15:07 Car maid warns against use of German weapons in Russia: "Red line"
Sahra Wagenknecht has warned against the use of German weapons in the Ukrainian soldiers' advance onto Russian territory. "This is a highly dangerous development," says Wagenknecht to the Funke media group's newspapers. "The Chancellor must call the Ukrainian President and demand that no German weapons be used in the advances onto Russian territory," demands the BSW chairwoman.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had promised that Germany would not become a party to the war. But: "First, he approved the use of German weapons by Ukraine on Russian territory," criticizes Wagenknecht. "Does the federal government now also approve of Ukraine advancing into Russia with German weapons? That would be the next red line to be crossed," says the BSW party leader. The federal government is "increasingly drawing Germany into the war," she adds. "The risk of a major European war is growing."
14:45 Chairman of the Defense Committee: Ukraine can use German weapons in Kursk
The chairman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marcus Faber, sees no problem in Ukraine using German-supplied weapons in its current advance on Russian territory. "Upon handover to Ukraine, they become Ukrainian weapons," says the FDP politician to the Funke media group's newspapers. This applies to "all material," including the Leopard 2 battle tank. "With the Russian attack on Ukraine, the territory of both states has become a war zone," Faber explains his position. "The use of weapons is subject to the provisions of international law."
14:24 Ukraine asks Mexico to arrest Putin at Sheinbaum's inauguration
The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico is calling 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," says the embassy. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of war crimes, particularly the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022. Juan Ramon de la Fuente, who was elected as Sheinbaum's foreign minister, explained that it is "standard protocol" to invite the heads of state of all countries with which Mexico has 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 significant outage of the platform. 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 being able to access YouTube only through virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia were unable to access YouTube, though the website was still available on some mobile devices. YouTube is the last remaining Western platform accessible in Russia, making it the last bastion of free expression. According to Decoder, over 90 million users in Russia access YouTube monthly, placing it at the top of video and streaming platforms. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government planned to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine Engages in "Lawful Defensive War" in Russian Kursk
The EU views the advance of Ukrainian troops into the Russian region of Kursk as part of the right to self-defense. "We believe that Ukraine is conducting a lawful defensive war against 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, backed by tanks and artillery, have recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha, 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 Kursk
Following the incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers have been captured, according to the Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram. Launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, the humanitarian project serves as a coordination center for Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine. It aims to assist military personnel of the Russian army in locating their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", the captives include both conscripts and contract soldiers. "There is also information about the dead, whose bodies were not removed by their comrades during the retreat," the statement reads. The project published drone footage allegedly showing the capture of over 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 remains unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Running Normally Despite Fighting in Kursk Region
Gazprom reports that gas transit through the Kursk border region, targeted by Ukraine, is running largely normally. Around 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas is expected to be transported today, the company announced in Moscow. This is five percent less than the previous day, according to the state-owned Russian news agency Tass. Ukrainian troops have reportedly taken control of the city of Sudscha, including a key gas pipeline measurement station en route to Western Europe. In 2023, despite the ongoing war, 14.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas was transported to the European Union via this route.
11:37 Military Blogger: Russia Loses 'Important Logistics Hub' to Ukraine
The Russian city of Sudscha in the Kursk region has reportedly been captured by Ukrainian forces, according to pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka on his Telegram channel. The town is nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Podolyaka states that the city is full of Ukrainian military forces. "Sudscha is essentially lost for us. This is an important logistics hub," he writes. Ukrainian forces are reportedly advancing north towards Lgow. "Overall, the situation is difficult and deteriorating, despite the noticeable slowdown in the pace of the Ukrainian offensive."
11:04 Munz: Kursk Incursion 'Completely Surprised' Moscow
Initially, the situation remains unclear, but it is later confirmed: Ukrainian fighters attack on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there may be more to the attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk 'Under Control' After Ukrainian Incursion
Russian forces have been engaged in combat with infiltrating Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Oblast 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 Sudscha district and pushing them back, according to the news agency Tass. 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.
09:35 UN: Russians Torture 95% of Ukrainian POWs
UN human rights observers allege that Russian prison camp staff are already torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war during initial interrogations. Furthermore, torture is widespread and systematic in Russian captivity. UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) head Danielle Bell revealed this in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. She claims that Russia has tortured 95% of Ukrainian POWs in its custody. Reportedly, Ukrainians are beaten with metal rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in my 20 years of career," Bell says. Information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is primarily gathered through interviews with released POWs. Simultaneously, the UN mission has direct access to Russian POWs and can assess prison conditions.
08:49 Estonia Introduces Enhanced Border Controls with Russia
Estonia has begun full border controls at its eastern EU border with Russia. The Baltic NATO state's government decided on this measure in early August. Starting August 8, all persons and cargo crossing the border will be subject to inspection. Controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be gradually introduced. Previously, passenger and vehicle checks were random and risk-based. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that the tightening is aimed at preventing the transit and transport of EU-sanctioned goods through Estonia and strengthening the country's security. The Russia-Estonian border is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine Releases Figures on Russian Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has published new loss figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost around 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, including 1,140 in the past 24 hours. Additionally, two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter were reportedly destroyed. In total, Russia has lost 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale invasion. Western estimates suggest lower losses, but these are likely minimums.
