14:49 Among the dead in the Russian attack on the supermarket are at least two children
Since Friday, at least 18 people, including two children, have been killed and 60 others injured in multiple Russian attacks on Ukraine, regional authorities report. Most of the casualties were in the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, where a Russian missile hit a supermarket on Friday. By 10 a.m. local time today, at least 14 people, including two children aged 9 and 11, were killed and 43 others wounded, the General Prosecutor's Office reports on Telegram. In other settlements in the Donetsk region, two people were killed and another injured in Russian attacks on Friday, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported early this morning. More than 30 houses, an apartment building, an agricultural facility, and civilian infrastructure were damaged. In the Kharkiv region, Russian attacks killed an 80-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, and injured four people aged 32 to 67, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reports.
14:21 Interior Ministry warns of Russian influence on state electionsThe Federal Ministry of the Interior warns of possible manipulation attempts by Russia ahead of the upcoming state elections in eastern Germany. "We must assume that all elections in our country are a potential target of illegitimate influence," a ministry spokesman told the "Handelsblatt". Russia is trying to take illegitimate influence on public debate and political will-formation in Germany in this way. Since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, there has been an increase in disinformation by Russian official bodies, state and state-affiliated media, and government-affiliated accounts on social networks. "They use false information to heat up emotionally charged discussions and play societal groups against each other," the spokesman said.**
13:42 Air Force: Russian IL-20M reconnaissance aircraft spotted off RügenA Russian reconnaissance aircraft flew into international airspace over the Baltic Sea without contacting air traffic control. German, Swedish, and NATO air force machines, as well as the Baltic Air Policing mission, took off on Friday evening and escorted the Russian IL-20M aircraft, the air force reports. The maritime reconnaissance aircraft was traveling in international airspace off the island of Rügen "without a flight plan and contact with civil air traffic control." Reports of non-communicating Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea have been almost weekly in recent times, an air force spokesman said. However, no action is usually taken if they do not behave suspiciously or quickly return to Russian airspace. In mid-June, a Russian SU-24 bomber flew over the Swedish Baltic Sea island of Gotland, which is about 350 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.**
13:06 Lukashenko: Objects fired from Ukraine over Belarus destroyedBelarusian reports say the country's armed forces have destroyed several aerial objects over Belarusian territory. They are believed to be drones launched from Ukraine, Belarusian news agency Belta quotes Alexander Lukashenko, the president of the Russia-aligned country. In the past, Lukashenko has repeatedly spoken of alleged incursions from Ukraine and then given the all-clear. Belarus says it is not involved in the fighting in Ukraine.
12:43 Ukraine: Three Civilians Killed in Russian Attacks in Eastern UkraineAccording to Ukrainian reports, three people have died in Russian missile attacks in eastern Ukraine. One person was killed in an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, with several others injured, according to the region's governor, Vadym Filashkin, on Telegram. The missile hit a critical infrastructure building, causing significant damage. Two people died in an attack on a private home in the Kharkiv region, as reported by the police.
12:00 Ukraine: Major Fire in Kherson After Russian AttackA major fire has broken out in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson due to a Russian attack, according to the Kherson Regional Administration on Telegram. The fire started on an open area outside the city of Kherson and quickly spread due to strong winds, engulfing almost the entire city. The Kherson Regional Administration reports that firefighters are battling the blaze.
11:28 Mangott on Arms Deliveries: Kretschmer "Accepts That Ukraine Might Lose"Ukrainian soldiers have entered Russia. With their incursion into Kursk, Ukraine aims to show that Russia "cannot protect its citizens in the border regions," explains Gerhard Mangott, a political scientist. He also emphasizes that he does not believe Ukraine can maintain its position in the region in the long term.
10:53 Video Allegedly Shows Russian Troop Strength in KurskThe Russian Ministry of Defense has published another video, purportedly showing an increase in military presence in the region. The footage shows tanks taking up combat positions to destroy Ukrainian troops. The authenticity of the footage cannot be independently verified. The ministry also reports numerous intercepted Ukrainian drone attacks in the Kursk area.
10:29 Russian Nuclear Corporation: Nuclear Power Plant in Kursk Operating NormallyFighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces is ongoing near a nuclear power plant in the Russian region of Kursk. Despite the continued fighting, operations are "normal," according to the plant's operator, Russian state-owned company Rosatom, as reported by Reuters. Earlier, the nuclear corporation had withdrawn workers from the construction site of two new reactors at the Kursk nuclear power plant (see entry 02:30) due to the advancement of Ukrainian troops in Kursk.
09:57 Ukrainian Intelligence: Magura V5 Sinks Russian Boat in Black SeaSoldiers of the Ukrainian intelligence service HUR have attacked the Russian navy off the coast of the occupied Crimean Peninsula. The attack, according to the Ukrainian intelligence service, took place off the coast near the settlement of Chornomorske in the west of Crimea. A sea drone of the Magura V5 type is said to have sunk a Russian patrol boat of the type KS-701 "Tunets." Three other Russian military boats were reportedly damaged. The Ukrainian intelligence service has posted a video of the attack on social media.
