusion of Ukrainian combat drones into Belarusian airspace.
12:48 Ukraine: 53 Russian drones destroyedUkraine claims to have shot down 53 out of 57 drones in the latest Russian attack. The drones were destroyed over various parts of the country, the air force of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv reports. Russia has also used four North Korean rockets, it is said.
12:20 Russia: Lancet drone destroys Ukrainian tank in KurskThe Russian Defense Ministry claims to have destroyed a Ukrainian tank in the Kursk region using a Lancet drone. The ministry publishes a video on Telegram purporting to show the destruction of the Ukrainian tank.
11:53 Zelensky: Russia uses North Korean rocket against Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences to the family and relatives of the victims in a post on the X platform following the deadly Russian airstrike on Kyiv. A 35-year-old man and his four-year-old son were killed, and three people, including a 12-year-old boy, were injured. In the X post, Zelensky wrote, "Preliminary information suggests that the Russians used a North Korean rocket in this attack - another targeted terrorist act against Ukraine." Pyrotechnics experts are working to determine the exact data of the rocket.
11:31 Kriewald: "Lukashenko is wise to remain a loudmouth"
Belarus plans to send troops to the border region with Ukraine? ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald explains that Putin has been trying to drag Belarus into the active war zone for years and doesn't expect that to happen anytime soon.
10:41 Ukraine aims to destroy Russia's military infrastructure
After a new deadly Russian airstrike near Kyiv, Ukraine aims to permanently destroy Russia's military infrastructure to stop the killing of civilians. The head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said in Kyiv that it is necessary to deprive Russia of its ability to kill. He published a video on his Telegram channel showing deployment forces in a debris field. "It is necessary to destroy its military infrastructure because the enemy does not accept other arguments," Yermak said about the Russian invasion. Ukraine hopes for a swift approval from Western allies to use longer-range rockets, even against Russian territory.
10:22 Emergency Ministry delivers aid to the Kursk border region
The Russian Emergency Ministry has delivered humanitarian aid to the contested border region of Kursk. The ministry announced that convoys carrying tents, blankets, mobile generators, hygiene items, food, and drinking water have been sent to the region. The aid will be distributed to the people in collaboration with the authorities. More than 76,000 people have had to leave their homes in the region due to ongoing clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
09:47 Ukraine: Kramatorsk under Russian fire again
Russian forces are reported to have shelled the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region for the second day in a row, according to the Ukrainian governor of Donetsk, Vadym Lyashko. Infrastructure facilities are said to have been hit, and four people are reported injured. Kramatorsk is the administrative center of the Ukrainian-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, while the eastern parts are controlled by the Russian military.
08:59 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to these figures, Russia has lost around 590,920 soldiers in its war against Ukraine since February 24, 2022. In the past 24 hours alone, the number of losses is said to be 1,220. According to a report from Kyiv, six tanks, 58 artillery systems, and 27 drones were destroyed on the last day of fighting. In total, Russia is said to have lost 8,447 tanks, 16,663 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 328 helicopters, 13,399 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale attack. Western estimates put the losses lower, but these are also only minimum figures.
08:07 Russia: Massive drone attacks in Russian border regions of Belgorod and VoronezhIn the night, Ukrainian forces are said to have attacked the Russian regions of Kursk (see entry 01:51), Voronezh, and Belgorod with drones and missiles. This was announced by the governors of Voronezh and Belgorod on their Telegram channels. Oleksandr Gusev, governor of the Voronezh region, reports that the air defense system shot down more than a dozen drones in the Voronezh region, causing damage to buildings. According to Gusev, there were no casualties. There were drone attacks in several settlements in Belgorod. Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, writes on Telegram. In two places, there were explosions and fires. There were no casualties.
07:32 Rescue service: Two dead after Russian attack on Kyiv regionAs a result of a Russian missile attack (see entry 00:27), a 35-year-old man and his four-year-old son were killed in a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to the state rescue service. Three other people were reportedly seriously injured. Missile parts fell on private houses in Brovary east of Kyiv in the evening, the rescuers reported on Telegram. Father and son were trapped under the rubble of a building.
