14:45 Chairman of the Defense Committee: Ukraine can use German weapons in Kursk
14:24 Ukraine asks Mexico to arrest Putin during Sheinbaum's inauguration
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 named (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 war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion at the beginning of 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 massive outage of the platform's availability. According to the sboy.rf service, over 15,000 complaints about the video-hosting service have already been registered. Complaints came from people 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 through virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia were unable to 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 access YouTube monthly in Russia, making it the number one video and streaming platform. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government planned to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine leads "lawful defensive war" in Russian KurskThe 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 defensive war against an illegal aggression," says 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 have recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudscha, reportedly taking control of several villages. Russian reports suggest that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian soldiers captured in KurskAfter Ukrainian forces entered the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers were reportedly captured. The Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram announced this. The humanitarian project, launched by the Ukrainian military intelligence in January 2024, serves as 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 are also reports of deaths, whose bodies were not removed by their comrades during the retreat," the statement reads. The project published drone footage allegedly showing the capture of more than 30 Russian soldiers. Other videos on social media 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 still unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas transit running normally despite fighting in Kursk regionThe Russian gas export through the border region of Kursk attacked by Ukraine is running largely normally, according to Gazprom. Around 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas are expected to be transported today, the company announced in Moscow. This is about five percent less than the previous day, the state-owned Russian news agency TASS reported. Ukrainian troops have taken at least partial control of the city of Sudscha during their incursion across the border, likely also taking a measurement station of the important gas pipeline heading towards 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 UkraineThe Russian city of Sudscha in the Kursk region has reportedly 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. According to Podolyaka, the city is full of Ukrainian military forces. "Sudscha is basically lost for us. This is an important logistics hub," he writes further. Ukrainian military forces are reportedly 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 Raid "Completely Surprised" MoscowInitially, the situation remains unclear, but it is later confirmed: Ukrainian fighters attack on Russian territory. The advance in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there may be more behind the attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk After Ukrainian Incursion "Under Control"Russian forces have been engaged in fighting with infiltrated Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Oblast for the third day in a row. The situation is "stable and under control," the vice-governor of the border region told 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, the news agency TASS cited 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 write about ongoing fighting.
10:18 Kriewald on New Offensive: "Ukrainians Advance 15 Kilometers into Kursk Region"The Ukrainian army's push into the Russian region of Kursk is causing a stir in Moscow. Ukrainian soldiers are said to have advanced up to 15 kilometers. Moreover, there are reports of dozens of prisoners of war. ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports from Odessa about the background.
09:35 UN: Russians Torture 95% of Ukrainian POWsStaff at Russian penal colonies are said to torture Ukrainian prisoners of war from the very first interrogations. Furthermore, the practice of torture in Russian captivity is "widespread and systematic," says Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. She says that the Russian Federation has tortured 95 percent of Ukrainian prisoners of war in its prisons. According to her, Ukrainian prisoners of war are 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," she says. The information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is mainly collected through interviews with Ukrainian prisoners of war after their release. At the same time, the UN mission has direct access to Russian prisoners of war and can get a picture of the prison conditions.
08:49 Estonia Introduces Enhanced Customs Controls at Border with RussiaEstonia is introducing full customs controls at its eastern EU external border with Russia. This was decided by the government of the Baltic NATO state at the beginning of August. From August 8, all persons crossing the border to Russia, as well as all cargo, will be subject to control. The controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be gradually introduced. So far, the checks on passengers and vehicles have been random and risk-based. With the tightening, 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 approximately 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with 1,140 losses in the past 24 hours alone. Additionally, two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have been destroyed, according to a report from Kyiv. Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has 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 UkraineDmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and former president, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion of Ukraine in response to Ukrainian advances into the Russian border region of Kursk. Medvedev stated 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 during a counterattack, 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, according to a Telegram statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Six drones and five other missiles were shot down over the Kursk region, according to Governor Alexei Smirnov. Early on August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports 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 raid 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. This aircraft can carry hypersonic missiles such as the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles are 10 kilometers inside Russian border in KurskAccording to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 10 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 declared a state of emergency in the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theftPresident Selenskyj has signed a new law that reclassifies petty theft as an administrative offense, punishable by fines, instead of imprisonment. The new law sets the threshold at around 67 euros, up from the previous limit of around 6.7 euros. The change is due to the martial law imposed since the Russian invasion, which carries a penalty of up to eight years in prison for looting and theft. An example given in the draft law is a theft of diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, worth around 8 euros, which would no longer result in a prison sentence. However, the perpetrator in that case was still sentenced to over three years in prison.
00:27 Klingbeil: Deployment of US missiles in Germany is correctSPD leader Lars Klingbeil has defended plans to station long-range US weapons in Germany, despite criticism from within his own party. "This deployment is right because it helps us to defend ourselves if Russia were to have the idea of attacking us," he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the US would resume stationing weapons systems in Germany from 2026, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices within the SPD, with parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich warning of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlov to fight for Russian prisonersOleg Orlov, a Moscow human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, plans to continue his civil rights work in exile. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," the 71-year-old said at a press conference at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin. The organization he co-founded, Memorial, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, advocates 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 in Germany difficult, as he would rather be in his homeland but fears persecution. Orlov hopes to be able to advocate for the release of more political prisoners, including eight who are seriously ill. "When it turned out that these people were not on the list, we were very disappointed - we who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work in Russia despite repression, but 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 reports 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 governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, announced on Telegram. The Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory near Kursk in a counterattack. The offensive began on Tuesday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, and reached the northwest of the city of Sudzha on Wednesday.
20:14 Fighting Nearby: Russia Reinforces Protection of Kursk NPPDue to the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, the Russian 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, which has four units and a capacity of almost two gigawatts, is located only 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 reached its highest level this year. The TTF futures contract for delivery next month rose by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) in Amsterdam. Market participants are pointing to the attacks by Ukraine on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudzha, an important gas injection point for European supplies. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas deliveries.
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. About 6,000 people, including more than 400 children and adolescents, are to be moved to safety from the border region. 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 spoke of around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy weapons. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Due to regular Russian shelling of border areas, local authorities had already ordered evacuations from a 10-kilometer-wide border strip in May.
You can read about previous developments here.
The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico urges the Mexican government to honor the international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Russian President Vladimir Putin and hand him over to the judicial authorities in The Hague, if Putin attends the inauguration of elected President Claudia Sheinbaum, who will assume office on October 1, 2024. The Commission, referred to as the Ukrainian embassy, is making this request considering Putin's arrest warrant over war crime allegations.
In the absence of an official "The Commission" in the texts provided, I assume you meant the Ukrainian embassy in this context.