09:19 ISW: Russia Not Moving Front Units from East Ukraine to Kursk
The Russian military leadership may not be redeploying its forces from the front in eastern Ukraine to the contested Russian border region of Kursk to avoid disrupting its own offensive in eastern Ukraine. This is according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its latest report. ISW analysts believe it would likely take additional time for these units from eastern Ukraine to arrive in the Kursk region. Instead, the Russian military leadership appears to be relying on the already stationed troops in Kursk to halt the ongoing Ukrainian advance. Additionally, the Russian military leadership is reportedly deploying conscripts from the military intelligence agency Glawnoje Raswedywatelnoje Uprawlenije (GRU) and Spetsnaz, or special forces, including the Wagner mercenary group and the Kadyrovtsy, according to reports cited by the analysts.
08:35 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has published new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to the data, Russia has lost around 589,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,160. A report from Kyiv claims that on the previous day of fighting, seven tanks, 69 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed. Since the start of the large-scale offensive, Russia has reportedly lost a total of 8,441 tanks, 16,605 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, according to Ukraine. Western estimates put the losses lower, but these are also minimum figures.
07:40 Russia: Su-34 Fighter-Bomber Strikes Ukrainian Forces in Russian Kursk
A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber has reportedly struck Ukrainian forces in the Russian border region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram. The ministry claims that the air strike was carried out using an ODAB-500 bomb. The Russian Defense Ministry states that Russian forces continue to repel the surprise advance of Ukraine in the Russian region of Kursk. The air strike was intended to push back the Ukrainian advance, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. A video purporting to show the deployment of the combat aircraft was published on the Telegram channel of the Defense Ministry.
06:48 Kyiv Bookkeeper Stopped with Millions in Cash
Ukrainian investigators have discovered over 4.7 million euros in undeclared cash in the trunk of a company bookkeeper's car. "The woman could not explain the origin of the money," the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau in Kyiv region reported. Photos show investigators standing by an open trunk filled with cash bundles. The company in question is said to have supplied food worth over 320 million euros to the Ukrainian army between 2022 and 2023. The tax burden was allegedly reduced through a fictitious loan. Investigations are ongoing for money laundering and tax evasion on a large scale, with penalties of up to eight years in prison for those involved.
06:10 Ukraine Evacuates 28 Villages in Border Region SumyUkrainian volunteers assist villagers and their pets in the northern border region of Sumy in leaving the border area. According to local governor Volodymyr Artiukh, 28 villages in a ten-kilometer zone along the border with Russia are being evacuated. According to the Ukrainian police, 20,000 people must leave their homes.
05:30 Kyiv Adds "Glory to Ukraine!" to New BanknotesThe Ukrainian central bank is supplementing the design of all Ukrainian banknotes with the national motto "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!". Money is not only a measure of value and a means of payment, but also a symbol of the state that everyone holds daily, says central bank chief Andrij Pyshnyi in a statement from Kyiv. "To honor the resilience of our people and this turning point in the formation of the Ukrainian nation that we live in today, we are adding our motto to all banknotes, which is heard throughout the world," says Pyshnyi. The change is to mark the upcoming 33rd Independence Day on August 24, it is said. It will begin with the banknotes for 1000 (around 22.30 euros) and 500 Hryvnia. All other denominations of 200, 100, 50, and 20 Hryvnia will follow. The motto will be placed in the upper right corner of the banknotes. The rest of the appearance of the notes will remain unchanged. The patriotic motto "Glory to Ukraine!" goes back to the emerging Ukrainian national movement at the end of the 19th century. It has a chequered history. In the form "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!" it was used by Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis. The greeting remained present in the Ukrainian independence movement against the Soviet Union.
04:37 Report: Russia Plans to Block WhatsAppIn its action against internet services (see entry 22:33), Russia is reportedly planning to block WhatsApp, the news site "Kyiv Independent" reports. According to this, Moscow has made preparations to block the messaging app. The messenger could be blocked in Russia in the fall, the independent Russian publication Verstka reports, citing sources at the Russian IT company VK, which is developing an application to replace WhatsApp. The Russian Kremlin-friendly media organ Gazeta.ru had reported in July that the Russian government was planning to completely block YouTube in September. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov denied these alleged plans.
04:05 USA Approves Further Military Aid to Kyiv Worth $125 MillionThe USA is providing further military aid to Ukraine worth $125 million (around $114 million). The aid package underscores "our unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression," says John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, to journalists. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken explains that the aid will include intercept missiles for air defense systems, ammunition for rocket systems and artillery, multi-purpose radars, and anti-tank weapons, and will come from US stockpiles. The equipment "will help Ukraine protect its troops, its population, and its cities from Russian attacks and strengthen its capabilities across the entire front," Blinken explains further.