07:04 Russia: Russian Su-25 jet said to have hit Ukrainian forces in Russian KurskA Russian combat jet of the Su-25 type is said to have attacked and hit Ukrainian forces in the border area of the Russian region of Kursk, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the attack was carried out with unguided air-to-ground missiles. The Russian Defense Ministry also states that the crew performed a missile defense maneuver after the air force operation, triggered heat flares, and returned to the airbase. A video showing the combat jet's operation was published on the Telegram channel of the Defense Ministry. The Su-25 jet type is a ground attack aircraft developed in the Soviet Union. In the Ukraine war, Su-25 jets are used for air support of Russian ground troops.
06:24 ISW: Kremlin downplays Ukrainian incursion in Kursk regionThe Kremlin has likely decided to declare an anti-terror operation instead of martial law to downplay the Ukrainian invasion in the Kursk region, preventing panic or a backlash at home, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports in its latest assessment. Analysts suggest this indicates the Kremlin's reluctance to take more drastic measures to address the situation.
05:38 Orthodox Church with Moscow ties may be bannedIn his evening video address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hinted at strengthening "our Ukrainian spiritual independence," suggesting the country's leadership plans to ban the Orthodox Church with ties to Moscow. Since the Russian troop invasion, the number of members in other independent churches has grown, but the Moscow-affiliated minority church maintains its influence. The Ukrainian government accuses it of supporting the invasion and attempting to poison public opinion.
03:50 ISW: Ukrainians holding positions and pushing forwardGeolocated footage and Russian reports from yesterday indicate that Ukrainian forces have largely maintained their previously reported positions in the Kursk region and have made some advances beyond their previously confirmed locations, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
01:51 Russia: Injured by Ukrainian missile in Kursk cityAt least 13 people were injured, two severely, by debris from a downed Ukrainian missile in the Russian city of Kursk, the acting governor of the border region reported.
00:27 Explosions heard in Ukrainian capital KyivSeveral explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. According to AFP journalists, the explosions were heard in the city center and east. The Ukrainian air force reported that two Russian missiles were targeted at the capital, while the Kyiv military administration reported the activation of air defense systems on the Telegram online service.
00:11 Ukraine awaits "with anticipation" decisions from the US, UK, and FranceUkraine may be able to expect the delivery of more long-range weapons to maintain its defense against Russian aggression. In his evening video address, President Zelenskyy said, "We are also awaiting with anticipation the decisions of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France regarding long-range capabilities - decisions that will bring us closer to a fair peace." For a long time, Ukraine had been trying to convince Germany to supply Taurus long-range missiles, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected the request.
22:17 Ukraine Suspects 28 Officials of Embezzling Defense Budget Funds
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, in collaboration with the State Investigation Bureau, National Police, and Security Service of Ukraine, conducted a special operation to expose the organizers and participants in criminal schemes involving the embezzlement of funds allocated for Ukraine's defense. The Prosecutor General's Office reported this. According to the report, the total damage to the state amounts to over 1.5 billion Hryvnia, approximately 33,000 Euros. The investigation revealed that employees of the Ministry of Defense, military units, joint ventures, regional military administrations, city councils, and directors of companies in many regions of Ukraine were involved in the embezzlement. As a result of the investigation, 28 individuals were suspected, including nine members of organized criminal groups.
You can read all previous developments here.**
15:00 Ukraine justifies attack on Kursk as response to Russian aggressionIn response to Moscow's assertions following the attack in Kursk, Ukrainian officials maintain that the incursion into Russian territory is a necessary action in response to Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
14:45 Russia accuses Ukraine of violating international law with attack on KurskAs Putin's administration responds to the Kursk incursion, it has condemned Ukraine, stating that the attack not only violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia but also international law.