07:32 Medvedev Threatens Escalation of Russian Invasion in Ukraine
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has threatened to escalate the invasion in Ukraine in response to Ukrainian advances in the Russian border region of Kursk. The Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing territories Russia claims as its own, Medvedev, a former president, said. Instead, troops should push towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The offensive will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. Russian reports claim that Ukrainian troops have advanced deep into Russian territory during a counterattack, resulting in heavy fighting. The region has been placed under a state of emergency.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian aerial objects destroyed over Kursk and Belgorod
Russian air defense forces destroyed fourteen unmanned Ukrainian aerial objects over the Belgorod region and two over the Kursk region overnight, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense on Telegram. Air defense systems shot down six drones and five other missiles over the Kursk region, said regional governor Alexei Smirnov. In the early hours of August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian General Staff, there are still clashes in border areas. An emergency situation has been declared in Kursk (see entries 19:08, 19:38, and 20:41), and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine sounds air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attack
The Ukrainian Air Force has sounded an air alert across the entire country due to a rocket threat from a Russian MiG-31K. This aircraft type is a Soviet-era interceptor named after the Mikoyan-Gurevich aircraft manufacturer and can carry hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles ten kilometers behind 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, as confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces have breached at least two Russian defensive lines and a fortress. A Russian source claims that Ukrainian forces have captured 45 square kilometers in the Kursk region since the start of the operation on August 6, the ISW reports. Russian authorities declared an emergency situation in the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for imprisonment in petty theft cases
President Zelenskyy has signed a law raising the threshold for imprisonment in petty theft cases in Ukraine. Under the new legislation, thefts valued at up to approximately €67 will now be considered administrative offenses and punished with fines. Previously, the threshold for petty theft was around €6.7. The change is due to the martial law imposed since the Russian invasion, which carries penalties of up to eight years in prison for looting and theft. A case of stealing baby diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, valued at around €8, will no longer result in imprisonment. However, the perpetrator in that case still received a prison sentence of over three years.
00:27 Klingbeil: Stationing of US missiles in Germany is correctSPD leader Lars Klingbeil defends plans for the stationing of long-range US weapons in Germany against criticism from his own party. "This stationing is correct because it helps us to defend ourselves if Russia should get the idea of attacking us," Klingbeil told the German editorial network. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the USA would again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that reach far into Russia. Named were Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices in the SPD, including faction leader Rolf Mützenich, who warns of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlow wants to fight for Russian prisonersThe Moscow human rights activist Oleg Orlow, released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, wants 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 Memorial, which he co-founded and which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, also advocates for political prisoners in Russia. Orlow estimates that at least 800 political prisoners are still imprisoned in Russia - conservatively estimated. His new role in exile in Germany is difficult for Orlow, as he told the story. He would rather be in his homeland, but fears prosecution. Orlow now hopes that he can advocate for the release of more political prisoners in exile, including eight critically ill ones. "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 after all? Known Russian propagandist injuredThe well-known Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny was injured in the Kursk region. The state television company VGTRK reports on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was taken to hospital. Previously, numerous Russian media had reported the death of Poddubny in agreement. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of the best-known Russian "war correspondents" in Russia. His Telegram channel has around 734,000 followers. According to preliminary information, he was filming a report on the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Region Kursk declares state of emergencyIn the Russian region of Kursk, a state of emergency has been declared in the midst of a Ukrainian ground offensive. This was announced by the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, in a Telegram post. Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory in Kursk in a counterattack. The offensive began on Tuesday, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, and reached the northwest of the city of Sudzha on Wednesday.
20:14 Clashes Nearby: Russia Bolsters Security of Kursk Nuclear PlantDue to Ukraine's advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, Russia's National Guard is reinforcing security at the Kursk nuclear power plant. Additional forces have also been deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency reports, in cooperation with Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear plant, with four units and a capacity of nearly two gigawatts, is located just over 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks and artillery, crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha, reportedly advancing up to 15 kilometers towards the nuclear plant.
19:38 Attacks in Kursk Region: European Gas Price Hits Yearly HighThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The benchmark TTF contract for delivery next month increased by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt hour in Amsterdam. Market sources point to Ukraine's attacks on the Russian region of Kursk. The clashes are reportedly taking place near Sudzha, an important gas injection point that supplies Western Europe through Ukrainian pipelines. Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, currently reports no changes in 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, according to Sumy's military governor, 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 incursion across the Ukrainian-Russian border towards the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region, advancing several kilometers onto Russian territory. Moscow reported around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy weapons. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. In May, local authorities had already ordered evacuations from an area within 10 kilometers of the border due to regular Russian shelling of border areas.
You can read about all previous developments here.
- The BSW chairwoman, Sahra Wagenknecht, has called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to urge the Ukrainian President not to use German weapons in their advance onto Russian territory, as she sees the federal government's approval of this as a potential danger and a red line.
- In response to Wagenknecht's criticism, the chairman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marcus Faber, argued that once handed over to Ukraine, German-supplied weapons become Ukrainian weapons and can be used in their territorial conflicts, as long as they comply with international law.