03:19 Russia to have issued 2.2 million passports in occupied territories
Russia claims to have issued 2.2 million passports in the Ukrainian regions occupied by its military aggression. Since October 2020, these have been distributed in Saporischschja, Donezk, Luhansk, and Cherson, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs reports. These figures cannot be independently verified. In the past, there have been repeated reports that Russian authorities have systematically forced people to accept these passports.
02:30 IAEA warns of nuclear accident at Kursk power plant due to fighting in the region
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns of the risk of a nuclear accident at the Kursk nuclear power plant due to fighting in the region. "At this point, I call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear accident with potentially serious radiological consequences," says IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. He is "in personal contact with the relevant authorities of both countries." The Kursk NPP is located near the city of Kursk, about 100 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border. The state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the press service of the power plant, that "everything is functioning normally" with the usual radiation levels. However, the residents of Kursk are currently without electricity. According to the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, a power plant was set on fire by falling debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones.
01:55 Russia implements anti-terror measures in Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk
According to Russian media reports, Russia is implementing anti-terror measures in three regions bordering Ukraine. According to a report by the RIA news agency, these measures include possible resettlement of residents, traffic restrictions in certain areas, increased security measures at sensitive locations, and wiretapping of phones and other communication devices. According to local authorities and the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, these anti-terror regulations apply to the regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, the news agency reports.
00:36 Nouripour on heads of government: Cowardice does not bring peace in Ukraine
The chairman of the Greens, Omid Nouripour, criticizes the ministers-presidents of Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony for their recent statements on Ukraine policy. Dietmar Woidke, Bodo Ramelow, and Michael Kretschmer are "running away from reality," says Nouripour to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "They act as if one can achieve peace by burying one's head in the sand. But: Cowardice does not bring peace." Woidke says he has good contacts with Russia and can mediate. However, it is "strange that he only thinks of this two and a half years after the start of the war and a few weeks before the state election," says Nouripour. Ramelow calls for a non-aggression pact with Russia. However, such a pact went out from Germany 85 years ago and brought great suffering to other European countries, the Green politician continues. Kretschmer, on the other hand, acts "as if he does not know that only Putin can quickly end this war." Kretschmer had called for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine and advocated for diplomatic initiatives in the Ukraine conflict.
00:13 July deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since October 2022According to the United Nations, more Ukrainian civilians have died from Russian shelling in July than in any other month since October 2022. "The high number of casualties in July continues an alarming trend since March 2024," the UN observer mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reports.
23:43 Construction workers withdrawn from AKW KurskDue to the advance of Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk, workers are being withdrawn from the construction site of two new nuclear reactors at the Kursk nuclear power plant. The number of construction workers will be temporarily reduced, Atomstroiexport, a subsidiary of the state-owned Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, reports. Other specialists continue their work as planned. The Kursk nuclear power plant in the city of Kursk has been repeatedly mentioned as a possible target of the offensive on Russian territory that began on Tuesday. However, it is located about 60 kilometers from the border. The farthest reported advances of Ukrainian troops, which have not been confirmed, have reached about 30 kilometers into Russia. After the Ukrainian offensive was announced, the Russian National Guard reinforced the protection of the power plant. Two reactors are being built to replace the two oldest, already decommissioned blocks of the plant. Two more reactors are currently in operation.
23:11 Ukraine captures Gazprom facility in Kursk regionAccording to a video published by Ukrainian media, Ukrainian soldiers have taken control of a facility belonging to the gas company Gazprom in the Russian region of Kursk. The facility in the city of Sudzha and the city itself have been captured, Ukrainian soldiers say in the video.
22:33 Russia blocks messaging app SignalIn its crackdown on foreign internet services, Russia is also blocking the encrypted messaging app Signal, allegedly for violating laws. Signal is not complying with legal measures necessary to counter terrorism and extremism, the responsible agency Roskomnadzor in Moscow says. Throughout the day, complaints from Signal users in Russia have been accumulating that the messaging service is unavailable. Portals like Sboj.rf, which collect reports of outages, reported about 2000 complaints. Signal was developed in the US and is valued by its users for its secure communication features. On Thursday, Russian users also complained that YouTube was working slowly and videos were difficult to download. The Russian authorities have not given an official explanation for this. However, they have been targeting the extremely popular video service in recent days, allegedly because it refuses to remove extremist videos. Russia has already blocked large social networks with US ownership like X and Facebook, which can only be used via protected connections (VPN). Even before the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow had made preparations for a possible internet shutdown in the country. Since the start of the war in 2022, Roskomnadzor has blocked thousands of websites that are not approved by the Russian power apparatus.
You can read all previous developments here.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior in Germany warns of the potential for Russian manipulation in upcoming state elections, citing an increase in disinformation since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine.
The Russian attack on Ukraine continues to claim lives, with at least 18 killed and 60 injured in multiple attacks as of recent reports. These include the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, where a Russian missile hit a supermarket on Friday, causing casualties.
